Indonesian Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, announced urgent plans to reform the Coretax system to combat the phenomenon of tax jokers that have spread through social media. This decision comes at a critical time as many taxpayers are facing difficulties in using the system.
Indrawati confirmed that the emergence of tax jokers, who offer their services to facilitate the process of submitting annual income tax returns, is a result of existing gaps in the current tax system. She pointed out that these gaps have been exploited by some individuals to provide their services at low prices, complicating matters for ordinary users.
Details of the Reform Plans
In statements made in Jakarta, Indrawati explained that the design of the Coretax system suffers from certain flaws that make it challenging for ordinary citizens to use. She noted that this complexity has led to the emergence of intermediaries or tax jokers who facilitate communication between users and the tax system.
She added that the current time is insufficient for comprehensive reforms, as she has only been in office for less than a month, but she is committed to improving the system to make it more user-friendly and effective.
Background & Context
Indonesia is one of the countries striving to enhance its tax system, with the Directorate General of Taxes reporting that as of April 5, 2025, over 17.7 million taxpayers have activated their accounts in the Coretax system. Among these, there are approximately 16.6 million individual taxpayers, 976,000 corporate taxpayers, and 90,000 government institutions.
Complaints from taxpayers regarding the difficulty of using the system have increased, leading to the emergence of tax jokers as an alternative solution. This phenomenon is not limited to Indonesia alone, as it is recurring in many countries with complex tax systems.
Impact & Consequences
The proposed reforms could enhance the taxpayer experience and build trust in the tax system. If the government succeeds in making the Coretax system more accessible, it may reduce reliance on tax jokers, thereby improving the level of transparency in the tax system.
On the other hand, the government may face challenges in implementing these reforms, especially given the need to update the technology and infrastructure required to support the new system.
Regional Significance
This reform is crucial not only for Indonesia but also serves as a lesson for other countries facing similar issues in their tax systems. The experience of Indonesia could provide valuable insights into how to tackle the challenges posed by intermediaries in tax collection.
In conclusion, these reforms represent a vital step towards improving the efficiency of the tax system and enhancing trust between the government and citizens.