Government Finalizes New Crypto Tax Rules for 2026, Industry Seeks More Proportional Regulation

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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesia’s Directorate General of Taxes is finalizing a comprehensive tax regulation for digital assets, particularly cryptocurrency and bullion, slated to take effect in 2026. The new policy aims to expand the government’s taxation framework for digital transactions and tighten reporting mechanisms in response to the growing prominence of alternative investments.

Director General of Taxes Bimo Wijayanto said the regulation will also address foreign platform transactions and improve the digitization of cross-border reporting. “We are finalizing policies related to tax on crypto transactions, designation of financial institutions for bullion, and enhanced digital monitoring of offshore platforms,” Bimo told lawmakers during a hearing with Commission XI of the House of Representatives on Monday, July 14.

Since the implementation of Finance Ministry Regulation (PMK) No. 68/2022 on May 1, 2022, cryptocurrency has been included in the national tax system. As of March 31, 2025, the government had collected Rp34.91 trillion ($2.13 billion) in tax revenue from the digital economy, including Rp1.2 trillion ($73.4 million) from crypto transactions alone.

Despite the notable progress, Bimo acknowledged implementation challenges—especially the low tax literacy among market participants and the difficulty of tracking anonymous transactions. In response, the government intends to enhance public education and streamline reporting procedures.

Industry Welcomes Policy But Pushes for Financial Asset Status

The initiative has drawn support from the crypto sector. Tokocrypto CEO Calvin Kizana said he welcomed the government’s push for clearer and more equitable crypto taxation, praising the Directorate General of Taxes for adopting an “inclusive and adaptive approach” to digital finance.

“We appreciate the ongoing efforts to finalize crypto taxation policies,” Calvin said in a press statement on Thursday, July 17. “A fair and proportional tax structure will ultimately support the industry’s long-term growth.”

He urged regulators to align the policy with cryptocurrency’s new designation under the Financial Services Authority (OJK) as a financial asset, rather than a commodity. This status shift could justify removing value-added tax (VAT), currently levied at 0.11%, and the 0.1% final income tax (PPh) on each transaction.

“Crypto should be treated like other financial products, which are exempt from VAT,” Calvin said. “We hope the upcoming revision to PMK No. 81/2024 will reflect this distinction.”

Regional Tax Reforms Add Pressure

Although Indonesia’s tax rates on crypto are considered moderate—especially when compared to countries like the United States, where capital gains on digital assets can be taxed up to 37%—Calvin said there is still room for improvement. He pointed to Thailand’s progressive move to exempt personal income tax on local crypto transactions until 2029.

“That’s a clear signal that supportive fiscal policy can enhance industry competitiveness,” he said.

A proportional taxation framework and improved regulatory clarity, Calvin argued, could help Indonesia’s crypto industry grow in a more transparent and healthy manner, while also bolstering state revenue.