If you've recently heard news about the tax office blocking dozens to hundreds of accounts at once, that's not an isolated incident. Throughout 2026, the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) has intensified active collection against tax debtors through simultaneous account-blocking operations across regional offices — from East Jakarta, South Jakarta, Banten, North Sumatra, to East-North Kalimantan. There's now even an automatic blocking system that targets not just bank accounts, but access to other essential public services.
Why collection is intensifying this year
The DGT's tax debt collection target for 2026 is set at Rp28.38 trillion. Yet by April 2026, realization had only reached about 20.47% — far from the ideal pace, which should have been around 33% in the first four-month period. Most of the receivables being pursued fall into the "stuck" or hardcore category: bankrupt companies, assets that have already changed hands, or taxpayers who are hard to trace. This gap is what's driving the DGT to accelerate active collection actions in the second half of 2026.
Automatic blocking system: not just bank accounts
Under Director General of Taxes Regulation Number PER-27/PJ/2025, the DGT now has the authority to propose restricting or blocking certain public service access for tax debtors. Director General of Taxes Bimo Wijayanto explained this policy has officially been running since 2025, targeting taxpayers with tax debt of at least Rp100 million who have already been issued a Forced Collection Letter (Surat Paksa). Public services that can be blocked include:
- Customs system access — capable of paralyzing businesses that depend on import-export activity
- Legal entity administration system — hampering various legal-administrative processes for a company
This blocking is considered effective because it directly targets services essential to business operational continuity — not just an administrative sanction on paper.
Tax collection stages: from warning letter to auction
It's important to understand that account blocking is not the first step the DGT takes. The process follows a staged sequence under Law Number 19 of 1997 (as amended by Law Number 19 of 2000) on Tax Collection with a Forced Letter, along with MoF Regulation 61/2023:
| STAGE | TIMING |
|---|---|
| Warning Letter (Surat Teguran) | Issued 7 days after the tax payment due date |
| Forced Letter (Surat Paksa) | Issued if the Warning Letter goes unanswered |
| Asset seizure | Can be carried out 2×24 hours after the Forced Letter is served |
| Account blocking | Part of securing financial assets during the seizure process |
| Auction announcement | Issued if the debt remains unpaid after seizure |
| Auction of seized assets | Carried out within 14 days of the auction announcement |
Assets that can be seized include bank accounts, vehicles, land and buildings, other movable assets, and certain business assets.
How the bank account blocking mechanism works
The process begins when the Head of the Tax Service Office (KPP) submits a formal request to the bank holding the account, accompanied by supporting documents: a copy of the Forced Letter, a copy of the Seizure Execution Order, and a list of Forced Letters. The bank must then block the account up to the amount of tax debt and collection costs, and report the balance and account number to the DGT no later than one month after the request is received.
Examples of this year's operation scale
Several simultaneous blocking operations recorded throughout 2026 illustrate a scale of collection far more aggressive than previous years:
- DGT Regional Office East Jakarta: 76 accounts, 53 taxpayers, total arrears of Rp71 billion (Feb–Apr 2026)
- DGT Regional Office South Jakarta I: 57 accounts, over Rp80 billion, along with 208 seizure actions and 80 sales of seized goods (H1 2026)
- DGT Regional Office South Jakarta II: 60 accounts, arrears of Rp1.07 trillion
- DGT Regional Office Banten: 84 taxpayers, arrears of Rp330.6 billion (May 2026)
- DGT Regional Office East-North Kalimantan: 322 accounts, 142 taxpayers, arrears exceeding Rp710 billion (April 2026)
Travel bans: another consequence often overlooked
Beyond account blocking, the DGT also has authority to request a travel ban against a responsible taxpayer with arrears of at least Rp100 million who is deemed to lack good faith in settling their debt. This ban lasts up to six months — something that can be highly disruptive for business owners who need to travel for business purposes.
How to lift a block or avoid one from the start
Blocked status can be lifted if any of the following conditions are met:
- The tax debt along with collection costs has been fully paid
- A tax court ruling exists that eliminates the debt
- Seizure has been carried out with a value at least equal to the tax debt and collection costs
- The taxpayer provides collateral goods equal to the value of the tax debt
- An application for installment payment or deferral has been submitted and officially approved by the KPP
- The right to collect has expired
But prevention is far better than dealing with a block after the fact. The DGT itself urges taxpayers who still have arrears to not wait for active collection action — proactively coordinate with their registered KPP as soon as they receive a Warning Letter, rather than waiting until a Forced Letter, let alone a blocking action.
Practical steps for business owners
- Don't ignore a Warning Letter. This is the first and easiest opportunity to resolve arrears before escalation to harsher stages.
- Promptly apply for an installment plan if you genuinely can't pay in full — official approval from the KPP can prevent an account block.
- Monitor your company's tax compliance status regularly, especially if the company holds several accounts at different banks — one overlooked arrear can trigger a comprehensive block.
- Use DGT consultation services or a registered tax consultant to understand unclear tax obligations, rather than delaying out of confusion about the process.
- If your business depends on export-import activity, be wary of the risk of customs system access being blocked — this can paralyze operations within days, not months.
Aggressive tax collection doesn't mean arbitrary action — all these measures follow a clear, staged legal procedure. Precisely because the process is gradual and predictable, taxpayers who respond promptly to early notices have plenty of room to avoid far more disruptive consequences down the line.
Disclaimer: This article was prepared as general information as of July 7, 2026 and does not constitute tax advice for any specific case. Tax regulations are subject to change. For guidance on your specific business situation, please consult the Sentary Consulting team or a registered tax consultant.