JAKARTA: Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati warned tax dodgers that an eight-month tax amnesty program was their last opportunity to have all of their “sins deleted” or face “hell” afterwards.
In her first interview with the foreign media since returning as minister, the former World Bank managing director also told Reuters on Friday her top priorities were restoring credibility in the state budget and improving investors’ confidence in the economy.
The 53-year-old Indrawati, named finance minister in last month’s cabinet reshuffle, said revenue collected so far from the tax amnesty was less than expected, only a tiny fraction of the billions of dollars the government hopes will go into state coffers to narrow substantial fiscal deficit.
To people who owe taxes, she offered a choice: “Basically you have heaven and hell. This is the opportunity for you to go to heaven with only 2% (tax penalty) and all of your sins have been deleted.”
