Taxes for the people

Taxes for the people

For a country, taxes are necessary. Without tax revenue, a country can do nothing. The more advanced a country is, the more the people are aware of their obligation to pay taxes.

In Indonesia, taxes play a big role in running the state. Of the state's Rp 374.3 trillion 2004 budget, some Rp 232.5 trillion is expected to come from tax revenue.

It's not easy to collect taxes. Last year, for example, only 97.3 percent of the targeted tax revenue was collected.

Basically, people have no objections to any kind of tax, provided it is not imposed blindly. The government, however, has to be aware that taxes are the people's money, and as such tax revenue should not be misused or stolen.

People pay taxes and these taxes have to be returned to them. This "reimbursement" can take any of several forms, such as road repairs or subsidies for the poor and street children.

Taxes, as democracy's slogan goes, are from the people and for the people. -- Republika, Jakarta