Audits Reveal Over US$100M in Outstanding Taxes From Oil &amp;amp; Gas Firms

From: Tempo Interactive

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Audits conducted by the Supreme Audit Agency and the Development and Finance Comptroller, or BPKP, have revealed massive unpaid taxes incurred by oil and gas firms. It is hoped that these findings will give the government an opportunity to resolve matters, possibly by renegotiating oil and gas contracts with producers.

Anti-Graft Commission (KPK) deputy chief Haryono Umar last month caused a stir among oil and gas industry circles as well as within the government when he pointed out to figures presented in a BPKP audit - US$159.3 million in unpaid taxes owed by 14 oil and gas companies. Going by Bank Indonesia's rates per Dec. 31 last year, this figure translates to Rp 1.58 trillion.

Five days after Haryono Umar's statement, the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) revealed its data on unpaid taxes by oil and gas firms. Their figures stood at US$583 million or about Rp5.24 trillion.

A TEMPO investigation showed that the unpaid taxes, based on the BPK evaluation, was not just Rp1.58 trillion. After the BPKP report and the BPK evaluation were combined, the total did reach Rp5.24 trillion.

EFRI RITONGA | ANNE L HANDAYANI | GUSTIDHA BUDIARTIE | IQBAL MUHTAROM | ADITYA BUDIMAN

TEMPO/Audits Reveal Over US$100M in Outstanding Taxes From Oil & Gas Firms