Shoppers across Indonesia using Tokopedia, Shopee, Blibli, Lazada, and other online shopping platforms should expect changes at checkout and higher prices as tax officials begin collecting income and sales taxes applicable to everyone living in the Republic, including online traders and vendors.
With sales taxes set to apply universally from 01 July 2026, many are waiting with bated breath to see how they will be applied to online purchases. For instance, it is generally presumed that traders using online platforms will be responsible for collecting taxes on their sales, the system is confused by the bifurcated way in which tax liability is calculated.
Indonesian business enterprises with total sales turnovers of between Rp. 500 million and Rp. 4.8 billion are levied a modest final tax of 0.5% on total sales. In practice, businesses falling into this category do not add a tax line to their sales invoices, but simply absorb the 0.5% eventually paid to tax collectors,
Conversely, a company with a turnover exceeding Rp. 4.8 billion is expected to collect 12% VAT on the customer sales invoices forming part of their tax liability to the government.
It is also generally presumed that, under the new tax rules, any applicable sales tax will be reflected on the sales invoice paid through the online platform. The platform, in turn, will now be expected to retain taxes in escrow accounts for eventual onward payment to the tax authorities.
Adding to the confusion is the belief that each major online operator will be responsible for somehow monitoring the aggregate turnover across all major online platforms to determine whether the lower or higher sales tax rate applies.
The Indonesian E-Commerce Association (idEA) has signaled its readiness to the Government to implement tax collection regulations and policies governing online marketplace transactions. Currently, however, confusion prevails, with online platform operators still awaiting written regulations and instructions from the Directorate General of Taxation (DGT) and the Ministry of Finance, including guidelines governing the transition period.
The Association cautions tax officials that regulatory certainty and public awareness are key to the policy’s eventual effective implementation.
idEA Chairman, Budi Primawan, reaffirmed that his organization fundamentally supports the government’s efforts to improve tax compliance and is ready to comply with any applicable regulations. Currently, idEA continues to coordinate with the DGT to ensure the implementation of the new tax policy runs smoothly.
”We hope that the implemented administrative mechanism will be effective, simple, and provide certainty for all stakeholders, including the government, digital platforms, and sellers,” Budi said on Tuesday, 30 June 2026.
As reported by NusaBali, Budi said that, based on discussions with tax officials, marketplace platforms are expected to need approximately one month after the implementing regulations are issued to adjust their systems before introducing tax collection mechanisms. However, this remains a plan with the actual transition period still awaiting official government approval.
Furthermore, idEA hopes the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) will immediately communicate with sellers and educate them to ensure they understand the new mechanism. He believes that close coordination, clear technical instructions, and adequate outreach will determine whether the policy’s implementation succeeds.
Previously, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa indicated that the Value Added Tax (VAT) collection mechanism via marketplace platforms could be implemented starting on 01 July 1 2026. However, the onward implementation timeline must be coordinated with the DGT.
The Minister took pains to emphasize that this new tax policy does not impose a new tax but merely reaffirms existing tax obligations that have been unequally applied between online and offline businesses. This measure is also targeted at creating a more equitable competitive business environment.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) explained that actual seller turnover across various marketplaces will be aggregated in accordance with the provisions of the Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) Number 37 of 2025. Sellers with annual turnover below Rp. 500 million can submit a declaration letter to avoid tax deductions. However, if the total turnover across all platforms exceeds this limit, taxpayers must still file an Annual Tax Return (SPT) to fulfill their tax obligations.
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