Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia’s newly launched Core Tax system known as Coretax, which serves as the central platform for tax administration, has been facing mounting complaints from taxpayers across the country. These grievances, which have been widely shared on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, highlight the difficulties taxpayers are encountering when trying to access the system.
One of the major complaints surfaced on the Instagram account @pajaksmart, where a screenshot was posted showing several netizens expressing frustration over the system’s frequent inaccessibility. “It turns out that from January 1 to 6, the server was down,” read the caption accompanying the post, as seen on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
Frustration from Taxpayers and Public Figures
Ika Natassa, a well-known writer and banker at a major state-owned bank in Indonesia, also voiced her dissatisfaction with Coretax. She took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her experience, pointing out an error message that appeared on the official website (coretaxdjp.pajak.go.id), displaying “403 Forbidden.” Although CNBC Indonesia was able to access the site later at 9:52 AM WIB, Ika lamented that the system’s instability during the peak tax filing period was causing significant inconvenience.
“I’m reporting the NPPN (Norma Penghitungan Penghasilan Neto) on Coretax, and it’s not working. KSWP (Confirmation of Taxpayer Status) on DJP Online is also inaccessible. I even went to the KPP (Tax Service Office), but manual submissions were not accepted because the option no longer exists,” Ika posted, expressing her frustration.
The Tax Authority Responds
Suryo Utomo, the Director General of Taxes at the Ministry of Finance, acknowledged that Coretax is still facing significant issues. He explained that the difficulty accessing the system is not only affecting the public but also internal stakeholders, including the tax authority itself.
“We are monitoring the situation closely. From day one of the implementation of Core tax system, we have been working to address complaints, not just from taxpayers but also from our stakeholders. Every day we continue to monitor and resolve any issues that arise as users interact with the system,” Suryo said during a press conference at the Ministry of Finance on January 6, 2025.
Suryo recognized two major challenges contributing to the access issues. The first was the unexpectedly high volume of traffic to the system. He noted that taxpayers were not only testing the system but also actively transacting, which had a significant impact on its performance.
The second challenge, according to Suryo, was the infrastructure, specifically the network provided by telecommunications vendors. He explained that this played a crucial role in determining the system’s performance, especially when large numbers of users were trying to access Core tax system simultaneously.
Optimizing Core Tax System Capacity and Managing Traffic
In response to these issues, Suryo explained that the tax authority is working to optimize the system’s capacity and improve its ability to handle higher volumes of access. He also assured the public that comprehensive technical assistance was being made available to help users navigate the system more effectively.
“We have expanded the system’s capacity, and we are actively managing the traffic load. Additionally, we are offering extensive technical support to ensure taxpayers can access the system more smoothly,” Suryo said.
Transition Period: A Call for Patience
Suryo also emphasized that the government is providing a transition period for taxpayers to adjust to the new system. He assured the public that any delays in invoice issuance or tax reporting would not result in penalties.
“We understand that the system is still being refined, and we encourage taxpayers to continue using Coretax. The feedback we receive from ongoing use will help us determine whether the system is performing adequately or if further improvements are necessary,” Suryo urged.
The Director General also reassured taxpayers that the tax authority would continue to monitor the system’s performance and ensure any issues were addressed promptly. He encouraged taxpayers to be patient during the transition and emphasized that any delays would not lead to sanctions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Accessing Indonesia’s Core Tax System
Looking Ahead: Coretax’s Role in Tax Administration
Despite the initial hiccups, the government remains committed to improving the Coretax system, which is intended to streamline tax reporting and enhance transparency in Indonesia’s tax administration. As more taxpayers begin to use the platform, it is expected that any kinks will be ironed out, ensuring that the system is better equipped to handle the volume and complexity of Indonesia’s tax filings.
However, the launch of such a crucial system during the busy tax season has exposed its vulnerabilities. For now, the tax authority’s focus is on addressing the immediate access issues and making the necessary improvements to ensure that Coretax meets its intended goals.
(Becky)
