BERITA TERKINI
JAKARTA, DDTCNews - The government plans to apply a final income tax scheme at a rate of 1.5% on income received by book authors and writers. This policy is part of the economic stimulus package being prepared for the second half of 2026.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa views the 1.5% final income tax as an incentive to attract more people to become book authors. He noted that the number of writers in Indonesia remains limited, particularly in the scientific and academic fields.
"Because apparently there aren't many writers here. Especially scientific writers — so [this policy] is meant to encourage people with the ability and expertise to write books," he said, as quoted on Thursday (28/5/2026).
Purbaya believes that if more people become book authors, more people will also become informed about life and knowledge. He argued this would have a positive impact on the quality of human resources in Indonesia.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the benefits of applying the final income tax scheme would not be felt immediately and may not necessarily accelerate the country's economic growth.
"Not in the short term [in terms of impact on the economy] — this is for the long term. So we will have more people who are open-minded and informed. Perhaps it's not just [the number of] storybooks [that will increase], but also scientific books and good economics books," Purbaya explained.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto had previously explained that taxpayers eligible to use the final income tax scheme include all individuals who work as writers and whose books have an identity registered through an international standard book number (ISBN).
The 1.5% final income tax scheme for workers in the literary field will be further regulated through a ministerial regulation (PMK).
"We have decided to provide a tax incentive for writers, namely a final income tax of 1.5%," said Airlangga. (dik)
