Govt to set up team to audit miners? tax payment

The government will form a special team to audit tax payment of mining companies following the sharp drop in their tax payment during the period between January to May, this year compared to the same period of last year, Kontan reported on Friday.

Coordinating Minister of Economy Hatta Radjasa said in Jakarta on Thursday that the team will be authorized to directly question governmental officials including the ministry of economy, directorate general of taxation, governors, regents and mining companies before conducting the tax audit.

?From the audit, we will be able to get the information about the amount they should have paid,? Hatta said.

He did not mention when the team will be formed.

The finance ministry reported earlier that the tax payment both in the form of income and value added taxes from the country?s miners dropped sharply to Rp 10.6 trillion during the January-May period, this year, from Rp 18.5 trillion in the same period, last year. (*)