Politics · Indonesia · 3 hrs ago
Indonesia prioritises tax refunds for small businesses and exporters
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Taxes is managing tax refunds while balancing taxpayers’ rights with the need to protect government revenue.
Tax Director General Bimo Wijayanto said the authority would follow existing rules and procedures.
Small businesses, job-intensive industries and exporters are priorities because of their contribution to the economy, jobs and exports.
Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara has directed the tax authority to make refunds easier, especially for small businesses.
Refunds will remain subject to oversight, Bimo said.
He gave no year-end refund forecast and announced no new policy to delay or restrict payments.
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Taxes says it will prioritise tax refunds for micro, small and medium-sized businesses, labour-intensive industries and businesses that support exports.
Director General of Taxes Bimo Wijayanto said refund procedures would follow existing rules and standard operating procedures.
He said the tax authority must also consider state revenue, including spending needs and budget-deficit management.
Bimo said the finance minister’s guidance was to make refunds easier, particularly for small businesses, while maintaining oversight.
He did not provide a year-end refund forecast or announce a new policy to hold up or slow refunds.
- Who
- Indonesia’s Directorate General of Taxes and its director general, Bimo Wijayanto.
- What
- The tax authority says it will prioritise refunds for small businesses, labour-intensive industries and export-oriented businesses while protecting state revenue.
- When
- Bimo made the comments on 15 October 2026.
- Where
- Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Why
- The authority aims to respect taxpayers’ rights and support sectors contributing to the economy, while also considering state revenue, spending needs and the budget deficit.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bimo Wijayanto told reporters the tax authority would follow existing refund rules while considering state revenue.
Bimo said refunds would be prioritised for small businesses and other sectors including labour-intensive and export-oriented businesses.
- Priority groups
- Small businesses, labour-intensive industries and export-oriented businesses
- Official
- Bimo Wijayanto, Director General of Taxes
- Statement date
- 15 October 2026
- Refund forecast
- No year-end projection provided
What people are saying
We respect all legal rules, standard operating procedures and taxpayers’ rights. But we also have to safeguard state revenue in relation to spending and the deficit.
The finance minister’s guidance is clear: we will disburse refunds, especially for small businesses, particularly those that create value, open jobs and are export-oriented.