Jakarta. Indonesia’s plan to roll out its 2026 Economic Census is facing a key challenge: persuading business owners that providing data will not expose them to tax scrutiny, officials said on Wednesday.

The 2026 Economic Census is scheduled to run from May 1 to July 31, with the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) aiming to capture data from more than 30 million business entities nationwide, ranging from micro enterprises to large corporations.

The census will also seek to better record digital economic activity, a segment that officials admit has so far been underrepresented in official statistics. However, BPS acknowledged that mistrust and low response rates remain the biggest obstacles ahead of the census, particularly misconceptions that statistical data collection is linked to taxation.

Molly Prabawati, special staff to the communications and digital affairs minister for media and public communications, said BPS evaluations show most businesses are willing to participate if they clearly understand the census’s purpose and benefits.

“Post-enumeration evaluations from the 2020 Population Census long-form survey and a 2025 business response survey show that 68% of business operators are willing to take part if they receive clear information on the objectives and benefits of the census,” Molly said at BPS headquarters in Jakarta.

However, a significant share of respondents remains unconvinced. About 27% of businesses expressed hesitation, largely due to confusion over the distinction between statistical data and tax-related information, she said.

“This shows that our main challenge lies in clarifying the narrative,” Molly added.

While trust in official data institutions remains relatively strong, communication gaps persist. According to the same evaluation, 76% of respondents said they trusted official data providers, but only 61% felt that information about government data collection was delivered effectively.

The findings have prompted the government and BPS to strengthen public communication strategies ahead of the 2026 census. Authorities plan to simplify messaging, reinforce guarantees on data confidentiality, and respond swiftly to misinformation circulating among business communities.

“In the context of the 2026 Economic Census, our task is not just to announce that a census will take place, but to ensure the public understands why their participation matters,” she said.

As a first step, BPS has launched a nationwide dissemination campaign for the 2026 census, involving government public relations networks, ministries and agencies, business associations and the media. Officials hope closer coordination across institutions will help improve response rates and build confidence among business owners.

Zulkipli, secretary-general of BPS, said Indonesia has more than 30 million business entities, based on the agency’s business registry. 

Zulkipli said data collection challenges now extend beyond physically visible businesses, with online commerce and digital-based activities remaining a major gap the 2026 Economic Census aims to close. Many online transactions, he said, are still not fully captured in official data.

He added that the census kickoff marks the start of broader public outreach to ensure business owners understand the purpose and benefits of participating. Beyond mapping existing firms, BPS also aims to capture post-pandemic shifts in Indonesia’s economic structure, including income-generating activities carried out at the household level.

“Some businesses are clearly visible, but many economic activities are embedded within households. These are the areas we aim to unpack through the 2026 Economic Census,” he said.