The strategic partner of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), Danny Darussalam Tax Center (DDTC) was awarded 2 (two) titles in a tax awards at the ITR Asia-Pacific (APAC) Tax Awards 2024. The award was given by International Tax Review (ITR), an international institution based in London, UK. The first title is awarded as the Regional Awards group’s Pro Bono Firm of the Year (Asia-Pacific). Meanwhile, the second title awarded to the firm is the Jurisdiction Awards group’s Tax Dispute Firm of the Year (Indonesia).

Based on a written statement from DDTC, DDTC Consulting Managing Partner, David Hamzah Damian, representing the Founder of DDTC Darussalam and Danny Septriadi, received both awards directly at the 2024 ITR APAC Tax Awards peak night at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Tower Bridge London, UK, Wednesday, September 18, 2024.

The editor of ITR at Legal Benchmarking Group, Thomas Baker, said the victory over the Tax Dispute Firm of the Year was seen from the company’s success rate in resolving tax disputes in various sectors with an innovative approach. “The assessment or research process conducted by the ITR has been going on for a long time and involves many parties,” Baker said.

Then, the Editor of ITR at Legal Benchmarking Group, Sam Sholli, states that the victory over the Pro bono Firm of the Year was seen from the company’s commitment in maximizing the role of the profession in the field of taxation for the public at large. “By contributing to an ideal taxation system and eliminating information asymmetry in the taxation community,” Sholli said.

The founder of DDTC, Darussalam, said that this award is an international recognition of the consistency of DDTC in following the vision, mission, and values of the company for 17 years. DDTC’s vision, mission, and values are the result of a balanced mix of commercial and non-commercial aspects.

Moreover, Darussalam continued that all company activities depart from the reality of the tax literacy society, low compliance and tax awareness, a limited number of tax bases, and not many of tax experts. As a result, most of the earnings for professional services will be back to the community and stakeholders in the tax sector, especially in Indonesia. The two awards are evidence that the commercial and non-commercial aspects actually strengthen each other.

“We believe a cycle that does not stop at the mere commercial aspect will actually create a better tax ecosystem because the tax consulting profession is noble or honorable (officium nobile). This award will spur DDTC to remain consistent on this path,” he said.

The concept of officium nobile, he continued, departs from the assumption that in essence a profession is not only oriented for profit, but also how to give or dedicate its expertise for tax purposes.

DDTC Founder, Danny Septriadi, said that all external parties of DDTC are clients. Therefore, DDTC has a professional responsibility to the tax community. Various products, services, or activities are always focused on fulfilling these responsibilities. “Hopefully, this award can spur DDTC professionals to continue to contribute to the coloring of the Indonesian taxation world,” said Danny.