Indonesia Hikes Crypto Taxes Up to 5x Starting August 1, Mining VAT Doubles to 2.2%

Indonesia has implemented sweeping crypto tax increases effective August 1, raising transaction taxes up to five times higher while doubling mining VAT rates, as the government seeks to capture more revenue from the booming $39.67 billion crypto market.

According to Reuters, the new finance ministry regulation increases taxes on domestic crypto sales from 0.1% to 0.21%, while overseas exchange transactions face a steeper hike from 0.2% to 1%.

Mining operations will see VAT rates double from 1.1% to 2.2%, with special income tax rates eliminated in favor of standard corporate rates.

Strategic Tax Implementation to Take Cut From a Booming Industry

The changes come as Indonesia’s crypto transaction values tripled in 2024 to over 650 trillion rupiah, with more than 20 million users trading on local exchanges, exceeding stock market participation.

The country ranks among the top global crypto adopters according to Chainalysis data.

Buyers will no longer pay value-added tax, previously ranging from 0.11-0.22%, providing some relief amid the broader tax increases.

However, the 0.1% special income tax on mining will be removed, subjecting operations to higher personal or corporate tax rates starting in 2026.

According to Reuters, Tokocrypto, backed by Binance, welcomed the shift categorizing cryptocurrencies as financial assets rather than commodities, but called for a grace period to allow industry adjustment.

The tax increases reverse Indonesia’s previous struggle with crypto revenue, which declined 63% in 2023 to $31.7 million despite Bitcoin’s 160% surge, as traders migrated to unregulated offshore exchanges to avoid high local taxes.

Government Balances Revenue Goals with Industry Growth Concerns

Indonesia’s crypto market reached 475 trillion rupiah ($30 billion) in transactions by October 2024, representing 352% growth from $6.5 billion the previous year.

The surge positions Indonesia as the third-highest country on Chainalysis’s Global Cryptocurrency Adoption Index.

Over 60% of the country’s 21 million crypto traders are aged 18-30, driving adoption of Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and Solana as primary trading assets.

Local exchanges registered 716,000 accounts, while millions more use international platforms.

The regulatory overhaul coincides with the ongoing transition of crypto oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Agency to the Financial Services Authority, delayed due to incomplete government regulations.

The shift aims to create more transparent frameworks aligned with international standards.

Recent policy changes through CoFTRA Regulation No. 9 of 2024 relaxed restrictions on institutional investment, contributing to September’s crypto rally.

Local exchanges, including INDODAX and Tokocrypto, have secured Physical Crypto Asset Trader licenses, with Tokocrypto commanding 43% market share.

Most recently, the government suspended Sam Altman’s World (Worldcoin) project in May for operating without proper permits, using shell entities to bypass local laws requiring Electronic System Operator Certificates.

The crackdown resulted from Indonesia’s stricter enforcement of data sovereignty and digital asset regulations.

Tax Policy Shift Aims to Capture Offshore Trading Revenue

The new tax structure specifically targets overseas exchanges with higher rates, addressing previous complaints from local platforms about unfair competition from unregulated foreign operators.

INDODAX previously warned that total taxes often exceeded trading fees, driving users to cheaper alternatives.

Indonesia and Australia signed a crypto information-sharing agreement in April 2024 to improve asset identification and facilitate efficient data exchange between tax authorities.

The partnership aims to ensure equitable taxation while keeping pace with financial technology advancements.

The dual taxation policy introduced in 2022 initially cooled market activity, with crypto tax revenue falling despite Bitcoin’s strong performance.

Local exchanges complained about users migrating to offshore platforms to avoid the 0.1% income tax and 0.11% VAT combination.

Tokocrypto emphasized, in the report, that new crypto tax rates remain higher than capital gains taxes on stock investments, calling for fiscal incentives to support industry innovation.

The company proposed strengthening oversight on foreign platform transactions to level the competitive playing field.

The regulatory changes position Indonesia to capture more revenue from its rapidly growing crypto ecosystem while maintaining its status as a regional digital asset hub.

Transaction volumes in 2024 have already surpassed combined totals from 2022 and 2023.

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