Export Data Manipulation: 282 Taxpayers Suspected of Using Underinvoicing Scheme

JAKARTA. A total of 282 taxpayers are suspected of manipulating export data during the 2021–2025 period. The scheme involved declaring a lower value for goods in export documents than their actual worth, a practice known as underinvoicing.

According to the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT), as quoted from Bisnis.com, the manipulation was carried out using two schemes. The first scheme involved disguising the type of exported commodity as fatty matter.

Fatty matter is a commodity that benefits from an export duty exemption and is not included in the restricted or prohibited export list.

The second scheme involved declaring the exported goods as Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), even though POME is not suitable for large-volume export.

Allegations Under Review

The total export value recorded in the Export Goods Declaration (PEB) documents amounted to IDR 47.98 trillion. “This is still an allegation—whether it was truly POME or not,” said the Director General of Taxes, Bimo Wijayanto, on Thursday (Nov 6).

Meanwhile, quoting Kontan.co.id, the DGT is still conducting an investigation through its Tax Law Enforcement Team. However, preliminary findings have already been reported to the Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. (ASP/KEN)