House Speaker Puan Maharani Calls for Review of Military and Police Involvement in Tax Collection

House Speaker Puan Maharani has stated that the involvement of military village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa) and police community order officers (Bhabinkamtibmas) in tax matters must not erode public trust. She said the relevant commission overseeing taxation in the House of Representatives (DPR) will delve into the controversy. “Public trust must not diminish because of coercion or other factors that alter the public’s awareness, which previously had been willing to report their taxes independently,” Puan said during a press conference after a plenary session at the parliament complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to her, the government had previously urged the public to be aware of their obligations as taxpayers and to report their taxes independently. However, due to the controversy surrounding the involvement of security forces, the DPR will seek clarification from the relevant institutions. “The relevant commission will also request information regarding this matter,” she added.

Previously, the Directorate General of Taxes at the Ministry of Finance clarified that the involvement of Babinsa and Bhabinkamtibmas officers is limited to providing assistance only when necessary. They are not tasked with conducting supervision, collection, or data gathering related to taxation. Inge Diana Rismawanti, Director of Counseling, Services, and Public Relations at the tax office, explained that the assistance is intended for specific conditions, such as when officers need to visit a taxpayer in a location that requires special security measures or transport access. “They are not the executors of the supervision or examination conducted by the Directorate General of Taxes,” she stated.