Finance Minister Purbaya Pledges Bonuses for Ministry Staff if Tax Ratio Reaches 11 Percent

Jakarta — Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has promised bonuses for employees of the Ministry of Finance if Indonesia’s tax ratio successfully increases to approximately 11 percent.

Purbaya stated that increasing state revenue is key to expanding the government’s fiscal space, particularly given that state expenditure needs will continue to rise to drive economic growth.

“If state revenue increases well, for instance if our tax ratio next year approaches 11 percent, I will request a bonus from the President so that all of you can receive bonuses,” Purbaya said during an inauguration event at the Ministry of Finance in Jakarta on Tuesday (10 March 2026).

He assessed that digitalisation efforts are beginning to show impact on increasing tax revenue.

“We are promoting Coretax and digitalisation. I see the impact is quite significant. Compared to last year, revenue can increase by around 30 percent,” Purbaya said.

Beyond the taxation sector, the government will also strengthen digitalisation at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise to minimise potential leakage in state revenue.

According to him, digitalisation aims to reduce direct contact between officials and business operators so that practices potentially causing irregularities can be minimised.

“Through digitalisation we avoid direct meetings with business operators, so there will be no more leakage,” he said.

Nevertheless, Purbaya emphasised that the success of system reform still depends on the integrity of civil servants. He reminded that no matter how sophisticated a system is, it will not function optimally without being supported by human resources with integrity.

“No matter how advanced the system, if the integrity of the people is weak it will definitely fail,” he said.

For this reason, Purbaya called on all Ministry of Finance employees, particularly at the Directorate General of Taxation and Directorate General of Customs and Excise, to work at maximum capacity and maintain integrity in increasing state revenue.

He emphasised that the target to increase the tax ratio to approximately 11 percent is a direct directive from the President.

“The target of a two-digit tax ratio is not just my wish, but also a directive from the President,” he said.

Purbaya also stated that he will visit work units more frequently after Eid to monitor employee performance in increasing state revenue.

“I will come more often to your workplace. So don’t take this lightly, let us build together taxation and customs so that state revenue can increase,” Purbaya said.