Old System Still Used Due to Coretax Not Being Ready, Tax Data Must Be Ensured to be Synchronized

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The government will implement two tax systems in 2025 as a result of the unpreparedness of the new Coretax system. The move is considered the right middle ground for now. However, taxpayers hope that in the future there will be no new problems in the form of incompatibility of tax data due to the use of two systems at once.

The decision not to fully implement Coretax in 2025 was taken in a hearing between the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) of the Ministry of Finance and Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on February 10, 2025.

The closed meeting decided that the old tax system, aka the DJP Information System (SIDJP), would still be used to anticipate the problematic Coretax or Tax Administration Core System (SIAP). Thus, some tax matters can still use the old system, while certain matters already use Coretax.

The government's move is considered the best middle way to ease the burden on taxpayers who have had difficulty in managing tax payments and reporting for the past month.

Tax Consultant from Botax Consulting Indonesia Raden Agus Suparman said that there have been many difficulties faced by taxpayers due to the problematic implementation of Coretax since January 1, 2025. For example, due to the constrained system, for the past month tax administration staff in various companies have been forced to work overtime until the early hours of the morning.

There is also news that tax staff were fired because they were considered unable to work because of Coretax. "There was even a joke that tax staff work 3 shifts. Even though they have worked until early morning, there is no guarantee that their work will run smoothly, because the Coretax application is not ready to be used. On the one hand, they are required to work, on the other hand the application needed is not ready," said Raden when contacted, Tuesday (11/2/2025).

He hopes that with the government deciding to use a dual tax system, the difficulties faced by tax admin staff can end. Taxable entrepreneurs (PKP) can choose to continue using the old system, such as eFaktur Desktop to issue Value Added Tax (PPN) invoices, or the eBupot DJP Online application to create proof of withholding of Income Tax (PPh).

"Whichever is easier for taxpayers, that's what will be chosen. For taxpayers, it doesn't matter whether Coretax or DJP Online, what's important is that they can carry out their obligations smoothly. I see the dual tax system as the best solution for now," he said.

Moreover, some large companies have already changed their systems by adjusting to Coretax. If they have to go back to the old system, it will take a lot of time and money to dismantle the system again.

"It would be better if the DGT does not release 100 percent of Coretax. There are still some features that can only be used through Coretax. Meanwhile, the ones that are released using the old system are the most accessed modules, such as the creation of VAT tax invoices and PPh withholding evidence," said Raden.

Data synchronization 

However, he warned of the potential for another problem, namely the synchronization of tax data due to the use of two systems at once. If a taxpayer works on taxes in the old system, when he accesses the new system later, the relevant tax data should have been automatically aligned and updated.

Raden reflected on the case that emerged recently. Certain PKP that are still allowed to use the old eFaktur Desktop system to issue VAT invoices need a time lag for data adjustment.

"Data updates in Coretax have a two-day gap and some data need adjustment. For example, the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (NPWP) in Coretax already uses the 16-digit NIK KTP, while the old system still uses the 15-digit NPWP," he said.

Similarly, Chairman of the Taxation Committee of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Siddhi Widyaprathama said that the losses faced by taxpayers are stress and delays in issuing tax invoices for transaction partners. "That is an obstacle to collecting payments," he said.

He also warned about the issue of data synchronization if the government decides to use two tax systems at once. "The plan to run the two systems in parallel is wise because it can reduce the obstacles that still occur until now. However, it needs to be anticipated, if taxpayers are allowed to use DJP Online again, how will their data be synchronized in the future so that it does not need to be reworked in Coretax," said Siddhi.

In the past month, the government has actually implemented two tax systems at once. One of them, a number of large companies have been allowed to issue tax invoices through the old eFaktur Desktop system, while reporting their VAT Periodic Tax Returns (SPT) still have to use Coretax. "For the one that has only been running for a month, the impact of the tax data synchronization has not been seen yet," he said.

Will fix it soon

Meanwhile, while attending the Mandiri Investment Forum (MIF) 2025 event held in Jakarta, Tuesday, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani promised that the Coretax system could be immediately improved to encourage the creation of tax digitalization and boost the tax revenue ratio in Indonesia.

"I know some of you who are present are still complaining about Coretax. We will continue to improve the service. Building a complex system like Coretax, with more than 8 billion transactions, is not easy," said Sri Mulyani while giving a speech at the beginning of the event.

He emphasized that Coretax is still needed to encourage a digitalized tax collection system that makes it easier for the government and taxpayers in tax matters.

"We are no longer looking for excuses. This is not an excuse. I just want to explain that we will continue to improve the system," he said.