Direct Tax for Digital Platform During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Study in Indonesia

Abstract

The article describes a new method/idea about taxing the income towards the digital in Indonesia during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Since social and physical distancing has fertilized the trend to conduct trading activities through the electronic system and provide a level playing field, then the policies for direct tax (income tax) in the trading activities utilizing electronic systems were issued in Law Number 2 of 2020. To obtain data and information in this study, the authors used qualitative research methods. Considering that direct tax has been regulated in Indonesian legislation, this study uses a normative juridical approach without neglecting empirical facts in developing the digital economy. The application of this regulation is assessed based on the Tax Law in Indonesia by focusing on several aspects such as legal certainty and tax jurisdiction. Based on the tax philosophy in Indonesia, Law Number 2 of 2020 is considered as lacking in providing legal certainty and policies regarding the income tax for the trading activities utilizing the electronic system. It is considered a unilateral measure. This study on income tax is relatively new in facing the rapid development of the digital economy, especially regarding a permanent physical establishment that is considered irrelevant.