Indonesia Shopping Tax Refund Guide 2026: Threshold Based on Tax Amount, Not Purchase Price

Indonesia has a tax refund system, but the threshold is calculated based on the tax amount, not the price of goods.

Shopping in Indonesia comes with a tax refund system, but the calculation method differs from other places. Indonesia calculates the tax refund threshold based on the tax amount, not the purchase price. Each receipt must have a tax amount of Rp50,000 or more to qualify for a tax refund. Additionally, the cumulative tax amount must reach Rp500,000 to receive the refund. This means the actual purchase amount needs to be much higher to meet the requirement.

Furthermore, in Jakarta and Bali, we checked several major malls, including Grand Indonesia, Pacific Place, Senayan City, and six others in Jakarta, as well as Beachwalk, Discovery, and Krisna souvenir shops in Bali, and found that none offer exclusive discounts for passport holders, only regular membership programmes.

Eligibility and Timing

To enjoy Indonesia's tax refund, you must be a foreign traveller holding a foreign passport and not an Indonesian citizen or permanent resident. Your stay in Indonesia cannot exceed 60 days. The timing of your purchase is also crucial; it must be made within one month before departure.

Additionally, after purchasing items, they must be taken as carry-on luggage within 30 days, and cannot be checked in. Lastly, remember to always buy from stores with the Tax Refund for Tourists sign to be eligible for a tax refund.

• Purchase within one month before departure; buying too early won't be counted.
• Goods must be taken as carry-on luggage; checking them in does not qualify.

Where to get it, opening hours

There are six airports in Indonesia with tax refund counters, including Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Ngurah Rai International Airport Bali, Medan, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya. Among these, Soekarno-Hatta Airport has two tax refund counters, one of which is open 24 hours, catering to travellers departing at different times. The tax refund counter at Ngurah Rai International Airport Bali is open until 11 PM.

If you are leaving on a night flight, remember to allocate enough time and avoid queuing at the last minute to prevent missing out on tax refunds.

• The counter at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali is open until 11 PM; if you have a night flight, remember to allocate time.
• Soekarno-Hatta Airport has two counters, one of which is open 24 hours.

What is Indonesia's Current VAT Rate

Indonesia's statutory VAT rate is 12%, but most goods are actually taxed at 11%, while luxury goods are taxed at 12%. This rate is based on professional tax database information, but when we checked, the Indonesian Tax Office's rate page was not accessible, so this is not considered the official source.

• This rate is based on professional tax database information, and we couldn't access the Indonesian Tax Office's rate page when we checked.
• The VAT refund is calculated based on the actual tax amount on the receipt, so you don't need to estimate the tax rate yourself.

Bali Has an Additional Tourist Tax

Travellers heading to Bali should note that, apart from shopping tax refunds, they must pay a IDR 150,000 tourist tax. This tax is a one-time payment, accepted only via electronic payment, not in cash, and must be paid through the Love Bali system.

• Only electronic payments are accepted, not cash.
• It is completely separate from shopping tax refunds and will not be refunded.

Shopping Malls: Checked Thirteen with No Tourist Discounts

In Jakarta, we checked Grand Indonesia, Pacific Place, Senayan City, and six other malls; in Bali, we checked Beachwalk, Discovery, and Krisna souvenir shops. We found that none offered passport-based tourist discounts, only regular membership programmes.

• There is only a general membership programme, not a traveller's card based on a passport.
• Some mall websites were not accessible at the time, so the check was not thorough.

Payment method: Hong Kong QR code wallets cannot be used

When shopping in Indonesia, Hong Kong's QR code e-wallets are not part of the Indonesian QRIS cross-border network, so they cannot be used. It is recommended to bring a Visa, Mastercard, or UnionPay card, along with some Indonesian rupiah cash for safety.

• This information comes from industry reports, not official announcements.
• Bring a Visa, Mastercard, or UnionPay card, along with some Indonesian rupiah cash.

Get Online Before Shopping

When shopping in Indonesia, checking participating stores, tax thresholds, and paying the Bali tourist tax all require an active internet connection on the spot. So, before travelling to Indonesia, it's best to have a data plan ready. eSIM is activated instantly upon payment, with the QR Code sent via email; while a physical SIM card will be mailed to Hong Kong.