Money transfer services via payment wallets do not enjoy Financial Services exemption. Also imposing VAT on crypto asset trading transactions
Indonesia’s Finance Ministry has confirmed the financial tech companies offering digital wallet services will be subject to charging standard rated VAT. This will apply from 1 May 2022. This includes crypto asset physical traders and crypto asset electronic wallet service providers, will be designated as VAT collectors. Crypto assets are digital assets based on distributed ledger technologies.
Indonesia raised VAT from 10% to 11% on 1st April 2022.
Digital wallets are online payment tools, usually in the form of an app. The wallet securely stores virtual versions of debit and credit cards, so you don’t need to enter your card details or carry a physical card at all to make payments.
Other fin tech services subject to VAT include:
- Online insurance
- Peer-to-peer lending
- Crowdfunding
EU VAT on digital wallets
EU European Court Justice rulings have similarly favoured not giving digital wallets VAT exemption.
Bookit Ltd (Case C-607/14) held that a ‘payment processor’ responsible for transmitting authorisation codes, preparing and sending settlement files, and receiving related payments and transferring them to merchants does not constitute a specific and essential role in changing the legal and financial situation.
Asia Pacific VAT on digital services
| Comments (click for details) | Rate | Date | Threshold | Comments |
| Australia | 10% | Jul 2017 | AUD $75,000 | |
| Azerbaijan | 12% | Jan 2017 | – | |
| Armenia | 20% | Jan 2022 | AMD 115million | |
| Bangladesh | 5% - 15% | Jul 2019 | – | B2B and B2C |
| Bhutan | 7% | Jul 2021 | Nu 5million | |
| Cambodia | 10% | Mar 2022 | KHR 250m | |
| China | 6%-13% | N/a | Nil | Withholding VAT; B2B and B2C |
| Cook Island | 15% | 2019 | NZ$ 40,000 | |
| Fiji | 9% | TBC | FJD 300,000 | |
| India | 18% | Jul 2017 | - | |
| Indonesia | 11% | Aug 2020 | IDR600m or 12k customers | |
| Japan | 10% | Oct 2015 | JPY 10 million | |
| Kazakhstan | 12% | Jan 2022 | Nil | |
| Kiribati | 12.5% | 2017 | AU$ 100,000 | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 12% | Jan 2022 | Nil | |
| Laos | 10% | Feb 2022 | LAK 400m | |
| Malaysia | 8% | Jan 2020 | RM500,000 | |
| Nepal | 13% | Jul 2022 | Rupees 2m | Also 2% DST |
| New Caledonia | 11% | 2020 | XPF 7.5 million | |
| New Zealand | 15% | Oct 2016 | NZD 60,000 | |
| Pakistan | 2% | Sep 2021 | Nil | Marketplace Withholding VAT |
| Palau | 10% | Jan 2023 | $300,000 | |
| Philippines | 12% | May 2025 | P 3million | |
| Singapore | 9% | Jan 2020 | S$ 100,000 | |
| South Korea | 10% | Jul 2015 | Nil | |
| Sri Lanka | 18% | 2025? | LKR 60m | Proposals only |
| Taiwan | 5% | May 2017 | NTD 480,000 | |
| Tajikistan | 14% | Jan 2021 | ||
| Thailand | 7% | Sep 2021 | 1.8m Baht | |
| Uzbekistan | 12% | Jan 2020 | Nil | |
| Vietnam | 10% | Dec 2020 | – |
