CELIOS Proposes Wealth Tax, Could Fund 180 Million BPJS PBI Recipients and Make KRL Free
The Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) is pushing for fiscal reforms and improved government governance to break the dominance of oligarchs in shaping economic and political rules. CELIOS Public Policy Director Media Wahyudi Askar stated that measures such as a wealth tax, strengthened tax benefits for the middle class, elimination of taxes for lower-income groups, and transparency in tax data aim to create a fairer and more accountable system.
CELIOS’s survey on public perceptions of the wealth tax revealed strong support, with 89.77% of respondents agreeing to its implementation in Indonesia,” Media said during the launch of the report and research titled “Economic Inequality Report in Indonesia 2026: Republic of Oligarchy” at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/4/2026).
Media noted that the majority of respondents also believe the wealth tax can reduce economic inequality between social classes. He explained that a 2% wealth tax on the 50 richest individuals could generate Rp93 trillion per year for the state.
“This tax does not target everyone, but only the super-rich, with assets exceeding Rp84 billion,” Media stated.
Media conveyed that the potential of the wealth tax could be more optimal with a threshold or minimum limit of Rp84 billion for imposition. With a progressive rate of 1% to 2%, he continued, the potential wealth tax revenue could reach Rp142.2 trillion per year, or nearly 60% of the total income tax paid by all workers in Indonesia.
“In the midst of widening inequality, the state actually has room to draw greater contributions from the top group, not from ordinary people who are already burdened,” Media added.
Media stated that the wealth tax from 50 trillionaires could build 387,000 homes for low-income communities, meet the living needs of 21.7 million people, provide free university education for 1.2 million students, supply 41.34 million tonnes of subsidised fertiliser to farmers, fund 465,000 scientific research projects, make KRL Jabodetabek free for eight years, and add 40 new KRL sets to eliminate passenger overcrowding.
He mentioned that the wealth tax could also build 1.76 gigawatts of national energy capacity from micro-hydro power plants, provide 5.8 million solar panels for remote villages, restore 5.47 million hectares of tropical rainforest, cover 180 million welfare recipients (PBI) for BPJS contributions, subsidise vehicle maintenance for 13.3 million online motorcycle drivers for a year, and make all treatment costs for chronic diseases like dialysis free.
“Tax revenue will increase significantly, meaning the government can raise spending budgets for social protection functions without increasing existing tax rates. During crises, the wealth tax can also serve as a fiscal shock absorber,” Media continued.