The Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) under the Ministry of Finance reported that tax revenue from domestic shipping activities reached Rp24 trillion. In contrast, revenue collected from foreign shipping operations amounted to only around Rp600 billion, despite an estimated potential of up to Rp6 trillion. This issue was raised during a business debottlenecking meeting held on Monday (Jan. 26, 2026).

During the session, the Indonesian National Shipowners Association (INSA) revealed that several foreign vessels were operating in Indonesian waters without paying Income Tax (PPh) and Value Added Tax (VAT). Director General of Taxes Bimo informed Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, who chaired the meeting, that domestic shipping contributed Rp24 trillion in tax revenue, while foreign shipping companies contributed only about Rp600–670 billion annually.

In response, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa urged the Ministry of Transportation to strengthen the enforcement of regulations governing foreign vessels. He emphasized that the actual tax potential from foreign shipping should be around Rp6 trillion, not merely a fraction of that amount, and questioned whether stronger enforcement could still unlock this potential.

Purbaya also called on the Ministry of Transportation to improve tax payment procedures for foreign vessels, including requiring proof of Income Tax payment or applicable tax treaty documentation before granting sailing permits. This measure, he said, is necessary to ensure equal treatment between domestic and foreign ships. He set a deadline of one to two weeks to assess implementation on the ground and pledged to follow up directly with the Ministry of Transportation and INSA.

Furthermore, Purbaya expressed frustration over the lack of effective oversight regarding foreign vessels that fail to meet tax obligations. He criticized weak communication and monitoring by the Ministry of Transportation, noting that delayed reporting hampers swift enforcement. According to him, faster coordination would allow authorities to resolve such issues more efficiently. As a result, he stressed the need for improved supervisory communication and warned that the Ministry of Transportation’s budget could be reduced if corrective measures are not taken.