Tax Payments through Fintech and E-Commerce Reaches IDR 1.2 Trillion

The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) noted that paying taxes through financial technology (fintech) platforms and e-commerce is IDR 1.2 trillion. The amount is small compared to the total state revenue of around IDR 1,600 trillion. The ministry hopes that its contribution will increase next year.

Director-General of Treasury, Ministry of Finance Andin Hadiyanto, said the government had implemented the Third Generation State Revenue Module (MPN G3) since last year. The government opens opportunities for fintech and e-commerce to provide tax payment services.

In this MPN-G3 program, there are 89 agents who become partners with the government to deposit taxes, PNBP, and Customs. In detail, as many as 84 are state-owned banks, private banks, and regional banks, 1 Pos Indonesia, and 4 institutions such as fintech and e-commerce.

Currently, more than 90 percent of deposits go to the country through the MPNG-3 provided system. In 2019, the Ministry of Finance noted, MPN-G3 had processed 95 million transactions in rupiah or USD.

“We can imagine if 95 million transactions were made through bank tellers, we can’t imagine,” he said. The ease of paying taxes via digital continues to grow, not only using e-wallets or e-money, but also using QR codes.

“The modernization of the state revenue system is to fulfill three demands,” said Andin as quoted from a press release, Wednesday (16/12). The three are increasing the collectability of state revenues, making it easier for depositors to fulfill obligations, and adapting to changes in information technology.

Two e-Commerce Collaborated with the Government

The government has only collaborated with two e-commerce platforms, Bukalapak and Tokopedia, and one fintech, Finnet. Since its launch in 2019, the government has processed 95 million state revenue transactions through the MDN G3. As many as 76 million of them were obtained this year as of last week (11/12).

Of these, only 300 thousand transactions were made through fintech and e-commerce platforms. “The value compared to the total is not so much,” he said. “We challenge them to further promote it to the public next year.”

In fact, payments through fintech and e-commerce are considered easier. During the corona pandemic, digital transactions were also loved by the public. Therefore, he believes the potential can be even greater.

Meanwhile, Bukalapak CEO Rachmat Kaimuddin said the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Indonesian economy. “For that, we are committed to participating in helping the government by providing access to state revenue portals using technology,” he said.

Secretary-General of the Indonesian Fintech Association (Aftech) and President Director of OVO Karaniya Dharmasaputra said that expanding channels through e-commerce and fintech could encourage tax payments.

This is because it can reach more people. “Fintech through innovation and technology in financial services offers a variety of solutions that have the potential to increase efficiency and effectiveness for state revenues,” said Karaniya.

Several Fintech have already Provided Tax Payment Services

Apart from MPN G3, several startups in the payment fintech sector have already provided tax payment services. GoPay, for example, presents features to pay levies and local taxes in East Java and Land and Building Tax (PBB) in Semarang, Central Java.

LinkAja also has fees and taxes payment services, one of which is Banyuwangi, East Java. Likewise, OVO hooked up Tokopedia and PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah (BPD) Bali to provide payments for local taxes and levies.

There is also a startup that focuses on providing tax reporting and paying services, namely OnlinePajak. Through this platform, users can even simulate the calculation of taxes that must be paid, ranging from Income Tax (PPh) 21, 23 to Value Added Tax (VAT). The OnlinePajak platform is also connected to the Ministry of Finance’s Directorate General of Taxes server.

Even so, government agencies have the DJP Online website. These six digital services allow users to report and pay their taxes, without having to come to the tax office. It’s just that, individual taxpayers still have to go to the tax office to get an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN).