Business School UPH Surabaya had just received two awards from Tax Directorate General (DJP) of East Java I for its support and active contribution in a Tax Awareness program for students and public. There were two categories for these awards: (1) University with a Tax Center in partnership with East Java I Tax Directorate General, and (2) the Most Contributing Lecturer towards the Tax Directorate General Performance, which were received by Vierly Ananta Upa, a lecturer from Business School UPH.

These awards were given along with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tax Awareness Education which was initiated by the Tax Directorate General (DJP) of East Java I in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education, and National Literary Movement on November 22, 2019.

UPH Surabaya was the 10th campus to join Surabaya Tax Center. This facility was established as a Tax Education Center for the public, and especially for UPH students.

The award for most contributing lecturer goes to Vierly Ananta who talked about her efforts to support this program since 2016 by holding the Brevet A and B Tax Certification Program, as well as collaborating with Indonesia Tax Consultant Association (Surabaya branch) and the Tax Directorate General. She still shows her support for the program up to this very day, when the program has reached its 7th batch. In 2017, she initiated the Tax Center establishment in UPH Surabaya and it has been officially operating since July 29, 2018.

?UPH Surabaya has been actively involved in tax inclusive events held by the Regional Office of East Java I Tax Directorate General starting from students involvement as tax volunteers, Community Service activities such as free tax consultation in malls and churches called the ?tax corner?, and the participation of lecturers and students in tax-related seminar and group discussion (FGD),? Vierly explained.

Business School UPH Surabaya has a curriculum which includes tax as a compulsory course. There are two compulsory courses, Taxation 1 and Taxation 2. These courses should be taken by second year Accounting students during their 4th and 5th semester. Aside from that, the Accounting Department of UPH Surabaya also has a Tax Accounting concentration that can be taken by third year Accounting students who are in their 8th and 9th semester. In this concentration, students are given a deeper understanding about tax planning, tax auditing, tax accounting, and current issues about taxation.

According to Vierly, the department will increase its participation in the near future through lecturers and students collaboration in tax-related research development, in-house training development for Brevet A and B Certification Program, Community Service development through tax inclusion for High School students, and company visit for students.

Aside from UPH, six other universities also participated in the signing of the Tax Education Awareness MoU. This event also gained its support from 83 universities in Surabaya. The ?Tax Speaks? program, which was initiated by East Java I Tax Directorate General, aims to increase the people?s knowledge and awareness on the importance of tax in order to establish compliance as early as possible.