TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Social media posts claim Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia will impose a tax on mobile phone and television usage starting in 2027. The posts include a photo of Bahlil and text warning of the tax.
Tempo's fact-check found the claim false. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources denied the announcement on its official Instagram and TikTok accounts. The Ministry of Finance also confirmed no such tax is planned.
Deni Surjantoro, Head of the Communications and Information Services Bureau at the Ministry of Finance, told Tempo, "This narrative is a hoax." Inge Diana Rismawanti, Director of Counseling, Services, and Public Relations at the Directorate General of Taxes, also confirmed the news is false.
The photo of Bahlil used in the posts is from a September 19, 2025 event where he discussed fuel import agreements with Pertamina, not taxes. He made no mention of taxes on mobile phones or TVs.
Currently, mobile phones and televisions are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) at an effective rate of 11 percent, as set by regulations. There are no plans to introduce a new tax on usage starting in 2027.
Source: en.tempo.co
