Merchants in Jakarta Charge Extra QRIS Fees Despite BI Rules

QRIS Extra Fees Persist

Merchants in Jakarta still collect unauthorized extra fees ranging from Rp 500 to Rp 1,000 per transaction when consumers pay using Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard, according to megapolitan.kompas.com.

Bank Indonesia rules state that the merchant discount rate remains the responsibility of the merchant rather than the buyer. Despite this regulation, the practice persists across various small retail locations.

GREAT Institute Economic Researcher Adrian Nalendra Perwira said that merchants view transaction fee deductions as direct cuts to their revenue. Merchants attempt to protect their net earnings by shifting these costs onto buyers, as megapolitan.kompas.com reported.

“From the merchant’s perspective, every deduction from a transaction is considered to reduce the income they receive. Therefore, some merchants may try to maintain net receipts by charging this fee to the buyer,” Adrian told megapolitan.kompas.com on Thursday (12/11/2026).

How merchants manage digital payment operating expenses

Merchants can incorporate operating expenses into general selling prices or levy specific charges for digital payments.

Adrian explained that adding operational costs to general prices distributes the expense among all buyers, including cash payers. Conversely, adding specific fees for QRIS forces digital payment users to carry the entire financial weight.

Since October 2026, QRIS transactions up to Rp 100,000 are exempt from merchant discount rates for all merchant categories, while micro enterprises enjoy exemptions for transactions up to Rp 500,000.

For micro enterprises, merchant discount rates of 0.3 percent equal roughly 1.5 to 3 percent of gross transaction profit. For small businesses and larger categories, a 0.7 percent fee equals about 3.5 to 7 percent of gross profit.

Consumer Purchasing Power Decline

While digital payment volume rises, average spending value through QRIS dropped sharply from Rp 91,500 to Rp 47,000, Pontianak Post reported on Tuesday (10/11).

Center of Economic and Law Studies Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira evaluated the contraction as an indicator of weakening purchasing power among Indonesian households.

“If last year the average transaction was Rp 91,500, now it is only Rp 47,000. This means there is already a problem with people’s purchasing power,” Bhima told Pontianak Post.

Fraud Risks in Digital Banking

A recent survey of 100 fraud, anti-money laundering, and compliance leaders in Indonesian banking revealed that social engineering remains the primary security concern, Olenka reported.

BioCatch commissioned the research alongside studies across 12 regions involving 1,200 banking leaders. Over four out of five Indonesian respondents consider current fraud control systems effective, yet operational challenges persist in identifying manipulated customers.

Who must pay QRIS merchant discount rates

Who is legally required to pay the QRIS merchant discount rate?

Bank Indonesia regulations establish that the merchant discount rate is an obligation for the merchant and cannot be shifted to the consumer.

What transactions are exempt from merchant discount rates?

Since October 2026, transactions up to Rp 100,000 are exempt for all merchants, while micro enterprises receive exemptions for transactions up to Rp 500,000, as megapolitan.kompas.com reported.

How do banking leaders view fraud risks in Indonesia?

Surveys conducted by Olenka indicate that Indonesian banking leaders rate social engineering and coached user journeys as primary operational challenges despite effective control systems.

What does the drop in average QRIS spending indicate?

Center of Economic and Law Studies Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira stated in Pontianak Post that the drop from Rp 91,500 to Rp 47,000 reflects underlying pressures on household purchasing power.

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