Indonesia's Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, recently announced the postponement of the originally planned 0.5% income tax on e-commerce platform sellers.

This policy originates from the Ministry of Finance Regulation No. 37, signed in June 2025, which requires e-commerce platforms to withhold and pay income tax on behalf of sellers whose annual turnover exceeds 500 million Indonesian rupiah (about 220,000 yuan), while low-income sellers can be exempted.

 

Image source:rri.co.id

The Minister of Finance emphasized that the postponement of tax collection is not due to insufficient technical preparation—the tax system has completed testing and can be activated at any time—but rather because it is necessary to first observe the effects of the 2,000 trillion rupiah economic stimulus plan.

The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives expressed support for this, believing that it reflects the government's attention to the survival pressure of small, medium, and micro enterprises, while also maintaining a fair competitive environment between offline and online businesses.

 

Image source:rri.co.id

Three Considerations Behind the Policy: Economic Reality and System Optimization

Behind the postponement decision is the Indonesian government's deep consideration of the current economic situation, mainly focusing on the following three aspects:

1. Economic Stimulus Takes Priority Over Tax Expansion

In 2025, the government injected 2,000 trillion rupiah into the banking system to activate market liquidity. If e-commerce taxation is added at this time, it may dampen consumer confidence and offset the effects of the stimulus policy. The Ministry of Finance clearly stated that tax discussions will be resumed after the economic recovery trend is stabilized.

2. Responding to the Demands of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises

Small, medium, and micro enterprises form the core force of Indonesia's e-commerce ecosystem and previously reacted strongly against the new tax burden. The policy postponement preserves crucial growth space for them, especially for growth sellers whose annual turnover is close to the 500 million rupiah threshold, avoiding the pressure of a 1.2% increase in overall costs.

3. Tax Administration Mechanisms Need Precision

Although the technical system for withholding and paying taxes by platforms is ready, the collaboration process between e-commerce platforms and tax authorities still needs optimization. For example, how to ensure synchronization of cross-platform transaction data and avoid double taxation requires further refinement of the implementation framework.

 

Image source:The Business Times

Indonesia's E-commerce Market: Rapid Expansion and Potential Challenges

The adjustment of this tax policy comes against the backdrop of the rapid development of Indonesia's e-commerce market.

According to the Ministry of Trade, the total value of e-commerce goods in 2023 reached US$62 billion, an increase of 148% compared to 2019. The user base surged from 38.72 million in 2020 to 58.63 million in 2023. It is expected that by 2029, the number of users will exceed 99.1 million, with a penetration rate rising to 34.84%.

In terms of market structure, Shopee and TikTok Shop have formed a duopoly: Shopee ranks first with a 53.22% visit rate, while TikTok Shop, relying on its social e-commerce model, doubled its share within a year to 27.37%. Meanwhile, the young consumer group has become the growth engine—Gen Z users account for nearly 90%, 62% shop via live streaming, and 43% frequently try new brands.

However, high market growth is also accompanied by concerns:

High Logistics and Compliance Costs: The distribution of islands leads to logistics times as long as 7-10 days, and stricter customs clearance policies further extend the cycle;

Differences in Payment Habits: Cash on delivery still accounts for a high proportion, with a return rate as high as 30%;

Policy Volatility Risks: For example, previously TikTok Shop had to merge operations with Tokopedia due to compliance requirements, increasing sellers' adaptation costs.

 

Image source: Internet

With the National Online Shopping Day (Harbolnas) coming in December, the Indonesian government expects it will bring up to 35 trillion rupiah (US$2.1 billion) in transaction volume.

This target represents a 12.2% increase over 2024 sales. For small and medium-sized merchants, the overlap of the tax deferral period and the shopping peak season provides a rare window for capital accumulation.

Compliance management is no longer an option, but a must-answer question for e-commerce practitioners to survive in the Indonesian market.