Your comments on the campaign against paying taxes by a number of people, following a report of alleged corruption of Rp 28 billion by a tax official
A tax boycott is totally wrong. While we need more people to criticize our taxation system, let us all help Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati overhaul the system. Let us make effort to improve our long abused nation.
Moeljono Adi Koesoemo
Jakarta
If our tax money just goes into the bloated potbellies of Gayus and his ilk (and the tax office is full of them), this is not a bad idea. It has again been proven that raising their pay doesn't help. We should behead a few, and in public! That might scare the rest.
Hadi
Surabaya
More than a half of our state budget depends on taxes. If we don't pay taxes, our state budget will decrease. So how do we manage this country then? I can't imagine. Therefore, I think it's nonsense to campaign for a boycott on paying taxes.
Rev. Gonzales
Jakarta
The past couple of days we have seen extensive coverage in The Jakarta Post on tax officials the tax office's corruption, focusing mainly on Gayus Tambunan amassing close to US$3 million in dirty money. It is indeed amazing and infuriating for all of us.
While we appreciate the fact that the government should overhaul the entire tax office, the onus of responsibility not only rests with the government but also with the citizens: All the corporate and individual taxpayers.
Corporate and individual taxpayers should firmly stand on their principles of not budging for any negotiations or adopting shortcuts if the tax office or tax auditors raise illogical demands to pay higher tax. This may be due to a misunderstanding of the business by the authorities.
If taxpayers feel such demands would not be tenable in tax courts, they should file an appeal and clarify.
The general fear among taxpayers here is that they won't get justice from the tax courts.
In my experience representing a joint venture general insurance company in dealing with the tax court, we have got a fair decision from the so-called retirees from the tax office who supervise the tax court proceedings.
If the transactions recorded in our books are "true and fair", I think we should not give up and should file an appeal in the tax courts. This way we would be helping the government overhaul the system.
People like Gayus should be wiped out if we stand firm on saying no to unofficial negotiations at the lower level.
The government should educate taxpayers about approaching the relevant higher authorities, like tax officials or tax courts, if they have any tax disputes that they genuinely feel needs to be clarified.
Padasala
Jakarta
Next topic
Tax official Gayus Tambunan, believed to have amassed Rp 28 billion (US$3.08) in embezzled tax money, is expected to squeal on high-ranking police officers implicated in the case. What do you think?
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