"Citizens have the obligation to pay taxes, which should be used for public services and the welfare of the people. If the taxes are embezzled, people will not be able to enjoy the benefits of the taxes they pay. Therefore, the misappropriation of taxes must be prevented," the Secretary General of the Indonesian Taxpayers Association (APPI), HM Sasmito Hadinagoro, said here on Thursday.
He made the statement during a public discussion on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of MKGR, a wing of the Golkar Party.
"The state's tax revenues have been increasing, but there has been no improvement in the welfare of the people. This shows that tax misappropriation is definitely happening," Sasmito pointed out.
Citing State Finance Assessment Institute (LKPN) data, he said tax revenues in the 2004 state budget reached Rp206 trillion. "In 2009, the figure was Rp528 trillion," Sasmito stated.
"Tax revenues for 2012 are estimated to reach Rp800 trillion -- that is four times the 2004 figures -- but there has been little improvement in people`s welfare over these years," he pointed out.
Therefore, Sasmito urged the President to crack down on tax abuse and misappropriation.
"So far, this problem has not been dealt with in the right way. It must be noted that about 70 percent of foreign debt was paid off with taxpayers' money," he added.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
