Sending business payments from the US to Indonesia
A US company pays an Indonesian supplier for goods by SWIFT wire in US dollars to the supplier's foreign currency account, with the export reference text its bank needs in the payment message. Bank Indonesia exempts international trade from the rule that transactions in Indonesia use rupiah, and banks may credit export proceeds only when the payment carries the export information. This guide covers the details to collect, the rules, rails, holidays, documents and fees.
- Bank Indonesia Regulation No. 17/3/PBI/2015 requires the rupiah for transactions in Indonesia but exempts international trade, so a foreign buyer may pay an Indonesian supplier in dollars.
- Exporters must bring export proceeds (DHE) into the Indonesian financial system by the end of the third month after the month of the export customs notification.
- Under Bank Indonesia's 2019 regulation, a bank may credit a transfer of export proceeds only when the payment message carries the export information; BCA publishes the format 1011//InvoiceNumber(AmountPaid).
- Natural resource exports worth USD 250,000 or more per export notification must be paid into a special account at a state-owned bank under Government Regulation No. 2 of 2026.
- BI-FAST moves rupiah in real time, 24/7, up to Rp250 million per transaction, with a customer fee capped at Rp2,500.
Details to collect from your recipient in Indonesia
Indonesian banks match the beneficiary name against their records, and for goods they also need export information in the payment message. Collect the details and the exact reference text from the supplier in writing. SWIFT is the network banks use for cross-border payment instructions, and each bank on it has an 8 or 11 character SWIFT code.
| Detail | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Account name | The company name exactly as registered at the bank; BCA states it must match its records | Name mismatches lead to queries or returns |
| Account number | The giro valas, a foreign currency current account (BCA uses 10 digits) | A dollar wire to a rupiah account is converted on arrival |
| Bank SWIFT code | For example CENAIDJA for BCA | Routes the wire to the right bank |
| Purpose of the transaction | For example, payment for goods under a stated invoice | BCA asks for it on inward remittances |
| Export information | The reference text the supplier's bank needs; BCA publishes 1011//InvoiceNumber(AmountPaid) | Lets the bank record the payment as export proceeds |
| Special account, where required | The DHE SDA account for natural resource shipments of USD 250,000 or more | These proceeds must go to a state-owned bank |
Sources: BCA, Inward Remittance (business); Government Regulation No. 2 of 2026. As published on 29 October 2026.
USD or rupiah: what Indonesia's rules say
Two sets of rules decide how your payment lands. Bank Indonesia (BI), the central bank, requires the rupiah for transactions in Indonesia but exempts international trade, so a dollar invoice from an exporter is lawful. And export proceeds, called devisa hasil ekspor (DHE), must reach the Indonesian financial system by a deadline, matched to the export documents. The US dollar to rupiah page covers the currency.
| Rule | What it says | What it means for your payment |
|---|---|---|
| Currency of payment | Rupiah required for transactions in Indonesia; international trade exempt (PBI 17/3/PBI/2015) | You may pay the exporter in dollars |
| DHE deadline | By the end of the third month after the month of the export customs notification (PPE), through banks for non-natural resource exports | For a PPE dated in August, the deadline is 30 November |
| Export information | Banks may credit export proceeds only when the message carries the export information (PBI 21/14/PBI/2019) | Copy the supplier's reference text exactly |
| Natural resources | USD 250,000 or more per PPE into a special DHE SDA account at a state-owned bank (PP No. 2 of 2026) | Coal, palm oil, nickel and similar buyers may be given a separate account |
| Subsidiaries in Indonesia | The rupiah rule applies to them | A local entity of yours pays local suppliers in rupiah |
Sources: PBI No. 17/3/PBI/2015; Bank Indonesia Q&A on PBI No. 7 of 2023; PBI No. 21/14/PBI/2019; Government Regulation No. 2 of 2026. As published on 29 October 2026.
The PPE is the export customs notification that records the export, its date and its value. A rupiah payout through a provider arrives without the export references, so keep it for services, samples and small orders, and ask the supplier first. The full supplier-side guide is how to pay suppliers in Indonesia.
Rails and arrival times: SWIFT, BI-FAST, SKNBI and BI-RTGS
A dollar wire settles in the United States on Fedwire, which opens at 9:00 p.m. ET on the previous calendar day, takes customer transfers until 6:45 p.m. ET and closes at 7:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday. Jakarta is 11 hours ahead of New York in the US summer and 12 hours ahead in the US winter, so a wire sent on a New York afternoon arrives during the Indonesian night.
| Route | What the recipient receives | Timing, as published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWIFT wire in USD to a giro valas | US dollars | BCA states funds can arrive the same day | Carries the export reference |
| Rupiah payout over BI-FAST | Rupiah | Real time, 24/7 | Up to Rp250 million per transaction |
| Rupiah payout over SKNBI | Rupiah | 06:30 to 16:30 Western Indonesia Time on banking days | Up to Rp1 billion per transaction |
| Rupiah payout over BI-RTGS | Rupiah | 06:30 to 16:30 Western Indonesia Time on banking days | Large values above Rp100 million |
Sources: Bank Indonesia, BI-FAST FAQ; BCA, Inward Remittance (business); Federal Reserve Financial Services, Fedwire operating hours. As published on 29 October 2026.
BI-FAST runs through weekends and holidays, while SWIFT credits, SKNBI and BI-RTGS wait for an Indonesian banking day. Banks may set lower customer limits and earlier cut-offs than Bank Indonesia's system hours.
Documents, screening and why payments to Indonesia are held
For goods, the supplier's bank matches your payment to the export documents through siMoDIS, the system Bank Indonesia uses to monitor export proceeds. The supplier needs the PPE, the invoice and your payment carrying the right reference; you need the invoice and the remittance confirmation. NIB is the supplier's business identification number and NPWP its tax number; both appear on its invoices and help you match the bank details to the company.
Screen before you pay: OFAC's guidance is that every US person, US-incorporated companies and their foreign branches included, must comply with US sanctions, so check the recipient and its bank against OFAC's lists before the first payment (OFAC FAQ 11).
| Problem | What happens | How to prevent it |
|---|---|---|
| No export information in the payment | The bank cannot record it as export proceeds | Copy the supplier's reference text exactly |
| Dollars sent to a rupiah account | Converted at the bank's rate | Ask for the giro valas number |
| Natural resource payment sent to the ordinary account | The supplier must move it to its special account | Ask whether the shipment needs the DHE SDA account |
| Rupiah payout above Rp250 million on BI-FAST | Exceeds the limit per transaction | Use SKNBI or BI-RTGS for larger amounts |
| Investigation needed | BCA charges USD 20 equivalent | Share the UETR, the SWIFT tracking reference, first |
Sources: BCA; PBI No. 21/14/PBI/2019; Government Regulation No. 2 of 2026; Bank Indonesia, BI-FAST FAQ. As published on 29 October 2026.
Costs: SHA, OUR and Helm's fees for payments to Indonesia
BCA charges USD 5 equivalent to credit a foreign currency inward remittance, to a dollar or a rupiah account. That is small next to intermediary deductions on a SHA wire and the exchange rate on a rupiah payout. Send dollar wires with OUR when the supplier must receive the full amount, which also keeps the DHE record equal to the invoice. For the supplier's account options, see USD business accounts in Indonesia.
Helm, a financial technology company and not a bank, sends international payments from your company's account by SWIFT and by local rails in the recipient's currency where available, confirmed by your account manager. The rate, fee and expected arrival are shown before you confirm. Helm's US dollar account services are provided by Bridge Building, Inc. (NMLS ID 2450917), a licensed money transmitter, with funds held at Lead Bank.
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. See how Helm pricing works.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
How do I send a business payment from the US to Indonesia?
For goods, send a SWIFT wire in US dollars to the supplier's giro valas with the export reference text its bank needs, such as BCA's 1011//InvoiceNumber(AmountPaid). For services or small rupiah invoices, a provider can pay out over BI-FAST or SKNBI.
Can I pay an Indonesian supplier in US dollars?
Yes. Bank Indonesia Regulation No. 17/3/PBI/2015 requires the rupiah for transactions in Indonesia but exempts international trade, so a buyer abroad may pay an exporter in dollars.
Why does my Indonesian supplier ask for a reference like 1011//?
Bank Indonesia's rules let a bank credit export proceeds only when the payment message carries the export information. BCA publishes the format 1011//InvoiceNumber(AmountPaid) so it can match your payment to the export.
What is the DHE SDA special account?
It is the account Indonesian natural resource exporters must use for proceeds from exports worth USD 250,000 or more per export notification, at a foreign exchange bank that is state-owned, under Government Regulation No. 2 of 2026.
How long does a payment to Indonesia take?
A rupiah payout over BI-FAST is credited in real time, 24/7. BCA states that a SWIFT wire can arrive the same day; otherwise it is credited on the next Indonesian banking day.
What does Helm charge to send money to Indonesia?
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment.
References
- Bank Indonesia: Regulation No. 17/3/PBI/2015 on the Mandatory Use of Rupiah
- Bank Indonesia: Questions and answers on PBI No. 7 of 2023 on export proceeds and import payments
- Bank Indonesia: Regulation No. 21/14/PBI/2019 on export proceeds and import payments
- Ministry of Finance JDIH: Government Regulation No. 2 of 2026 (second amendment to PP No. 36 of 2023)
- Bank Indonesia: BI-FAST frequently asked questions
- BCA: Inward Remittance (business)
- Federal Reserve Financial Services: Fedwire Funds Service operating hours
- Office of Foreign Assets Control: FAQ 11, Who must comply with OFAC sanctions?
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.