Tax and Accounting Services in Bali: A Practical Guide for Foreigners

Tika Pro

- 9 minutes read - 1797 words

Running a business in Bali sounds like a dream. And for many foreigners, it is — until the first tax deadline hits and you realize Indonesia’s tax system is no joke.

Whether you’re setting up a villa rental company, launching a digital agency, or opening a café in Canggu, you’ll need solid accounting and tax support. Indonesia’s regulations are strict, penalties for non-compliance are real, and the rules change often enough to keep even seasoned expats on their toes.

This article covers the main tax and accounting service providers operating in Bali, what they actually do, and what you need to know about setting up a PT PMA — the legal structure most foreigners use to do business here.

Why You Need Professional Tax and Accounting Help in Bali

A few things make Indonesia’s tax environment tricky for foreigners.

First, if you stay in Indonesia for more than 183 days in a 12-month period, you’re considered a tax resident. That means you owe taxes on your worldwide income, not just what you earn in Indonesia. Second, even if your company has zero revenue, you’re still required to file monthly and annual tax reports. Skip those, and you’ll face fines.

The main taxes you’ll deal with include corporate income tax at 22%, personal income tax ranging from 5% to 35% depending on your bracket, VAT currently at 12%, and various withholding taxes on things like salaries, rent, and dividends.

On top of that, if you own a PT PMA (more on that below), you’re required to submit quarterly LKPM investment activity reports through the OSS system. Miss those and your business license could be frozen.

Bottom line: this isn’t a place where you can wing it with a spreadsheet and hope for the best.

Tax and Accounting Service Providers in Bali

Here’s a rundown of the firms that serve foreign entrepreneurs and investors on the island. Each one has a slightly different focus, so the right choice depends on what stage your business is at and what kind of support you need.

1. Smart Advisory Solutions (SAS Bali)

Website: sasbali.com

SAS is a well-established advisory firm in Bali that covers accounting, tax, legal, and financial consulting. They work with foreign entrepreneurs, SMEs, and multinational companies. Their services include PT PMA setup, ongoing tax compliance, bookkeeping, payroll, and legal advisory. They’ve built a reputation for handling the full lifecycle of a foreign-owned business in Indonesia — from incorporation to day-to-day financial management. They also publish regular updates on regulatory changes, which is useful given how frequently the rules shift.

2. InCorp Indonesia (formerly Cekindo)

Website: cekindo.com

InCorp is one of the larger corporate service providers in Southeast Asia, with offices across the region including Bali. They handle tax and accounting outsourcing, company registration, payroll, and audit services. Their scale means they can serve bigger operations with more complex compliance needs. They’re a good fit if you need a one-stop-shop with regional reach, especially if your business operates across multiple countries in the region.

3. Lets Move Indonesia (LMI)

Website: letsmoveindonesia.com

LMI started in 2016 and has grown into one of the more visible agencies for expats in Bali. They have offices in Seminyak, Canggu, Sanur, and Jakarta. Their services span visa assistance, company registration, tax reporting, and accounting. They’re known for being transparent about pricing — they were one of the first agencies to publicly list their fees, which is still relatively uncommon in this market. They also publish an Indonesia Tax Handbook that’s worth reading if you want to understand the landscape in detail. Good option for small to medium businesses and individual expats.

4. ILA Global Consulting

Website: ilaglobalconsulting.com

ILA focuses on tax consulting, accounting, and legal services for foreign investors. Their team includes certified tax consultants, and they operate in English, French, and Indonesian. They handle bookkeeping, tax declarations, investment structuring, and asset management. They position themselves more as a strategic advisory firm rather than a basic compliance shop, which may appeal to investors with more complex setups — think multi-entity structures or cross-border tax planning.

5. Bali Accountants

Website: baliaccountants.com

As the name suggests, this firm focuses specifically on bookkeeping and accounting services in Bali. They offer tiered packages for startups, growing businesses, and larger companies. Services include PT PMA setup assistance, NPWP (tax ID) registration, LKPM reporting, and ongoing bookkeeping. They’re a practical choice if you need straightforward, affordable accounting support without the legal and consulting layers that bigger firms offer.

6. TRR Accounting

Website: trr.asia

TRR was started by expats who went through the process of setting up their own company in Bali and realized how hard it was to find reliable accounting help. They provide bookkeeping, tax reporting, and have integrated 1C:Enterprise accounting software for their clients. They’re candid about the state of accounting services in Bali — their website openly discusses the challenges of finding competent tax professionals locally, which is refreshingly honest. They’re based in Jimbaran and work with businesses of all sizes.

7. Gaya Business Consultant

Website: gayabalivisa.com

Gaya is a Bali-based consulting firm that handles visa services alongside tax and accounting. They cover personal income tax, corporate income tax, withholding tax, and local taxes. They’re practical and focused on compliance — making sure you don’t get hit with penalties or fines. A decent choice if you need visa and tax services bundled together.

Website: legalindonesia.id

This firm targets foreign entrepreneurs and investors with a range of accounting and tax services, including company registration, NPWP management, trademark registration, and restaurant licensing. They offer subscription-based accounting support, which provides consistent month-to-month help without hiring an in-house accountant. Their team speaks English and Indonesian.

9. BaliEasy

Website: visa.balieasy.com

BaliEasy handles visa services, PT PMA setup, and business licensing. They provide detailed guidance on KBLI code selection, spatial conformity (KKPR), and OSS-RBA registration. They’re a good resource if you’re in the early stages of setting up a company and need help navigating the specific permits and licenses required for your business type and location in Bali.

10. Usaha Expat Bali

Website: usahaexpat.com

Usaha Expat specializes in PT PMA setup for foreigners. Their packages include company registration plus a first-year company address with mail handling and co-working space access. They’re a practical option for first-time investors who need hands-on guidance through the process.

Setting Up a PT PMA in Bali

If you’re a foreigner who wants to legally own and operate a business in Indonesia, you need a PT PMA — that stands for Perseroan Terbatas Penanaman Modal Asing, or a foreign-investment limited liability company. There is no shortcut around this. Nominee arrangements are risky and increasingly cracked down on.

What Changed in 2025-2026

The big update came from BKPM Regulation No. 5 of 2025, which restructured the capital requirements. Here’s where things stand now:

Paid-up capital: The minimum has been reduced from IDR 10 billion to IDR 2.5 billion. This is the actual cash you need to deposit into your corporate bank account at incorporation. It’s subject to a 12-month lock-up period — you can use it for legitimate business expenses, but you can’t pull it out for personal use.

Total investment plan: You still need to declare a total investment commitment exceeding IDR 10 billion per KBLI code per project location. This is your stated plan for what you intend to invest over time, usually within 3-5 years. Land and buildings are generally excluded from this calculation. Your progress toward this target is tracked through quarterly LKPM reports.

The distinction matters. The paid-up capital is what you put in the bank on day one. The investment plan is what you commit to spending over time.

Basic Requirements

To set up a PT PMA, you need at minimum two shareholders (can be foreign individuals, foreign companies, or a mix), at least one director, and at least one commissioner. The director should ideally be an Indonesian resident or hold a valid KITAS. Many sectors now allow 100% foreign ownership under the Positive Investment List, though some industries still have caps or require local partners.

The Setup Process

The general steps look like this:

Step 1 — Name reservation and deed. You pick a unique three-word Indonesian company name and have a notary draft the Deed of Establishment in Bahasa Indonesia.

Step 2 — Ministry approval. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights (MoLHR) reviews and approves your company’s legal entity status.

Step 3 — Tax registration. You receive your NPWP (company tax ID number) and EFIN for digital tax filing through Indonesia’s Coretax system.

Step 4 — OSS-RBA registration. Your company is registered in the Online Single Submission system, and you receive your NIB (Business Identification Number). This is effectively your operating license.

Step 5 — Bank account and capital injection. You open a corporate bank account and deposit the minimum IDR 2.5 billion paid-up capital.

Step 6 — KBLI alignment. Make sure your business activities are classified under the correct KBLI 2025 codes. Companies need to align with the new classification codes by mid-2026 to avoid NIB suspension.

The entire process typically takes 4 to 8 weeks if your documents are in order.

Ongoing Compliance

Once your PT PMA is running, you’re on the hook for monthly tax reporting (PPh 21 for employee income tax, PPh 23/26 for withholding taxes, VAT returns), annual corporate income tax returns, quarterly LKPM investment activity reports, and annual financial statements. Companies with revenue above certain thresholds may also need audited financials.

This is where having a reliable accounting firm becomes essential. The reporting is frequent, the rules are detailed, and the penalties for getting it wrong range from fines to having your business license frozen.

Choosing the Right Service Provider

A few things to consider when picking an accounting or tax firm in Bali:

Experience with your industry. Villa rentals, F&B, tech companies, and consulting firms all have different compliance requirements. Ask if they’ve worked with businesses like yours.

Language. Make sure they can communicate clearly in your language. Miscommunication on tax matters can cause problems.

Regulatory awareness. Indonesia’s regulations change frequently. Your provider should be actively tracking changes — not using last year’s rules.

Responsiveness. Tax deadlines don’t wait. You need a firm that replies to emails and picks up the phone when it matters.

Final Thoughts

Bali is a fantastic place to build a business, but the administrative and tax side of things is serious. Indonesia’s tax authority is investing heavily in digital enforcement through systems like Coretax, and the days of flying under the radar are mostly over.

Get your PT PMA set up properly from the start. Hire competent accounting and tax support. File your reports on time. It’s not the most exciting part of running a business in Bali, but it’s the part that keeps the doors open.