Nadiem Denies Alleged Rp6 Trillion Income Surge, Claims SPT Misreading

Jakarta — Defendant Nadiem Anwar Makarim has denied allegations of a Rp6 trillion income surge in his annual tax return (Surat Pemberitahuan Tahunan/SPT), characterising the figure as resulting from a misreading of tax documents. He made the statement during a continuation hearing in the Chromebook procurement case at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday, 9 March 2026.

According to Nadiem, the alleged income surge figure actually relates to the value of shares he has held since 2015, well before assuming office as minister.

“The hearing has already demonstrated that the increase in share value derives from shares I have held since 2015, five years before becoming minister. The shares have never been transferred since then. In 2022, there was no sale whatsoever,” Nadiem stated in court.

He contended that the allegation of a Rp6 trillion income spike arose from a misinterpretation of SPT data.

“Then it is claimed there was an income surge of Rp6 trillion. That is a misreading of the SPT,” he said.

Nadiem clarified that the approximately Rp5.2 trillion figure listed in the document relates to the tax obligation on share ownership when PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (AKAB/GoTo) conducted its initial public offering (IPO).

According to him, every shareholder is required to pay tax equivalent to 0.5 per cent of total shares multiplied by the IPO price.

“Every shareholder of a company that will go public is obligated to pay tax once, equivalent to 0.5 per cent of total shares multiplied by the IPO price. So that is not income, but a tax expense,” he stated.

He added that this obligation also applied to approximately 200 other shareholders at the time of the IPO.

Nadiem also emphasised that there was no share sale in 2022 due to share lock-up regulations imposed on early shareholders after the company listed on the stock exchange.

“Early shareholders cannot sell shares for eight months after the IPO. So it is impossible for me to have sold shares in 2022,” he said.

Regarding another allegation citing a figure of Rp809 billion, Nadiem stated that this amount does not appear in his SPT. He also said that his asset declarations in both the SPT and State Officials’ Property Report (Laporan Harta Kekayaan Penyelenggara Negara/LHKPN) were consistent.