How to run payroll in Indonesia

Payroll in Indonesia runs on a monthly cycle. Payment is usually due by the 25th of each month.

Most Indonesian companies process payroll between the 20th and 30th of each month, with the 25th being the most common pay date. This gives employers enough time to calculate wages, process deductions, and handle bank transfers before month-end.

Payment frequency requirements

Indonesian labor law doesn't mandate monthly payments, but it's the universal standard. Weekly or bi-weekly payments are extremely rare and would create unnecessary administrative burden.

You must pay salaries within 7 days of the agreed pay date. Late payments can result in penalties and employee complaints to the Ministry of Manpower.

13th month payment (THR)

Indonesia requires a 13th month payment called Tunjangan Hari Raya (THR). This isn't optional - it's mandatory under Law No. 13/2003.

THR calculation:

• Full-time employees with 12+ months service: 1 month's salary
• Employees with less than 12 months: Prorated based on service length
• Payment deadline: 7 days before Eid al-Fitr (typically April/May 2026)

THR is subject to income tax but exempt from social security contributions. You calculate it based on basic salary plus fixed allowances, excluding variable bonuses.

Holiday and vacation pay

Employees earn vacation pay during their annual leave entitlement of 12 working days per year. You pay their regular salary during vacation - there's no additional vacation premium required.

Unused vacation handling:

• Employees can carry forward unused leave to the following year
• Upon termination, you must pay cash compensation for unused vacation days
• Calculate vacation pay using the employee's current daily wage rate

Payment methods

Bank transfers are mandatory for all salary payments in Indonesia. Cash payments are only allowed for daily workers in specific industries like construction.

Bank transfer requirements:

• Use Indonesian rupiah (IDR) only
• Transfer to Indonesian bank accounts
• Maintain payment records for 30 years
• Provide transaction reference numbers

International companies can't pay Indonesian employees directly from overseas accounts. You need a local payroll setup or partner with an Indonesian entity.

Payslip requirements

Every employee must receive a detailed payslip showing gross pay, deductions, and net pay. Electronic payslips are acceptable if employees can access and print them.

Required payslip information:

• Employee name and ID number
• Pay period and payment date
• Basic salary and allowances breakdown
• Overtime calculations
• Income tax and social security deductions
• Net salary amount

Payslips must be in Bahasa Indonesia, though you can provide English translations as supplements.

Tax withholding reports in Indonesia are due by the 20th of the following month. Late filing means penalties starting at 2% of unpaid tax per month.

Indonesia operates a progressive income tax system with rates from 5% to 35%. The good news? There's a substantial tax-free allowance that reduces the burden on lower earners.

Income tax brackets

Indonesia's 2026 income tax rates apply to annual taxable income after deductions:

Tax-free allowances

Every employee gets a personal tax-free allowance (PTKP) of Rp58,500,000 annually in 2026. This increases to Rp63,000,000 for married employees, with an additional Rp4,500,000 for each dependent child (maximum three children).

These allowances mean many employees in lower salary bands pay minimal or no income tax.

Withholding requirements

You're responsible for withholding income tax (PPh 21) from every payroll. This isn't optional - Indonesian tax authorities expect employers to calculate, withhold, and remit taxes monthly.

Register for PPh 21 withholding within 30 days of hiring your first employee. You'll need your company's tax identification number (NPWP) and a specific authorization for payroll tax withholding.

Monthly PPh 21 reports must include every employee's gross pay, deductions, taxable income, and tax withheld. File these reports electronically through the DJP Online system.

Annual reconciliation happens in March following the tax year. You'll need to issue tax certificates (Bukti Potong) to all employees by the end of March.

Tax registration

New employers need two key registrations before running payroll. First, obtain your company NPWP if you don't have one. Second, register specifically for PPh 21 withholding authority.

The PPh 21 registration requires your business license, company NPWP, and details about your planned workforce. Processing typically takes 14-21 business days.

Local tax offices may require additional documentation for foreign companies, including translated articles of incorporation and proof of business activities in Indonesia.

Special tax considerations

Non-resident employees face different rules. If they're in Indonesia for more than 183 days in a 12-month period, they're taxed as residents on worldwide income. Shorter stays mean tax only on Indonesian-source income.

Indonesia has tax treaties with over 60 countries that can reduce withholding rates for certain types of income. However, employment income for residents typically doesn't benefit from treaty reductions.

Some regions impose additional local taxes on employee income, typically 5% of net income after national tax. Check requirements in Jakarta, Surabaya, and other major cities.

Common tax mistakes

The biggest error? Miscalculating the tax-free allowance. Many payroll systems default to the single person allowance even for married employees with dependents. This leads to over-withholding and unhappy employees.

Penalties for common mistakes:

• Late monthly filing: 2% per month of unpaid tax
• Incorrect withholding calculations: 50% of under-withheld amount
• Missing annual reconciliation: Rp1,000,000 plus 2% monthly penalty
• Failure to issue employee tax certificates: Rp250,000 per missing certificate

Double-check marital status and dependent information for every employee. Update this data immediately when employees' circumstances change - Indonesian tax authorities expect real-time accuracy in withholding calculations.

Think your home country has high employer taxes? Indonesia's contributions total 10.24% on top of base salary.

Contribution breakdown

Here's what you'll pay on top of every salary:

The JKK rate depends on your industry risk level. Office work pays 0.24%, while construction hits 1.74%.

Total employer cost example

For a monthly salary of Rp60,000,000:

• Base salary: Rp60,000,000
• Social security (JHT): Rp2,077,200 (capped)
• Health insurance: Rp480,000 (capped)
• Death insurance: Rp180,000
• Work accident: Rp144,000 (0.24% rate)
• Total employer cost: Rp62,881,200
• Cost multiplier: 1.05 (you pay 5% more than base salary for high earners)

For lower salaries without caps, you'd pay the full 10.24%.

Contribution caps matter for high earners

Most contributions have monthly caps that significantly reduce costs for senior staff:

Social Security (JHT) caps at Rp2,077,200 monthly. Anyone earning above Rp56.1 million pays this fixed amount.

Health Insurance caps at Rp480,000 monthly. The cap kicks in at Rp12 million salary.

Death Insurance caps at Rp1,385,775 monthly for salaries above Rp46.2 million.

Only Work Accident Insurance has no cap, but rates are low (0.24-1.74%).

Registration requirements

You must register with BPJS within 30 days of hiring your first employee.

BPJS Ketenagakerjaan registration

Register online at sso.bpjsketenagakerjaan.go.id with:

• Company registration certificate (NIB)
• Tax identification number (NPWP)
• Employee list with salary details
• Bank account information

BPJS Kesehatan registration

Register separately at bpjs-kesehatan.go.id with:

• BPJS Ketenagakerjaan certificate
• Employee health data forms
• Salary verification documents

Processing takes 7-14 business days for both programs.

Payment deadlines

Monthly contributions are due by the 15th of the following month. December 2026 contributions must be paid by January 15, 2027.

Late payment penalties start at 2% monthly on outstanding amounts. BPJS can freeze your business license for non-payment exceeding 90 days.

Pay through bank transfer or the BPJS mobile apps. Set up automatic payments to avoid penalties.

Sick leave in Indonesia is paid at 100% for the first month by the employer. After that, it drops to 75% for the second month and 50% for the third month. This creates a clear payroll calculation pattern you need to track.

Annual leave

Indonesian employees get a minimum of 12 working days of annual leave after completing one year of service. You'll pay them at their regular daily rate during vacation time.

Employees can carry over unused leave, but many companies set limits. Check your employment contracts for specific carryover policies. When employees leave, you must pay out any unused annual leave at their current daily wage rate.

The calculation is straightforward: monthly salary ÷ 30 days × vacation days taken.

Sick leave

Employees can take sick leave for up to three months with a doctor's certificate. Here's how the payment structure affects your payroll:

• First month: 100% of salary (employer pays)
• Second month: 75% of salary (employer pays)
• Third month: 50% of salary (employer pays)

For sick leave over one day, employees need a doctor's certificate. Without proper documentation, you don't have to pay sick leave.

Parental leave

Maternity leave

Female employees get three months of maternity leave at 100% pay. The employer covers the full cost - there's no government reimbursement for this benefit.

You can split the leave before and after birth, but most employees take 1.5 months before delivery and 1.5 months after.

Paternity leave

Male employees get two days of paid paternity leave when their child is born. Pay them at their regular daily rate.

Public holidays 2026

Indonesia has multiple public holidays that require premium pay if employees work. Here are the confirmed dates for 2026:

Work performed on these days requires double pay (200% of regular wages).

Mandatory benefits affecting payroll

BPJS Employment (Jamsostek)

This covers work accident insurance, death benefits, pension, and job loss insurance. Contribution rates are:

• Work accident insurance: 0.24%-1.74% (employer pays, rate varies by industry risk)
• Death benefit: 0.3% (employer pays)
• Pension: 3% (2% employer, 1% employee)
• Job loss insurance: 0.46% (0.22% employer, 0.24% employee)

BPJS Health

Both employer and employee contribute to the national health insurance:

• Employer: 4% of gross salary
• Employee: 1% of gross salary

The contribution is calculated on gross salary up to a maximum of Rp 12,000,000 per month in 2026.

Religious holiday allowance (THR)

You must pay THR equal to one month's salary before major religious holidays (typically before Eid al-Fitr). This applies to all employees who have worked for at least one month.

Calculate THR based on the employee's basic salary, not including allowances or overtime pay.

Miss the 20th monthly filing deadline in Indonesia and penalties start at Rp 2,000,000 per month. Indonesia's compliance requirements are detailed and strictly enforced, with multiple government agencies monitoring payroll accuracy.

Monthly filing requirements

You'll submit three key reports every month to different agencies. The SPT Masa PPh Pasal 21 goes to the tax office (KPP) by the 20th, covering employee income tax withholdings. Submit this through the DJP Online portal at djponline.pajak.go.id.

Your BPJS Kesehatan contribution report is due by the 10th of the following month. File this through the BPJS Kesehatan portal, including employee premium calculations and any changes to coverage.

The BPJS Ketenagakerjaan monthly report must be submitted by the 15th. This covers work accident, death benefit, pension, and job loss insurance contributions.

Late filing penalties are automatic. Tax reports incur Rp 500,000 per month for the first three months, then Rp 1,000,000 monthly. BPJS late fees are 2% of outstanding contributions per month.

Annual reporting

The Annual Income Tax Return (SPT Tahunan PPh 21) consolidates all employee withholdings for the tax year. Submit this by March 31, 2027 for the 2026 tax year through DJP Online.

You must provide Form 1721-A1 to each employee by January 31, 2027. This statement shows total annual income, tax withheld, and any adjustments. Employees need this for their personal tax returns.

Annual BPJS reconciliation happens automatically through monthly filings, but you'll receive audit requests for 15-20% of employers annually. Keep all contribution records and employee enrollment changes readily available.

The Ministry of Manpower requires annual workforce reporting through the SISNAKER system. Submit headcount, salary ranges, and training data by February 28, 2027.

Employee documentation

Employment contracts must be in Bahasa Indonesia, even if you provide English translations. Include specific salary breakdowns, job descriptions, working hours, and termination procedures. Contracts without these elements aren't legally enforceable.

Monthly payslips require 12 mandatory elements: employee name and ID, pay period, basic salary, allowances, overtime calculations, gross pay, tax withholdings, BPJS deductions, other deductions, net pay, employer BPJS contributions, and company details.

Store all payroll records for 30 years minimum. This includes contracts, payslips, tax filings, BPJS documentation, and overtime records. Digital storage is acceptable if you maintain backup systems.

Penalties and violations

Underpaying employee taxes triggers the highest penalties. The tax office charges 48% annual interest plus the principal amount. For a Rp 10,000,000 underpayment, you'll owe Rp 14,800,000 after one year.

Regulatory oversight

The Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) handles all income tax compliance. Contact them at 1500200 or through djponline.pajak.go.id for filing issues.

BPJS Kesehatan manages health insurance compliance at bpjs-kesehatan.go.id. Their contact center (1500400) operates 24/7 for urgent contribution issues.

BPJS Ketenagakerjaan oversees employment insurance at bpjsketenagakerjaan.go.id. Call 175 for contribution and claims support.

The Ministry of Manpower enforces labor law compliance through regional offices. Access SISNAKER reporting at sisnaker.kemnaker.go.id.

Each agency conducts independent audits. Maintain separate filing calendars and designate specific team members for each compliance area to avoid missed deadlines.

Starting January 1, 2026, all employers in Indonesia must implement the new Omnibus Law employment provisions. These changes simplify severance calculations and require digital payroll reporting.

Key payroll changes for 2026

Provincial minimum wage increases - Effective January 1, 2026

• Jakarta: Increased 6.2% from Rp 4,901,798 to Rp 5,205,510 per month
• West Java: Rose 5.8% from Rp 1,986,670 to Rp 2,101,877 per month
• East Java: Up 5.5% from Rp 2,040,312 to Rp 2,152,529 per month

Regional differences remain significant. Jakarta's rate is now 2.4x higher than the lowest provincial minimum wage in Central Java (Rp 2,165,000).

BPJS Kesehatan contribution rate adjustment - Effective March 1, 2026

• Employee contribution increased from 1% to 1.5% of gross salary
• Employer rate stays at 4% of gross salary
• Maximum contribution base raised to Rp 12,000,000 per month (up from Rp 8,000,000)

This change affects all employees earning above Rp 4,000,000 monthly. You'll need to update your payroll calculations right away.

Digital payroll reporting mandate - Effective July 1, 2026

• All companies with 50+ employees must submit monthly payroll data electronically
• New e-SPT PPh 21 system replaces paper submissions
• Late submissions get hit with a 2% monthly penalty on total payroll taxes

Upcoming changes to watch

Tax bracket restructuring - Proposed for January 2027

• New 35% top bracket for income above Rp 5 billion annually
• Middle-income relief planned for Rp 60-500 million bracket

Extended maternity leave - Under parliamentary review

• Proposed increase from 3 to 4 months paid leave
• Expected implementation mid-2027 if approved