An old phrase says nothing in life is certain but death and taxes. At a time when the nexus of power and wealth is viewed with skepticism, a peek into their tax returns might be expected to reveal the financial affairs of Indonesia’s first family.



Just like any other eligible, law-abiding citizens, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his two sons — Maj. Agus Harimurti and Edhie “Ibas” Baskoro — file tax returns.



Documents obtained by The Jakarta Post show Yudhoyono’s 2011 tax returns, submitted in the first quarter of 2012. He earned Rp 1.37 billion (US$143,000) during that year as President, in addition to Rp 107 million in income from royalties.



The validity of these documents was confirmed by sources at the Finance Ministry’s taxation directorate general.



The documents further revealed that in 2011 Yudhoyono opened bank accounts worth Rp 4...