TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government plans to roll out incentives in the form of Final Income Tax (PPh Final) cuts for writers in the second semester of 2026. The plan was discussed during a cross-ministerial meeting led by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto at his office on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Airlangga stated that the tax facilities for authors were finalized in a meeting attended by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Rini Widyantini, and Manpower Minister Yassierli. "It has been decided to provide tax incentives for writers in the form of a 1.5 percent final income tax," he said.
He explained that the tax cut will automatically apply to published authors, provided their books carry a valid International Standard Book Number (ISBN).
This fiscal relief arrives alongside a package of economic stimuli designed to shore up economic growth in the second quarter of 2026. In addition to the author tax incentives, the government is also introducing transportation discounts for the upcoming school holidays, as well as the Christmas and New Year season.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, speaking at the same venue, shed light on the reason behind the policy. "Because, as they say, the number of writers here is small, especially scientific writers," he noted. Moving forward, this incentive is expected to encourage more people to write books by easing their tax burden.
Purbaya conceded that the dividends for economic growth would manifest in the long run rather than the short term. By backing writers, the administration hopes to foster a stronger reading culture among Indonesians and broaden public knowledge.
The government also hopes to see a more diverse catalog of published works, expanding beyond fiction to include scientific literature and high-quality economics books penned by local authors. "So that your perspective is not dominated by TikTok economics," Purbaya quipped.
Read: Indonesia Scraps OpenAI from Digital VAT Collector List
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Indonesia Scraps OpenAI from Digital VAT Collector List
1 hari lalu
The Directorate General of Taxes revokes OpenAI from digital tax collectors' data in April 2026.
Indonesia Gives Citizens Six Months to Return Assets Held Abroad
14 hari lalu
Finance Minister Purbaya sets a deadline for Indonesian citizens to repatriate their assets and pay taxes.
Purbaya Reaffirms No Asset Hunt for Tax Amnesty Joiners
15 hari lalu
Purbaya said assets previously disclosed by business owners and taxpayers under earlier tax amnesty schemes would not be re-examined.
Jakarta: EVs Remain Tax-Free and Exempt from Odd-Even Rule
21 hari lalu
The Jakarta Provincial Revenue Agency noted that the regional mandate on EVs follows specific provisions established by the central government.
Purbaya Pledges Tax Incentives for Bali IFC Investors
21 hari lalu
Finance Minister Purbaya offers tax exemptions to global investors in the Bali International Financial Center to strengthen foreign reserves.
Celios Sees Major State Revenue Gains from Windfall Tax
24 hari lalu
Celios says imposing a windfall tax on extractive companies could significantly boost Indonesia's revenue by tens of trillions of rupiah annually.
10 Countries with No Income Tax You Can Move to in 2026
25 hari lalu
Looking for a tax-free life? Explore 10 countries with no income tax to move to in 2026, from the UAE to Monaco.
Banten Moves to Exempt Electric Vehicles from Tax
30 hari lalu
The Government of Banten Province in Indonesia will follow the government's policy on the exemption of tax of electric vehicles.
Jakarta to Collect Electric Vehicle Tax While Still Providing Incentives
30 hari lalu
The Jakarta Regional Revenue Agency (Bapenda) will collect taxes on electric vehicles (EV) fairly, while still providing incentives.
10 Best Places to Retire 2026 with Tax-Free Benefits
32 hari lalu
Dreaming of living comfortably in your golden years should lead you to explore the best places to retire, like Panama and Costa Rica.
