Purbaya: New tax refund rules for a more orderly process
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that the new regulations on the mechanism for preliminary refunds of excess tax payments, or restitusi, aim to make the process more orderly.
The new regulation in question is Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) No. 28 of 2026, under which the government has lowered the threshold for accelerated Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds for Taxable Entrepreneurs (PKP) who meet the requirements from the previous Rp5 billion to Rp1 billion.
“This is just to control it so that the refunds are issued more neatly,” Purbaya told reporters at the Ministry of Finance office in Jakarta on Monday.
He explained that the current restitusi process is undergoing an investigative audit by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), covering the period from 2016 to 2025.
The audit aims to ensure there are no errors or deviations in the calculation of tax refunds.
“This restitusi is being investigated and audited from 2016 to 2025 by BPKP. I have requested a thorough audit so that we are not caught off guard,” he said.
In particular, he highlighted the coal industry, where he found VAT restitusi leakages amounting to Rp25 trillion net.
Therefore, the government wants to further investigate the mechanisms and calculations of restitusi that have been in place so far. The restitusi policy has been temporarily tightened and some refunds cancelled to prevent expenditures from becoming even harder to control if errors are found.
He emphasised that if the audit uncovers any deviations or parties intentionally exploiting loopholes in the restitusi process, the government will take firm action.
The results of BPKP’s investigative audit on tax refunds have not yet been completed. Purbaya said he will coordinate again with BPKP Head Muhammad Yusuf Ateh to discuss the progress of the examination.
“The audit results haven’t come out yet; I will meet with Mr Ateh again. I am very serious about this restitusi because its issuance has been somewhat uncontrolled,” he stated.