Three students from the Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FIA UI) have won first place in the Tax Essay Competition at TaxTival 2023, a prestigious event organized by the Tax Center of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah. The team, known as “Tim Kutax”, consisting of Aqila Bagus Misbahuddin, Jessyca Wulandari, and Ray Abel Reshawna, secured the top position after successfully passing the essay submission and virtual presentation stages.

“Our essay focused on the allocation of revenue from carbon taxes. Essentially, we propose that the funds generated from the carbon tax should be entirely allocated toward environmental spending, including restoration and conservation efforts,” said Ray Abel.

Through their essay, the team aimed to highlight how society could directly benefit from the carbon tax by reducing carbon emissions. They also argued that implementing a carbon tax could encourage behavioral changes toward the adoption of renewable energy sources.

“The competition began with the essay submission on August 8, 2023. After passing the initial selection stage, successful participants advanced to the final round, which involved a virtual presentation via Zoom on August 18, 2023. The official winners were announced on August 23, 2023,” explained Jessyca.

The FIA UI team began their preparations during the semester break, deciding to participate on July 4, 2023. Given the broad scope of the topic, they conducted in-depth research, exploring carbon tax-related issues through academic journals and online news sources. Their preparation involved regular discussion sessions and the development of a comprehensive essay framework.

“One of the main challenges we faced was choosing an engaging and less-explored issue. Since carbon tax is a frequently discussed topic in various competitions, finding a unique perspective was not an easy task,” Aqila revealed.

As Public Fiscal Administration students, their expertise in tax policy and their ability to analyze carbon tax issues from multiple angles became a key strength, contributing significantly to their victory.

“We are thrilled to have won this competition—it reinforces the importance of carbon taxes in our journey toward a greener economy. This achievement reflects the power of collaborative thinking and our academic dedication,” Ray concluded.

The Tax Essay Competition at TaxTival 2023, themed “The Role of Carbon Tax in Driving the Transition Toward a Green Economy in Indonesia,” represents a major milestone in the academic journey of Aqila Bagus Misbahuddin, Jessyca Wulandari, and Ray Abel Reshawna.

Their success in tackling relevant taxation issues contributes to broader discussions on environmental sustainability and fiscal policy in Indonesia. This victory underscores their commitment to driving positive change in society through their academic insights and innovative ideas.

For context, TaxTival 2023 is a national-level essay competition open to active students across Indonesia from various academic levels (D1/D3/D4/S1). The competition was held entirely online, providing a platform for students to express their ideas, thoughts, and perspectives on taxation. This year’s theme focused on “The Role of Carbon Tax in Driving the Transition Toward a Green Economy in Indonesia,” with the final presentation taking place in Jakarta on August 18, 2023.