With deficits rampant around the world, states are trying to dab the red ink with spending cuts or revenue increases. And among the latter, an evergreen favorite is the fight against evasion. Not only in Italy but also in Indonesia there is a struggle. And the latest gimmick of the Indonesian government is that of pillory the tax evaders, publishing names and surnames. Of course, total evaders are by definition unknown, at least until they are discovered. But the target of this blacklist for now is those who owe the IRS money but don't pay (mainly for income taxes, VAT, and land and property taxes).
Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said the government he will first give these debtors a deadline to pay, and after the deadline will publish their names. If that doesn't cause them to come up with the money either, two other punishments are on the waiting list: passport withdrawal and, ultimately, the prison. There is also a site where tax offenders can be denounced (as in Italy) but in Indonesia it is mainly used to denounce tax agents who ask for bribes.
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