Indonesia to consider changes in crypto taxation amid industry concerns

An official from Indonesia’s Commodity Futures Trading Supervisory Agency (Bappebti) has urged the Finance Minister to reconsider the tax rates applied to digital assets. Currently, cryptocurrencies in Indonesia are categorized as commodities, making them subject to value-added tax (VAT) and income tax. However, with the oversight of cryptocurrencies set to transfer to the country’s financial services regulator, OJK, in 2025, there are calls for a review of these tax policies.

Tirta Karma Senjaya of Bappebti raised this issue during a recent event, pointing out that the digital asset industry, still in its early stages, requires room for growth before it can contribute significantly to national revenue through taxes. He noted that it has been over a year since the current tax rules were established, and such policies are typically reviewed annually.

Indonesia to decrease tax burden on crypto

The existing tax regulations have been criticized by stakeholders within the cryptocurrency sector. Indonesian crypto exchanges have reported a dramatic 60% decrease in trading volumes compared to the previous year, attributing this decline to the heavy tax burden which could potentially drive users to foreign exchanges.

While Bappebti has not specified its proposed changes to the Finance Ministry, there is speculation that the agency may seek to eliminate VAT on cryptocurrencies, aligning their tax treatment more closely with that of stocks. This speculation comes as the industry anticipates a regulatory shift with crypto oversight moving to OJK, which could lead to cryptocurrencies being treated as securities within Indonesia.

The Ministry of Finance, through spokesperson Dwi Astuti, has expressed a willingness to consider feedback from Bappebti and the public on this matter, confirming that the issue of taxes on digital assets will be discussed internally. This development indicates a potential shift in Indonesia’s approach to cryptocurrency taxation as the country prepares for regulatory changes in the sector.

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