August 4, 2026 | 12:44 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dozens of accounts on Facebook [archive], Instagram, Threads, and TikTok are sharing information that the Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia, will impose a tax on mobile phone and television usage starting in 2027.
The content includes a photo of Bahlil giving a statement at an event. "Bahlil warns that starting in 2027, mobile phone users will be taxed," reads the text.
Is it true that Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced a tax on mobile phone and television usage starting in 2027?
FACT CHECK
Tempo verified the claim by requesting information from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, comparing it with tax regulations, and tracing the origin of Bahlil's photo. The results showed that the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources never announced a tax levy on mobile phone and television usage starting in 2027.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, through its Instagram and TikTok accounts, also stated that the content using Bahlil's name was false.
The Head of the Communications and Information Services Bureau of the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu), Deni Surjantoro, stated that there are no plans to impose such a tax. "This narrative is a hoax," Deni told Tempo via WhatsApp on Friday, July 24, 2026.
Inge Diana Rismawanti, Director of Counseling, Services, and Public Relations at the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) at the Ministry of Finance, also confirmed that the news about the imposition of a tax on mobile phone and television usage is false.
Tax Collected Upon Purchase of Mobile Phones and Televisions
Value Added Tax (VAT) is levied when people purchase mobile phones and televisions. Law Number 7 of 2021 concerning the Harmonization of Tax Regulations (UU HPP) sets the general VAT rate at 12 percent starting January 1, 2025.
However, Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) Number 131 of 2024 imposes a provision on Other Values for non-luxury goods transactions of 11/12. Under this provision, the price of goods is multiplied by 11/12 before calculating the 12 percent VAT, so the effective tax rate remains at 11 percent.
"Purchases of smartphones and smart TVs are subject to VAT at a rate of 11 percent. There is no difference in tax treatment for certain types of cellphones and TVs," Inge told Tempo via WhatsApp on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Image Verification
The circulating photo of Bahlil is documentation of him explaining the fuel import agreement through Pertamina, as reported in Tempo's September 19, 2025, edition. Bahlil made no mention of taxes on cell phone or TV usage.
A similar statement was posted on the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources' official website on the same date. At that time, Bahlil explained that fuel imports would be carried out in pure octane grades without additives, and private gas stations would be required to purchase it from Pertamina.
CONCLUSION
Tempo's verification concluded that the narrative claiming Bahli announced the implementation of taxes on cell phone and TV usage starting in 2027 is a false claim.
TEMPO FACT CHECK TEAM
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