Sri Mulyani's Subordinates Open Their Voices Regarding The Increase In Tukin Kemenkeu By 300 Percent

Special Staff to the Minister of Finance Yustinus Prastowo. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA - In the last few days, the public's attention has been focused on the statement of the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani regarding the increase in performance allowances (tukin) by 300 percent for the Directorate General of Taxes so that it is busy being discussed by netizens.

This was conveyed during a discussion on the launch of Sri Mulyani's biography entitled "No Limits Reform with A Heart" on Friday, September 20, 2024.

Sri Mulyani explained that her experience in carrying out early-stage reforms at the Ministry of Finance in 2005 found that the salary of the Director General of Taxes was lower than that of a PhD at LPEM UI, even though her responsibility was very large for the State Budget.

Where the biography contains experiences from Sri Mulyani since graduating from FE UI, became a lecturer, researcher and Head of LPEM UI, to serving in the IMF, became Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas, Minister of Finance, Acting Coordinating Minister for the Economy in the era of Pak SBY, Managing Director of World Bank, to become Minister of Finance at this time.

Special Staff to the Minister of Finance Yustinus Prastowo explained that during the discussion, Sri Mulyani told about the initial phase of reform she was doing at the Ministry of Finance, where she first became Minister of Finance in 2005.

"When he became Minister of Finance in 2005. He found the fact that the salary of the Director General of Taxes, whose responsibility was very large for the state budget, was lower than a PhD who became a researcher at LPEM UI," he explained in his statement, Wednesday, September 25.

Prastowo explained that bureaucratic reform at the Ministry of Finance had started since Boediono became Minister of Finance in the era of President Megawati together with Hadi Poernomo as Director General of Taxes, then reform was continued by Sri Mulyani in the era of President SBY.

In addition, Prastowo even claimed to be a witness to bureaucratic reform and tax sector reform in the era of President SBY which was carried out fundamentally and thoroughly, under the duet of Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani and Director General of Taxes Darmin Nasution.

"What is done is not only adjusting the take home pay of employees, but also overhauling the service system, modernizing the tax office, revising the Tax Law, building internal compliance units, code of ethics guidelines, and of course rationalizing and optimizing revenue targets," he explained.

As for 2004 or the first year of Pak SBY's administration and the transition from Bu Mega, the number of registered Taxpayers (WP) was 2.73 million taxpayers, with a tax target of Rp279.2 trillion. At that time, the size of the APBN was Rp430 trillion.

Then in 2014, namely the end of the SBY administration and towards the transition to the Jokowi government, the number of registered taxpayers was 30.57 million taxpayers, with a Tax Target of IDR 1,246.1 trillion and a State Budget size of IDR 1,876.9 trillion.

"This means that in 10 years of Pak SBY's administration from 2004 to 2014, there was an increase in the number of taxpayers by 27.84 million or 1019.8 percent, the target for tax revenue increased by Rp966.9 trillion, an increase of 346.3 percent. Our state budget also increased by 336.5 percent or Rp1,446.9 trillion," he said.

Furthermore, in 2024 or 10 years of Jokowi's administration, the number of taxpayers has become 72.46 million taxpayers, an increase of 2554.2 percent in 2004 and 137 percent in 2014.

Meanwhile, the tax target is IDR 2118.3 trillion, or an increase of 658.7 percent from the 2004 target and 70 percent from the 2014 target. And the State Budget size to IDR 3304.1 trillion, an increase of 668.4 percent from the 2004 size and 76 percent from the 2014 size.

Prastowo explained, from 2004 to 2024, several changes to the Tax Law have also been made to ensure better justice, in addition to optimizing acceptance through extensification and intensification.

As for the reforms carried out, namely, the package for amendments to the 2007-2008 Law accompanied by the Sunset Policy program, then the 2015 Reinventing Policy Program, Law 11/2016 on Tax Amnesty and followed by the Tax Amnesty Program, then Law 9/2017 concerning the stipulation of Perppu 1/2017 concerning Access to Financial Information for Tax Interests into Laws, which open the door to transparency, in line with global initiatives.

The year 2021 is stipulated by Law 7/2021 concerning Harmonization of Tax Regulations, which regulates the integration of NIK and NPWP, tariff increases for super-rich taxpayers, VAT tariff adjustments, MSME PPh facilities, and various improvements according to global and domestic tax dynamics.

Meanwhile, in 2022, the Voluntary Disclosure Program will be run which is the last chance before entering the full transparency era.

At the end of this government, the Core Tax System, which will become Indonesia's tax game changer, will be completed.

"Pros and cons are common. Public discourse must continue to be maintained and developed. However, it would be better if the discussion started from a premise and the right context so that it is fair, objective, and constructive. All parties have the right to exchange ideas and suggestions for improvement," he said.

Prastowo hopes that in the future government, along with the improvement of Indonesia's economic condition and the hard work of all parties, the noble ideals and good hopes can be realized.