Mahfud: Underpayment Tax SB On Gold Imports Reaches Hundreds Of Billions

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud Md submitted a report from the TPPU Task Force, at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (1/11/2023). (ANTARA/Rina Nur Anggraini.)

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud Md said the case of gold imports worth Rp. 189 trillion which dragged a person with the initials SB, is estimated to have underpaid taxes along with fines that reached hundreds of billions of rupiah. "The Directorate General of Taxes obtained data that the SB group reported an annual notification letter (SPT) incorrectly so that the Directorate General of Taxes issued the Initial Evidence Examination Order (SPRIN BUKPER) dated June 14, 2023 against four SB group taxpayers," said Mahfud Md, at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Office, Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, November 1. The TPPU Task Force, said Mahfud, found the fact that falsification of customs data caused the loss of income tax levies (PPH) article 22 on imported gold bullion of 3.5 tons by SB's group. He said that the Directorate General of Taxes obtained an agreement document regarding the processing of metal anodes or doses from PT ATMs to the SB group (PT LM) in 2017. The agreement was allegedly used by SB to export goods illegally. "Currently, the number of metal anode shipments is still being traced from PT ATM to PT LM and the delivery of processed products in the form of gold from PT LM to PT ATM, to ascertain the actual transaction value," said Mahfud Md. In doing business, said Mahfud, SB uses his employees to commit customs, taxation, and money laundering crimes. As for the crime mode carried out by SB, said Mahfud, conditioning it as if the gold bullion imported by SB had been processed into jewelry and exported entirely. "In fact, based on the data obtained, 3.5 tons of gold bullion is suspected to be circulating in domestic trade. Thus, the SB group has abused the PPH Free Decree article 22," he said. This suspicious gold import transaction of IDR 189 trillion is part of the findings of odd transactions worth IDR 349 trillion at the Ministry of Finance in the PPATK report from 2009 to 2023.

In order to follow up on the PPATK report, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud Md formed a TPPU Task Force to investigate the odd transaction.