JAKARTA. The plan of the government and the DPR RI to discuss the tax amnesty clause in the National Amnesty Bill has been criticized by a number of NGOs, especially from the mining sector. This is because the policy candidates are deemed unfair and in fact create legal uncertainty.

Wiko Saputra, Indonesian Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Economic Policy Researcher, said that the amount of illegal money flows in Indonesia reached Rp 227.75 trillion in 2014. Well, the mining sector accounts for the largest portion of money flow aimed at avoiding or attempting to evade taxes, the amount is around Rp. 23.89 trillion.

According to him, the flow of illegal money in the mining sector is generally through fake invoice transactions. Understandably, this is done by illegal mining actors, aka illegal mining. In addition, it also does not rule out the possibility of tax evasion crimes involving mining companies, both oil and gas (oil and gas) and large-scale minerals and coal.

As an illustration, the data on the realization of tax revenue in the mining sector is only Rp. 96.9 trillion. “Compared with the gross domestic product (GDP) of the mining sector which reached Rp. 1,026 trillion, this means that the ratio of tax revenue to GDP (tax ratio) is only 9.4%,” said Wiko, last weekend.

In addition, the results of coordination between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) also found that 1,880 mining business permits (IUP) did not have a taxpayer identification number (NPWP). In fact, 2,741 companies were proven not to report notification letters (SPT).

Therefore, Wiko objected to the plan to provide tax amnesty to entrepreneurs, including those in the mining sector, who have the potential to be involved in illegal mining and environmental damage. “Looking at the practice of tax crimes committed by mining companies, it would be unfair if they were given a pardon,” he said.