On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, the USU Tax Centre and the Diploma III Tax Administration Study Program at USU welcomed a visit from the Directorate of Business Transformation, Directorate General of Taxes (DJP), Ministry of Finance of Indonesia. The delegation, led by Lury Sofyan, Head of Public Outreach Development I, was accompanied by Lusi Yuliani, Head of P2 Public Relations, DJP North Sumatra I Regional Office, and their team. They were warmly received by Hatta Ridho, Dean of FISIP USU and Head of the USU Tax Centre, alongside M. Husni Thamrin Nasution, Vice Dean I of the USU Vocational Faculty, Faisal Eriza, Head of the Diploma III Tax Administration Study Program and Regional Coordinator of PERTAPSI North Sumatra I, and Indra Efendi Rangkuti, USU Tax Centre Staff and Member of the PERTAPSI Central Board.

Lury Sofyan explained that the purpose of the visit was to discuss and seek input on the revitalization of the Tax Centre and the 2024 "Relawan Pajak untuk Negeri" (Renjani) program, which is currently in the participant recruitment stage. Acknowledging the USU Tax Centre’s 15-year journey since its establishment on November 25, 2008, she highlighted its valuable experience as an essential reference for the Directorate of Business Transformation in executing the Tax Centre revitalization and the Renjani 2024 program.

During the visit, Lury Sofyan and her team also presented various empowerment programs for tax centers, including developing a virtual office and other initiatives that involve lecturers and students as active contributors. These efforts aim to enhance the Tax Centre as an innovative and creative institution, recognizing its strategic role in tax education and outreach in collaboration with the Directorate General of Taxes.

Hatta Ridho, as both Dean of FISIP USU and Head of the USU Tax Centre, expressed his appreciation for the visit and the goodwill conveyed by the Directorate of Business Transformation, DJP. He reaffirmed the commitment of the USU Tax Centre and the Diploma III Tax Administration Study Program to supporting the Directorate in tax education, public awareness campaigns, the Tax Centre revitalization program, and Renjani 2024. He further emphasized the importance of fully empowering Tax Centres as DJP’s strategic partners, citing higher education institutions’ strong public trust and alignment with the Tri Dharma of Higher Education principles. This synergy, he believes, should be leveraged to enhance tax compliance and awareness among the public.

Indra Efendi Rangkuti, representing the USU Tax Centre, and Faisal Eriza, as Head of the Diploma III Tax Administration Study Program, expressed their hopes for further improvements in the implementation and management of Renjani 2024, a continuation of the Relawan Pajak program. They stressed the need for standardized guidelines across Primary and Intermediate Tax Offices (KPP Pratama and Madya) to ensure consistent volunteer engagement throughout the program's duration rather than limiting their involvement solely to the Personal Income Tax (PPh OP) and Corporate Income Tax (PPh Badan) filing periods.

Additionally, they suggested that the Renjani program be incorporated into the national Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) initiative, allowing its six-month-plus duration to be recognized as an academic credit substitute. This integration would provide students with valuable work experience and enhance their academic achievements.

In response, Lury Sofyan welcomed these constructive suggestions from the USU Tax Centre and the Diploma III Tax Administration Study Program and assured that the Directorate of Business Transformation is ready to collaborate to implement the proposed ideas and initiatives.

As part of the visit, the Directorate of Business Transformation DJP and the P2 Public Relations Division of the DJP North Sumatra I Regional Office also toured the USU Tax Centre and the Diploma III Tax Administration Study Program office, engaging in dialogues with USU students who had recently completed their participation in the 2023 Relawan Pajak program.