Finance Minister Purbaya Threatens to Dismiss Tax ASN for Lax Restitution Approvals

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has threatened to dismiss (remove from position) tax civil servants (ASN) who are proven to be problematic, particularly in matters of tax restitution. He conveyed this policy as part of tightening supervision and preventing state losses.

According to him, if the tax restitution granted is too high and investigations show deviant behaviour, even the head of the tax office could be relieved of duties or transferred. Purbaya stated that this strict sanction is a directive from President Prabowo Subianto for officials who are negligent in securing state revenues.

“If the previous one said this, I am not allowed to dismiss. They just have to be moved to another place, because of the regulations. I checked with the PANRB too, it’s like that. But the new one says it’s allowed to dismiss, the president’s directive is like that too. If necessary, if this is indeed the case, then dismiss,” said Purbaya at the BPPK Building, Jakarta, on Friday (24/4/2026).

Purbaya explained that decisive action is being taken because Indonesia is currently in survival mode, that is, surviving the shocks of the global economic crisis.

Therefore, the government is committed to securing state revenues through all possible efforts.

“That means we can’t mess around anymore. That means we don’t have room or luxury to play around with all the opportunities we can create. If taxes are messed around with, we’ll be destroyed, roughly speaking,” said Purbaya.

“If the programmes are messed around with, we’ll be ground down by other nations. So we’re in survival mode. I will use all the means available to me, the power I have to ensure that all programmes controlled here, in finance, are monitored well,” added Purbaya.