The Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) has just issued a new circular, SE-9/PJ/2026, officially affirming its authority to request financial information directly from crypto asset service providers—not just from conventional banks. Combined with regulations already in effect since the beginning of this year, this represents one of the largest expansions of the tax authority's financial visibility in recent years, and understandably, it has caused concern for many.
This article explains what is actually regulated, who is affected, and what taxpayers realistically need to do.
What Actually Changed?
The primary legal basis is Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) 108/2025, effective January 1, 2026, replacing the old regulations from 2017 and 2024. This regulation updates Indonesia's automatic financial data exchange framework to align with two international reporting standards: the latest version of the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and the new Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).
Simply put: banks, insurance companies, capital market institutions, and electronic money providers were previously required to report certain account data to the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT). What's new is that crypto exchanges and digital wallet service providers are now officially included in the same reporting system.
A circular released this week specifically clarifies the procedures the DGT will use to request this information—including from crypto platforms—for tax purposes.
Does This Mean the DGT Sees All Transactions?
Not automatically, and not for everyone. This rule distinguishes two very different things:
Automatic annual reporting, which only applies above a certain threshold; and specific data requests, which require a legal basis and are limited to authorized tax officials.
For individual bank accounts, automatic reporting to the DGT applies if the account balance reaches at least IDR 1 billion. Corporate accounts, on the other hand, have no minimum threshold—all accounts held by the entity must be reported regardless of the balance.
For crypto, this framework treats transactions paying for goods/services with crypto above approximately US$50,000 (approximately IDR 800 million) as retail transactions that must be reported. Broader aggregate reporting—total value, number of units, and transaction frequency per crypto asset type—is required from platforms annually, with reporting for 2026 activity data beginning in 2027.
What Can the DGT Request Beyond Automatic Reporting?
Beyond automatic annual reporting, DGT officials can request specific financial information for clear legal purposes, including: international information exchange agreements, taxpayer compliance monitoring, tax intelligence, tax audits, preliminary evidence reviews, tax crime investigations, and taxpayer legal remedies such as objections, appeals, and requests for administrative sanction reductions. This isn't unlimited access—each request must fall under one of these specific legal grounds, and only authorized officials can make them.
Interestingly, the DGT has also had to publicly deny circulating claims that Babinsa (Village Guidance Officers) were involved in collecting tax data down to the villages—a reminder that disinformation can spread quickly around policy changes like this, and it's wise to cross-check claims against official DGT statements before assuming the worst.
What Should You Do?
For the majority of regular taxpayers who already report their income and assets accurately, this change doesn't require any new action — it primarily affects how banks and crypto platforms report data to the DGT behind the scenes, not what you need to submit yourself.
That said, some practical steps are still worth taking:
Make sure your annual tax return reflects your true assets, including significant bank balances and crypto holdings, if you haven't already reported them accurately. Keep records of your crypto transaction history, including purchase dates and acquisition prices, as good documentation makes it much easier to verify data later. Don't panic over rumors on social media. Policy changes like this tend to trigger exaggerated claims faster than official clarification can catch up — checking DGT's official channels directly is more reliable than viral posts. If your holdings are complex (multiple crypto exchanges, offshore accounts, business entities), consider consulting with a licensed tax consultant rather than guessing compliance based on news headlines.
Is This a Uniquely Indonesian Change?
No — this is part of a broader global trend. Many countries are adopting CARF as tax authorities around the world seek to close the cross-border financial transparency gaps created by crypto assets. Adjustment of Indonesian domestic regulations to be in line with d