The Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) of the Ministry of Finance has officially denied rumors circulating on social media regarding the imposition of a tax on running activities. Narratives claiming that the government will collect levies from people who exercise are confirmed to be untrue and have no legal basis.
Public concern arose following the designation of the Strava application as a Value Added Tax (VAT) collector under the Electronic System-Based Trade (PMSE) framework. Many social media users misinterpreted the policy as a tax on every individual who engages in running.
In its clarification, the DJP emphasized that the VAT obligation is only imposed on transactions for purchasing features or subscribing to premium digital services offered by Strava. This policy is a standard procedure for foreign digital companies operating in Indonesia, in accordance with tax regulations applicable to digital service providers.
This means that people can still exercise freely in various public facilities, such as city parks and stadiums, without being charged a single penny in taxes. The VAT levy will only be charged to users who choose to activate paid services or subscribe to premium features in the application.
For users who utilize the free version of the Strava application, they will not be charged any taxes. This explanation is expected to end the confusion among the running community and the general public regarding tax policies on digital platforms.
