Ironis! Rakyat Kecil Dihantam PPN Orang Kaya Dapat Pengampunan Pajak

Summary

The video discusses the government's controversial plan to raise VAT to 12% in 2025 while simultaneously offering a third round of tax amnesty. This tax amnesty is seen as benefiting wealthy business owners, while the middle and lower classes are burdened by the VAT hike. The video highlights the disparity in the economic impacts on different income groups, pointing out the increased consumption and declining savings of the lower-income households. It critiques the repeated tax amnesty programs as unfair to law-abiding taxpayers and questions the timing and effectiveness of such measures amidst a struggling economy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The government plans to implement a tax amnesty in 2025, despite having already done so twice since 2016, which may benefit wealthy business owners.
• 😀 There is a proposed increase in the Value Added Tax (PPN) from 11% to 12% in 2025, which could strain the purchasing power of lower-income groups.
• 😀 A survey by Bank Indonesia in October 2024 showed that lower-income households' consumption increased to 74.5%, while their savings decreased by 15%.
• 😀 Many lower-income groups are depleting their savings as consumption continues to outpace their ability to save, with average savings at its lowest since December 2021.
• 😀 Despite a decline in household consumption, the government insists on raising PPN in 2025, stating it is in line with existing tax laws.
• 😀 The tax amnesty program, often used by wealthy individuals or conglomerates, is criticized for benefiting tax evaders instead of promoting fairness in the tax system.
• 😀 In the previous tax amnesty program (2022), 11 super-rich individuals, with wealth above Rp 1 trillion, were exempt from paying taxes.
• 😀 Critics argue that tax amnesty, if implemented too frequently, undermines the tax system and fairness, as it appears to favor the wealthy over law-abiding taxpayers.
• 😀 The most recent tax amnesty in 2022 raised Rp 61 trillion from tax settlement payments, with over 956,000 taxpayers reporting during the program.
• 😀 The government is still assessing whether a third tax amnesty in 2025 is appropriate, especially after it was conducted in 2022, and public questions remain about its fairness.

Q & A

What is the government planning regarding tax amnesty in 2025?

The government plans to implement another tax amnesty in 2025, offering relief to wealthy business owners who may not have been paying their taxes. This move is expected to benefit the rich but raises concerns about fairness, especially when considering the potential tax burden on lower-income groups due to the increase in VAT.

Why is the timing of the tax amnesty and VAT increase criticized?

The criticism arises from the simultaneous implementation of a tax amnesty for the wealthy and an increase in VAT from 11% to 12% in 2025. While the tax amnesty benefits the rich, the VAT hike is seen as a burden on lower-income groups, exacerbating their financial difficulties.

How does the rise in VAT impact the middle and lower-income groups?

The VAT increase to 12% is expected to further reduce the purchasing power of middle and lower-income groups, especially those already facing financial strain, as evidenced by a decrease in savings and a higher proportion of consumption.

What does the survey conducted by Bank Indonesia reveal about the financial situation of lower-income households?

According to the survey, lower-income households are spending more, with consumption increasing by 74.5%. However, their savings have decreased significantly, dropping to just 15%. This indicates that they are relying on their savings to meet their consumption needs.

What has been the trend in household consumption and savings since 2021?

Household consumption has been growing, but at a slower rate, particularly for lower-income groups. Savings, on the other hand, have been steadily decreasing, and in October 2024, the savings rate hit its lowest level since December 2021.

How does the government's stance on VAT differ from the concerns of business associations?

Despite the financial challenges faced by the public, business associations like Apindo argue that the government has room to delay the VAT increase, especially when considering the ongoing economic difficulties such as low purchasing power and high interest rates.

How has tax amnesty been used in the past, and who benefits from it?

Tax amnesty programs are primarily utilized by high-income individuals and conglomerates, offering them a chance to disclose assets and avoid penalties. In the 2022 tax amnesty, for instance, many super-rich individuals who had evaded taxes were granted amnesty.

What impact did the previous tax amnesty programs have on the government’s revenue?

The previous tax amnesty programs in 2016-2017 and 2022 generated significant revenue. In 2016-2017, the government collected Rp135 trillion, while in 2022, the program raised Rp61.01 trillion, with the total reported assets reaching Rp94.82 trillion.

What is the potential problem with frequent tax amnesty programs according to economists?

Economists, such as Wahyu Widodo from Universitas Diponegoro, argue that frequent tax amnesty programs, like the one proposed for 2025, indicate a flaw in the tax system. They suggest that tax evaders should be penalized rather than given repeated opportunities for amnesty.

What were the results of the tax amnesty program in 2017, and how many taxpayers participated?

The 2017 tax amnesty program resulted in Rp4.855 trillion in reported assets, including Rp3.676 trillion from domestic assets and Rp1.031 trillion from foreign assets. Over 956,000 taxpayers participated in this program.