Not Withheld: Tax Director-General Says Refunds Now More Selective
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Director-General of Taxes Bimo Wiajaynto has denied that refunds of excess tax payments are being withheld by the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP).
Bimo said refund payments are carried out selectively and in accordance with applicable regulations, not deliberately held up by the Tax Office.
“Refunds are fine. Who said they were being withheld?” Bimo told reporters at Gedung Djuanda I in Jakarta on Tuesday (15/9/2026).
Bimo asserted that the refund policy is now applied selectively, more measured, better planned and targeted, according to sectors that are genuinely compliant in meeting their tax obligations.
He also assured that audits of businesses related to tax refunds are conducted according to the standard operating procedures in force at the Directorate General of Taxes.
“The rest are under audit. And audits have their standards — the DJP is certainly not in a position to violate its own SOPs,” Bimo said.
Earlier, during a working meeting with Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR), Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said he had received reports from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) about numerous refund problems that have disrupted companies’ cash flow.
Agus said the Ministry of Industry had in fact been planning to meet with the Ministry of Finance to resolve the refund issue.
Rahayu Saraswati, Deputy Chair of Commission VII of the DPR, also revealed the potential for lay-offs in East Java as a result of obstructed tax refunds.
Meanwhile, Shinta Kamdani, Chair of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), expressed hope that the issue of excess tax refunds could be resolved more quickly by the Tax Office so that companies’ cash flow is not disrupted.
“Our hope is that this can be resolved, because it would certainly be a heavy burden for companies, especially in terms of cash flow, since refunds are very important for them to run their businesses,” Shinta explained.