The Faculty of Vocational Education, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) held an interactive dialogue themed “Tax Harmonization and Tax Consultant: The Urgency of the Tax Consultant Bill” at the USU Faculty of Vocational Education Hall on Friday, August 16, 2024. The event, which took place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., resulted from a collaboration between the Diploma Program in Tax Administration of the Faculty of Vocational Education, Tax Centre USU, and PERTAPSI North Sumatra Regional Coordinator I.
The Dean of the USU Faculty of Vocational Education, Prof. Dr. Isfenti Sadalia, SE, I opened the event. In his opening speech, he appreciated the presence of the Central Board of the Indonesian Tax Consultant Association (IKPI), which came to discuss and ask for input in preparing the Tax Consultant Bill. He hopes that the collaboration between IKPI and the Diploma Program in Tax Administration can continue, especially in developing taxation knowledge and careers for graduates of the Faculty of Vocational Education. This Interactive Dialogue activity presented several speakers, namely Dr.Adv.Nuryadin, SE, Ak, SH, MM, M.Si, CPA, QIA, BKP (Chairman of IKPI Depok), Herwikson Sitorus, SIA, BKP (Member of IKPI Depok), Faisal Eriza S.Sos, M.SP (Head of the Diploma Program in Tax Administration), and M. Fadhlansyah Nasution S.E., M.M (First Expert Tax Counselor of KPP Madya Dua Medan). The discussion was guided by Syafrita Ridha Ginting S, SE, M.Sc, lecturer of the Diploma Program in Tax Administration
Nuryadin Rahman, in his presentation, explained that IKPI is fighting for the Tax Consultant Bill proposed in 2018 to be discussed again by the DPR. For this reason, IKPI is actively seeking input from various parties, including universities, to improve the bill so that the wider community can accept it. In line with that, Herwikson Sitorus emphasized the importance of universities as strategic partners in the revision process of the Tax Consultant Bill. According to him, universities have a big role in providing constructive input so that this bill does not cause controversy in the future. Faisal Eriza, conveyed the importance of learning from tax consultant models abroad, such as in ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United States, and Europe. He said this can be a reference when formulating tax consultants in Indonesia. In addition, he highlighted the significant difference in the recruitment process of tax consultants in some countries, where college graduates can directly become tax consultants without the need for additional certification. M. Fadhlansyah Nasution from KPP Madya Dua Medan added that the Tax Consultant Bill must align with Law No. 7 of 2021 on Harmonization of Tax Regulations, especially regarding Taxpayer Authority.
The event was also attended by tax professional organizations, including Vice Dean I of the USU Faculty of Vocational Education, Dr. Drs. M. Husni Thamrin Nasution, M.Si, Vice Dean II, Dr. Yasmin Chairunisa Muchtar, SP., MBA, and Vice Dean III Drs. Gustanto M.Hum. The presence of representatives from various universities under PERTAPSI, the management of Pengda IKPI Sumbagut, IKPI Medan management, IAI North Sumatra management, and students also enlivened this activity. With this activity at the Faculty of Vocational Education of the Universitas Sumatera Utara as the first university to host, it is hoped that it will continue to other universities to gather the interests of academics and graduates of the Taxation Study Program throughout Indonesia in the Tax Consultant Bill that is being drafted.
