West Jakarta BPS confirms Economic Census data is for mapping economic potential
The West Jakarta Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has stressed that data collected in the 2026 Economic Census will not be used for taxation, social aid distribution, or audits, but rather as a basis for compiling macro statistics to map economic conditions and potential.
“Regarding the tax issue, we emphasise that the data censused by BPS has nothing to do with taxes. The data will be used for macro or aggregate statistical purposes. We are not employees of the Directorate General of Taxes, and the data is not used for tax audits,” said Head of West Jakarta BPS, Muhammad Noval, when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Regarding questions about income, expenditure, and assets, Noval stated that the Economic Census is fundamentally aimed at mapping the economic conditions or potential of a region.
“Income is asked to measure the economic potential of an area. Expenditure is asked because income minus expenditure yields a margin or added value, so it becomes clear how efficient and effective the economy is in that area. Assets are asked to see economic capacity and resilience,” Noval explained.
Noval said that if income is low and there are no assets, it means the household is economically vulnerable. “The government will then know which economies are vulnerable and which have resilience,” he said.
Furthermore, regarding the issue that census data will be used for mapping social assistance, Noval explained that the policy for distributing social assistance is entirely the authority of the central government. “BPS only provides basic data on the economy. The policy of whether to provide social assistance or not, and how much the allocation is, is entirely the authority of the ministry or central government and related agencies, not BPS,” Noval stressed.
Concerning the issue of personal data confidentiality, Noval mentioned that the BPS server’s security is directly supported by the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN). “Data confidentiality is also guaranteed by law. In addition, for officers who collect data using an application on their mobile phones, after completing their duties the application will be deleted along with the data. There is an official report of deletion. So there is no need to worry about data being left on the officer’s phone,” Noval said.
Noval stated that this clarification was delivered following the rampant spread of hoaxes regarding the Economic Census. “These issues and hoaxes have developed in the community, causing a stir at the beginning, even before officers were deployed in mid-June 2026,” Noval said.
Therefore, his party is actively conducting outreach to educate the public on the importance of the Economic Census. “Our officers continue to advance. The central BPS, provincial BPS, and West Jakarta BPS are actively educating and socialising with the community and field officers,” he added.
Previously, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that the progress of the Economic Census in the West Jakarta area had reached 57.33 percent of the total target of 1,042,543 businesses and households. “That is the achievement as of the morning of 21 July 2026. This figure is slightly above the DKI Jakarta provincial average of 57.32 percent,” said Muhammad Noval.
Noval said that although more than half of the census target has been achieved, officers are still collecting data directly in the field or through the CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) application. “Actually, it can be done with a web application with a special link for businesses. Because there are some businesses that request a physical questionnaire (paper). Some places like malls, offices, and shophouses ask for the questionnaire to be left. Later, the officer will collect it. Some ask for a week, some ask for two weeks,” he revealed.
Noval said the census, conducted from 15 June to 31 August 2026, aims to map information on the economic conditions and potential of businesses, companies, and households.