What the NPWP is
The NPWP is the number Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) assigns to a taxpayer in Indonesia. It follows you across every tax you deal with: PPN, income tax and withholding. Businesses that pay you will ask for it before they release payment, because they report their suppliers to Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) by this number.
Who needs one
Every entity (Badan) formed in Indonesia and every permanent establishment must register. An individual resident must register if they run a business or a free profession, or if their income exceeds the personal allowance (PTKP). A resident individual does not get a new number: their 16-digit NIK is activated as the NPWP. Entities, government bodies and non-resident individuals get a 16-digit NPWP. Each place of business away from the registered address gets a NITKU, which replaced the old branch NPWP. Separately, any business crossing Rp4.8 billion in turnover must also be confirmed as a PKP before it can charge VAT.
How to register, step by step
- Go to coretaxdjp.pajak.go.id and open the registration form. A resident individual registers with their NIK and family-card data, which DJP matches against the civil registry; an entity registers with its deed, domicile and the responsible person's identity. Non-resident individuals attach a passport copy, a colour photograph and a photograph holding the passport.
- Collect the number. The KPP issues the NPWP within one working day of a complete application, and issues a NITKU for each place of business.
- Activate the Coretax account. The account is created for you but must be activated, and activation is only approved once your email address and mobile number are validated.
- Request the Kode Otorisasi DJP in the portal. This is DJP's electronic signature credential and you cannot issue an e-Faktur, a withholding certificate or a return without it.
- For a company, have the Penanggung Jawab log in first and assign roles or impersonation rights to the staff who will file.
- If you charge VAT, apply separately for PKP confirmation in Coretax under the administration services menu.
How to find or check a NPWP
There is no self-service public register to search. Check a number inside Coretax: log in, open the taxpayer services menu, then administrative services, and submit a Konfirmasi Status Wajib Pajak (KSWP). Status comes back valid only if the name and NPWP match DJP's records and the last two annual returns have been filed — which is why KSWP is used as a gate for government permits and procurement. In day-to-day work the practical check is the e-Faktur module itself: enter a counterparty's NPWP or NIK and Coretax returns the registered name, or rejects it.