Indonesia's finance minister plans AI system to curb customs fraud

Indonesia’s finance minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa plans to introduce an AI system to monitor violations and fraud in customs transactions within the next three months.

The AI implementation is aimed at the country’s Customs Directorate and will be integrated with the existing system at the Tax Directorate General.

Purbaya said the goal is to improve efficiency and maximize state revenue from customs and taxation.

He acknowledged that full integration of the systems will take more than three months, but expects initial AI deployment to begin within that timeframe.

The initiative aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to reduce fraud in customs, including under-invoicing practices.

Purbaya said there are no major obstacles to implementation, and will assess whether the current customs system can be optimized for this purpose.

🔗 Source: CNN Indonesia

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

AI pilot set for three months, tax link will take longer

The finance minister plans to start basic AI analysis in about three months inside Bea Cukai (Indonesia’s customs agency). Linking with the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) will take longer.
The plan needs more than AI models. It needs reliable operational data plus stable links between agencies. These pieces are not yet in place and will take time to build.
The government plans to make customs revenue collection more efficient in the coming months as these AI tools go live.

Importers and logistics providers need to get ready for tighter invoice checks

Expect tighter checks on declared values as AI tools flag potential under-invoicing, the practice of declaring a lower price to reduce duties and taxes.
Importers need to prepare complete and accurate documentation. Include commercial invoices, proof of payment, and clear product descriptions. Share them with logistics partners before filing to cut the risk of misdeclaration.
Logistics providers plus customs brokers can strengthen pre-clearance checks on product classification and customs valuation. Ensure data matches across invoices and customs declarations.
Companies can assign a specific compliance lead to coordinate with Bea Cukai. Update internal systems and data formats as agency integration moves forward.