Cukai Pendapatan dan Anda: 2009

01 Disember 2009

Pampasan Insuran dikenakan cukai atau tidak? : Posting Exam Mode

Pampasan insuran sebab sebahagian premis terbakar, kena cukai atau tidak.
Jawapan:
Apa yang rosak? Premis. Premis adalah aset tetap. Jika Aset tetap penerimaan modal. Sekiranya aset pusingan cthnya Stok dikenakan cukai kerana penerimaan hasil.
Pampasan tersebut adakah untuk pembaikan sahaja atau ada juga untuk kerugian kerana tidak dapat gunakan premis?

Sekiranya pampasan adalah untuk kos pembaikan premis maka tidak dikenakan cukai kerana bersifat modal. Kes berkaitan Crabb

Sekiranya pampasan diterima adalah kerana tidak dapat menggunakan premis tersebut maka boleh dikenakan cukai kerana penerimaan hasil.
Prinsip:
a. Penerimaan untuk mengisi ruang keuntungan kerana aset tidak dapat digunakan. Kes Burmah Steamship Co Ltd lwn CIR
b. Sturktur perniagaan tidak terjejas kerana sebahagian sahaja premis yang rosak. Kes Short Brothers Ltd lwn CIR
Kes lain London & Thames Haven Oil Wharves Ltd lwn Attwood.

Petunjuk Perdagangan : Posting Exam Mode

A sebuah syarikat jual tanah kepada B. adakah A boleh dikenakan cukai?
Jawapan: Seksyen 2 Akta Cukai Pendapatan memberikan definisi perniagaan adalah suatu usaha bercorak perdagangan. Usaha bercorak perdagangan dapat ditunjukkan dengan petunjuk perdagangan seperti berikut...

a. Niat untuk mendapatkan keuntungan.
A sebagai sebuah syarikat sememangnya mempunyai niat untuk mendapatkan keuntungan. Ini ditunjukkan di dalam Memorandum of Assosiation semasa penubuhannya.
Kes berkaitan H & Co Ltd

b. Cara mendapatkan aset.
Sekiranya aset tersebut diterima sebagai warisan/pemberian maka transaksi tersebut hanyalah pelupusan aset.
Kes berkaitan Hudson Bay Co lwn Steven

c. Adakah berlaku perubahan pada aset tersebut
Sekiranya aset tersebut telah diubahsuai untuk memudahkan ianya dijual maka transaksi tersebut dikenakan cukai. Contohnya tanah dipecah-pecah menjadi lot kecil sebelum dijual.
Kes Berkaitan TCS / CIR lwn Livingstone / Cape Brandy Syndicate

d. Kekerapan urusniaga
Sekiranya transaksi tersebut berulang-ulang , bersistematik serta berturut maka ia telah melambangkan suatu perniagaan telah dijalankan.
Kes Berkaitan Pickford lwn Quirke

e. Tempoh aset dipegang
Sekiranya aset dipegang untuk jangka masa pendek maka boleh dianggap usaha bercorak perdagangan seperti kes Gray & Gillet lwn Tiley.
Sebaliknya sekiranya dipegang untuk jangka masa panjang ianya lebih kepada pelaburan seperti kes DEF lwn CIT.

f. Kaedah Aset dijual.
Sekiranya aset tersebut dijual dengan mengadkan promosi atau dengan melantik ejen penjual maka boleh dianggap usaha bercorak perdagangan.
Kes Martin Lwn Lowry

g. Pengetahuan yang berkaitan.
Sekiranya penjual tersebut mempunyai pengetahuan dan pengalaman yang serupa serta kepakaran di dalam bidang yang berkaitan maka boleh dianggap ia merupakan usaha bercorak perdagangan.
Kes Gray & Gillet lwn Tiley / Cape Brandy Syndicate lwn CIR.

21 November 2009

Understanding tax exemptions. Petikan TheStar Monday October 26, 2009

The PricewaterhouseCoopers team answers questions on the service tax, green technology and real property gains tax.

THIS is the second of a three-part question-and-answer series provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers on various aspects of Budget 2010. The final part will appear in StarBiz tomorrow. Email your questions to:
budget.2010@my.pwc.com

Q. I have been issued a credit card and I subsequently decide to cancel the credit card six months later, will I be able to claim the service tax paid?

A. The service tax law does not contain provisions for a refund of service tax under these circumstances.

If I have been issued a credit card free for life, how does the change in law affect me?

Service tax will be collected on the completion of each year after Jan 1, 2010. A principal cardholder will have to pay RM50 per card and RM25 for every supplementary card.

Will I still be paying service tax when I have meals at restaurants after GST is implemented?

GST will replace the current service tax. The Minister of Finance indicated that the rate of GST will be lower than the current rate of service tax. The current service tax rate is 5%.

With the reintroduction of real property gains tax we do hope that which is of lesser burden to the Rakyat would apply, says the Second Finance Minister

My company is considering purchasing a new building. We are looking at a building incorporated with “green technology”.

I understand there will be an exemption from stamp duty on the purchase of such buildings?

Stamp duty exemption would be available for buyers of buildings and residential properties that have been issued a Green Building Index (GBI) certificate.

The GBI is a rating index for environmentally-friendly buildings.

The stamp duty exemption would only apply to buildings or residential properties bought directly from real property developers and the exemption is only given once to the first owner of the building.

It may not apply to existing buildings that have subsequently been granted the GBI certificate.

The amount of the stamp duty exemption is given only on the additional cost incurred by the property developer to obtain the GBI certificate, and not on the full value of the building.

The exemption will apply for sales and purchases agreements executed from Oct 24 2009 until Dec 31, 2014.

I heard that there will be a tax of 5% to be imposed on gains from the disposal of real property from Jan 1, 2010.

It is proposed that real property gains tax will apply to disposals of real properties effective from Jan 1, 2010.

To date there has been a prevailing exemption on real property gains tax on such disposals since April 1, 2007.

Generally, the exemption would still apply to sale and purchase agreements executed by Dec 31, 2009.

Based on the Finance Bill, the rate of tax applicable will depend on the period the property has been held since it was acquired.

Previously, there was no tax for disposals by individuals from the sixth year onwards.

However, in the current proposal this has been removed. Therefore, both companies and individuals would be taxed at the scale rates that were applicable in the past.

The Second Finance Minister has recently clarified that the tax rate on such disposals of real property would be 5% irrespective of the period of ownership.

Therefore with the reintroduction of real property gains tax we do hope that which is of lesser burden to the Rakyat would apply.

I intend to sell my house next year. With real property gains tax applicable, will I need to file a return?

Does this mean 5% will be retained from money due to me from the sale of the property?

You would need to file a real property gains tax return within 60 days of the date of the disposal. This proposal increases the previous 30 day deadline to submit a return.

The proposed mechanism for payment of real property gains tax from Jan 1, 2010, the acquirer would be required to retain an amount not exceeding 2% of the total value of the consideration for the property.

The acquirer would then be required to pay that amount directly to the Inland Revenue Board within 60 days of the date of the disposal.

The IRB will apply this amount received from the acquirer against the amount of real property gains tax you would need to pay on the disposal of your house.

I am a Malaysian citizen currently lecturing at a local university in Selangor.

I am planning to apply for a full time 2-year teaching position at a tertiary organisation in the Iskandar region. Do I get any special incentive if I accept the offer?

Your employment offer in the Iskandar region would fall under one of the qualifying activities categorised as ‘educational services’.

If you apply and commence your employment in Iskandar Malaysia between Oct 24, 2009 and Dec 31, 2015, provided that you qualify as a Malaysian tax resident, your employment income will be taxed at the flat rate of 15%.

This could be substantially lower compared to the effective tax rate of a Malaysian tax resident.

Understanding your tax exposure. TheStar Monday November 16, 2009

By Dr CHOONG KWAI FATT

Exemption order an interim measure to a complete RPGT system

IN Malaysia, real property gains tax (RPGT) is imposed with the intention to curb property speculations. It is imposed on the gains on disposal of Malaysian landed properties and the rate varies from 5% to 30% depends on the holding period.

With effect from April 1, 2007, the Government decided to exempt RPGT in view of the economic slowdown and it was aimed at assisting property developers in disposing of their houses, and spearheading the economic progress.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, on Oct 23, however, reintroduced RPGT to put in place a fair administration of taxes.

In a nutshell, an equitable system will now be in place as income tax are imposed on income derived by any person in Malaysia while RPGT, on capital gains on disposal of landed properties. There will not be any loss of revenue to the Government.

In the Budget 2010 speech, the Government’s intention was clear. It is to ensure that the Malaysian tax system is equitable and continue to be able to generate revenue for development purposes. In line with this, the Government proposed that a tax of 5% be imposed on gains from the disposal of real property from Jan 1 2010. Any agreements signed between now till Dec 31 remains RPGT exempted.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah then, exercising his power under section 9(3) of the Real Property Gains Tax Act 1976 (RPGTA), gazetted Real Property Gains Tax (Exemption) Order 2009 which will take effect from Jan 1, 2010. A fixed RPGT rate of 5% on gains from property gains is achieved through the application of this exemption order.

Malaysian individuals are accorded tax exemption of 10% of the chargeable gain (CG) from the computation of RPGT3. Thus, this would effectively mean that they will be paying less than 5% of RPGT rate while companies continue to pay 5%.

The RPGT Exemption Order exempts any person from the application of Schedule 5 of the RPGTA on the payment of tax on the CG arising from any disposal of assets on or after Jan 1, subject to the condition that the amount of CG exempted shall be determined in accordance with the following formula: A/B x C where:

A = Tax on CG at the appropriate tax rate reduced by the Tax on CG at 5%;

B = Tax on CG at the appropriate tax rate;

C = Amount of CG

Effectively, the exemption formula can be simplified as follows:

Chargeable gain x (Appropriate rate – 5%) / Appropriate rate

The appropriate tax rate to be applied on this exemption order depends on the holding period of the property which is summarised as per Table A.

Illustration: Malaysian citizen individuals

Chia Lat acquired a condominium in Bangsar for RM500,000 on Jan 1, 2008. On March 31, 2010 he decides to dispose the property for RM780,000. The RPGT to be paid by him would be as per Table B.

Illustration: Companies

Using the same example as above, and assuming the taxpayer is a Sdn Bhd, the RPGT payable would be as per Table C.

Mathematical confusion

The mathematical formula stipulated in the RPGT exemption basically restores to the fact that the RPGT is 5% on the CG. This is the mathematical equation:

Assuming the appropriate tax rate is y and CG is x, then the RPGT payable after the RPGT exemption would be :

[x – x(y - 5%)/y ] y =xy – xy + 5% x

= 5% of x

The Government has stated that the purpose of the RPGT is to have a fair administration of taxes. Thus the exemption is an interim measure to begin with RPGT of 5% taxes. In years to come, once the exemption order is revoked, RPGT payable would revert to the original position, ranging from 30% to 5%, depending on the holding period.

Policy reform: Currently, taxpayers are only required to keep accounting records for seven years under the law. It may not be feasible to impose 5% on the chargeable gain on gains derived from holding periods more than seven years. This would mean tax payers are required to keep their accounting records for an indefinite time to justify cost attributable to the acquisition.

It is therefore suggested that the Government impose 2% on selling price instead of holding periods exceeding seven years or as in the past, exempt these gains from RPGT. After all, the underlying purpose of RPGT is to curb speculation of properties rather than tax collection.

Moving forward, the Government may likely further align the taxes on landed transactions to be equitable with the income tax system. Therefore, it is crucial that the rakyat understand the Government’s overall objectives and appreciate that this exemption order is an interim measure to prepare the country for a complete restoration of the RPGT system when the time comes.

Once the country’s economy is paced and sustaining desired growth, this exemption may likely to be revoked and property gains will be back causing gains will be taxed at the appropriate rate.

Till then, this exemption order will continue to allow us to enjoy most of our short-term trading gains from real property transactions.

● Dr Choong Kwai Fatt is deputy dean, Research and Development, Faculty of Business and Accountancy, University of Malaya.

A double whammy. Petikan TheStar Saturday November 7, 2009

THE REAL ESTATE WITH ANGIE NG

PROPERTY buyers and investors are facing a double whammy – the proposed reimposition of the real property gains tax (RPGT) come Jan 1 and the inevitability of having to pay higher mortgage rates.

Coming at the heels of each other, they certainly spell the end of the short “honeymoon” for property buyers that kicked off early this year when developers started to introduce various housing packages and easy payment schemes to promote sales.

Since the announcement of the proposed reimposition of the real property gain tax (RPGT) on Oct 23, real estate investors and owners are still hoping that the Government will review the proposed tax reinstatement.

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s remark on Wednesday that the Government may reconsider the RPGT’s reimposition after receiving feedback from all parties gave them hope that a reprieve may be in order.

Although some argue that a flat 5% tax on gains from property disposal is quite fair and not overly excessive, property buyers and investors worry that this may mark the beginning of reverting to the original tax scale.

Prior to the exemption of the RPGT in April 2007, tax on gains from property sales was on a progressive basis from 30% to 0% depending on the holding period of the property. Any gains made from properties that have been held for more than five years will not attract any tax.

However, the latest measure to extend the 5% RPGT to all gains from property disposal irrespective of the holding period, will mean that long held properties that may be centuries old will also be affected.

This has not gone down well with property owners as they see it as an enactment of an inheritance tax although Malaysia has no such tax legislation.

Their main grouses are that non property speculators have never been subjected to such a tax before and why impose one now and tax them at the same rate as those who speculate or “flip” their properties for quick profits.

If the proposal under Budget 2010 for the flat 5% RPGT is just a temporary measure and changes are made down the road, they will be regarded as “flip flops” on the part of the Government on real estate matters.

Certainly, the timing is also a factor as efforts to promote Malaysian properties to overseas investors are just kicking off.

The Government has recently allocated RM25mil to kick start efforts by Malaysia Property Inc (MPI), a joint public and private sector initiative, to bring Malaysian projects to overseas investors.

MPI has set a target to sell RM2bil worth of properties next year and the countries in its radar include Japan, South Korea, China, India, Britain and the Middle East.

In fact, MPI officials were leading a team of Malaysian developers to participate in a property exhibition in London when they heard news of the proposed reimposition of the RPGT. They have to answer to the many concerns of the potential British investors on the tax measure.

If such promotional efforts are properly coordinated and do not lead to over speculation in Malaysia’s property market, having more inflow of foreign investment in local real estate will be able to promote more depth and breadth in the local market. This is especially true if developers continue to improve on their project design capability to international standards.

Meanwhile, rising mortgage rates since early this month and plans by banks to introduce risk-based pricing in the calculation of interest rates will raise entry cost for new home buyers.

Some of the banks have also stopped absorbing the legal fees, stamp duties and other disbursement fees for loan documentation from their home loan offerings.

If the interest rates continue to move up, there will be knee-jerk reaction in buying interest and take-up rate in the short term.

Whether sentiment will be affected in the medium to longer term remains to be seen and it will largely depend on the strength of the country’s economic recovery.

Buyers will certainly shop around for value property and hopefully some freebies before signing up.

● Deputy news editor Angie Ng says although sunnier days may be here again, Malaysians are not out of the woods yet and any new tax proposals that may be burdensome to the people are untimely

Can real property gains tax be minimised? Petikan TheStar Tuesday November 3, 2009

By POON YEW HOE

It may be possible by transferring properties to a company, but there are many pitfalls to consider

AT the recently concluded budget seminar of our firm, a major focus of the 650 attendees was the proposed real property gains tax (RPGT) of 5% to be imposed on disposals of property after Jan 1

Resigned to the inevitability of the tax and the futility of objections, the ingenious ones posed the question to us on the possibility of tax minimisation by transferring their current properties to a company before Jan 1.

The plan calls for properties which were acquired many years ago at a cheap price (say RM1mil) to be transferred to a company controlled by them at the prevailing market price (say RM3mil).

The transfer will be effected before Jan 1, thus attracting no RPGT on the disposal.

In the future when the property is disposed off by the company, the company will only be taxed on the capital gain over and above the new cost of RM3mil.

If the disposal price by the company is RM4mil, the company will only pay tax on the capital gain of RM1mil (RM4mil less RM3mil) at the rate of 5%, thus resulting in RPGT of RM50,000.

A very ingenious idea indeed. The comparison of taxes payable shows a tax saving of RM100,000 calculated as seen in the table.

Before anyone embarks on such a potentially lucrative move, one has to bear in mind many of the pitfalls, some of which are discussed below.

Date of disposal

For the purpose of this discussion, the term “chargeable assets” is used to refer to properties and other assets that can be caught under RPGT.

Chargeable assets include shares in real property companies which are companies that predominantly hold assets in the form of properties or shares in other real property companies. Only chargeable assets disposed on Jan 1 or after will be assessed to RPGT. Those disposed of from April 1, 2007 to Dec 31, 2009 will not. A day is literally night and day for tax purposes!

But the term “disposal date” has a technical definition and it is not the date when the sales price is paid over as we usually consider a sale to be. In sales circles, as they say, a sale is not a sale until the money is collected!

However, for RPGT purposes, a sale is a sale on the day a written agreement is entered into.

Hence, the date that a sale and purchase agreement is entered into for the sale of a property is usually the date of disposal for RPGT purposes. But what if there is no written agreement?

The law provides that the date of disposal is the earlier of two dates – the date that the sales price is fully received or the date that the ownership is transferred. Disposals of this nature may have disposal dates being deferred to a later date, which may fall in the 5% taxable period!

Likewise, disposal dates may be deferred even much later if the sale is dependent on securing approvals from the “Government or an authority, or committee appointed by the Government” – for example, the state government, the Securities Commission (SC) or Foreign Investment Committee.

For these “conditional contracts” which are covered by Para 16 of Schedule 2 of the RPGT Act, the disposal date is when the last of the approvals is obtained.

If a sale and purchase agreement is signed in December 2009 that is subject to SC approval which is obtained in February 2010, the disposal will be treated as having taken place in 2010 and thus subject to the 5% RPGT!

Stamp duty on the transfer

Stamp duty is imposed on the documents for the transfer of title; for example, the memorandum of transfer for transfer of property.

The rates applicable are fairly steep for properties which range from 1% to 3% with the highest rate of 3% being applicable for transfer prices which exceed RM500,000.

Transfers of shares attract duty at the rate of RM3 for every RM1,000 of the transfer price or 0.3%.

However, to avoid stamp duty, one may wish to transfer the property without the transfer of title; for example, the owner holds the property in trust for the company.

What if no transfer of title is effected as in these circumstances? Will the issue of tax avoidance then arise? Perhaps.

Anti-tax avoidance in the RPGT Act

Section 25 of the RPGT Act contains the general anti-avoidance provisions which allow the tax authorities to disregard transactions, vary transactions or impose taxes that should have been imposed.

The law specifies that this right is available if the transactions had the effect of “altering the incidence of tax”, “relieving a person from tax liability” or “evading or avoiding any liability which would otherwise have been imposed”.

Besides these general anti-tax avoidance measures which are also found in the Income Tax Act to discourage income tax avoidance, Section 25 of the RPGT Act also provides for persons who provide loans to related parties; for example, Mr A providing loans to Company A which is owned by him.

The law provides that if Company A sells a property and the property was financed by a loan provided by Mr A, the disposal may be regarded as a disposal by Mr A and not by Company A.

However, the cost of acquisition to Mr A is the market value of the property when Company A acquired the property from Mr A. If Company A had acquired the property from Mr A at the true market value, this anti-tax avoidance provision of the RPGT Act should not pose any problem.

Previous rules by Ministry of Finance (MOF)

A few years ago, the Government had granted a similar tax free period from June 1, 2003 to May 31, 2004.

During that period, the MOF had issued some guidelines to curb the avoidance of RPGT by mandating that any disposal of property must be evidenced by a sales and purchase agreement which must be duly signed and stamped within the exemption period.

Sale of property to a company in exchange for shares

Care should be taken if the property owner transfers a property to a company controlled by him in exchange for shares, or at least 75% in the form of shares. If the transfer is done this way, the shares may be considered to be chargeable assets.

In the future when these shares are sold, the gains will be subject to the RPGT of 5%. The cost of shares for RPGT purposes is not the par value of the shares but the price paid by the property owner for the property plus incidental expenses incurred by him on the acquisition; for example, legal fees.

As such, if Mr B transfers a piece of property acquired for RM1mil to his company (Company B) at market price of RM3mil in exchange for 3 million RM1 shares, and the shares are subsequently sold for RM4mil, the gains on disposal are calculated at RM3mil which is RM4mil sales price less the acquisition price to Mr B of RM1mil.

Indirectly therefore, Mr B is taxed on his full capital gains and not merely on the gains made by Company B owned by him.

RPGT or income tax?

Another aspect which has deep implications is whether the disposer had held the property as stock-in-trade or as a long term investment.

If held as stock-in-trade, the gains on disposal will attract income tax whereas if held as a long term investment, the gains will attract RPGT.

Some property investments which are disposed as part of a quick sale, or as a single isolated transaction in circumstances which give it a cloak of “adventure in the nature of trade”, could be caught under income tax.

Due to space constraints, we are unable to elaborate on this issue. If these disposals are caught under income tax, what then is the advantage of disposing the properties before Jan 1 if the disposer has to pay income tax at 25% on the gains upfront?

The obstacles can be quite challenging as seen above and careful navigation of the tax law is necessary. But I am sure good tax advisers will find a way out of the conundrum!

Poon Yew Hoe is a partner of Horwath.

A waiver good for some property owners. Petikan TheStar Sunday November 1, 2009

THE reintroduction of the Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) in Budget 2010 has generated much interest and concern.

The acquisition and disposal of property is subjected to a levy by the Government in the form of stamp duty or RPGT

There are many instances when the disposals are made not with a view to profits. People acquire and hold property as a store of wealth and they dispose it when they are in need of funds.

Certain individuals should be exempted from the RGPT. Senior citizens aged 55 years and above who dispose of their properties should be exempted. This category of people needs the funds to meet exorbitant medical bills and for their continued healthcare.

Those who are forced to sell property to meet their debts should be exempted; and disposals as a result of bank foreclosures should also be exempted.

There are those who have to sell their properties to finance their children’s education. The incidence of a levy on property transactions should be a one-off payment at the time of acquisition. Therefore, an increase of a quarter to half a percentage point of the stamp duty could be introduced.

I believe this increase will be adequate to generate revenue equivalent to that derived from the RPGT collection.

Those who can afford to buy property or buy new houses should be able to pay the stamp duty. Stamp duty is easy to compute as it is based on the transacted price. On the other hand, the chargeable gain with the acquisition and disposal price is sometimes difficult to ascertain since the supporting invoices, bills and other documents go missing after so many years.

Other benefits include:

> There is no need to complete any forms and hence saves time.

> The collection is prompt as there would be no registration of the title of the property without first receiving the stamp duty.

> The seller receives his proceeds without having to wait for the tax clearance.

PETER C,
Shah Alam.

Looking for tax clarity Petikan TheStar Saturday October 31, 2009

OPTIMISTICALLY CAUTIOUS
By ERROL OH

BUDGET speeches are not the kind of reading material that you can just breeze through. They talk about important matters that affect many people and businesses.

The business community and plenty of others pore over these documents to better understand the thinking behind the Government’s fiscal moves. Budget 2010 was no different.

Soon after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak began reading his speech in Dewan Rakyat on Oct 23, thousands of copies of the text were distributed and read around the country. As usual, there was much to digest.

This time around, though, there was some confusion over a change in real property gains tax (RPGT).

This was what Najib announced in his speech: “The Government needs to ensure that the Malaysian tax system is equitable and able to generate revenue for development purposes. In line with this, the Government proposes that a tax of 5% be imposed on gains from the disposal of real property from Jan 1, 2010.”

Appendix 15 of the speech provided more details. It states that gains from the disposal of real property are subject to tax under the RPGT Act 1976 to curb speculative activities in the property market.

The tax rates are progressive from 0% to 30%, depending on the holding period of the property. No tax is imposed on the disposal of a property that takes place more than five years after its acquisition.

To broaden the tax base, it is proposed that tax at “a fixed rate of 5%” be imposed on gains from the disposal of real property.

Based on Najib’s speech and the appendix, just about everybody has understood the same thing – that the RPGT net has been widened to capture practically every sale of property (no matter how long ago you bought it), and that the gains from the disposals will be subject to a 5% tax.

This alone has made quite a number of people unhappy (see Angie Ng’s The Real Estate column on page 24), but what has muddied things was that it was not made immediately clear that the Government was putting through this change in two steps.

First, via the Finance Bill, it has proposed to raise the minimum RPGT rate (for property held for more than five years) from 0% to 5%. So far so good. That’s in keeping with what’s stated in the speech and Appendix 15. However, the higher rates (30%, 20% and 15% for disposals within two years, in the third year and in the fourth year after the acquisition) are kept intact. Several of those who had compared the Budget speech and the Finance Bill quickly spotted what they saw as a discrepancy.

If the higher rates are still maintained in the Act, doesn’t it contradict the Budget proposal of imposing RPGT at “a fixed rate of 5%”? It’s a fair question to ask because at that point, few people knew about the Government’s second step in changing the RPGT regime.

That only came out on Oct 25, when Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah issued a statement to confirm that the RPGT rate would be fixed at 5%, irrespective of the holding period of the property.

He said the 5% rate would be implemented through the Real Property Gains Tax (Exemption) Order 2009, a ministerial order that effects a rule change without requiring Parliamentary approval.

So that eliminates the Budget day confusion. However, the use of the order leads to a few interesting points to discuss.

This is not the first time that the Government has issued a ministerial order relating to RPGT. In 2003, it waived RPGT for a year to boost the property sector and to encourage corporate restructuring.

At the opening of the Invest Malaysia 2007, then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that “the Government has decided not to impose RPGT throughout the country commencing April 1”. That will stand until January next year, when the Budget 2010 proposal kicks in.

Some people misconstrued the 2007 move as a scrapping of the RPGT Act. We all certainly know now that this was not the case.

Such a ministerial order usually has a finite life. It gives the Government the flexibility of speedily switching tax strategy when circumstances change. If the Budget 2010 aim was to restructure the RPGT rates for the long haul so that there would only be the 5% rate, this could have been done by amending the RPGT Act only.

Instead, the Government retains the option of being able to charge higher RPGT rates to discourage people from buying property and selling within a year or two in a hot market to make a quick buck. That’s just planning ahead.

However, it would have been good if this aspect was communicated as well in the Budget. Benjamin Franklin wrote that nothing in this world can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. He may be right, but certainty is not necessarily the same as clarity and transparency.

l Although he doesn’t quite share the frustration and resentment that must have been stewing inside George Harrison when writing The Beatles’ Taxman, deputy business editor Errol Oh understands well the sentiments.

Signs of green shoots. Petikan TheStar Saturday October 31, 2009

By ANGIE NG

THE housing property market which also succumbed to the dampening impact of the global financial crisis may be showing some “green shoots” of recovery, especially in the medium-range landed housing sector.

However, the high-end condominium market around the Kuala Lumpur City Centre vicinity is still fragile.

Since the middle of this year, the take-up rate for landed housing units has improved and developers are seeing a return of buying interest for good projects in well sought after locations. Even the high-rise residential market is showing some glimmer of hope.

The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research’s Residential Property Index (MIER RPI) hit 91.5 points in the second quarter of this year, which is a strong rebound from the all-time low of 69.3 points in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin says developers are still careful with planning their launches.
As a sign of their improved confidence, more developers are lining up new greenfield projects for launch from the later part of this year.

This is a much improved situation from late last year when things practically came to a halt and the sale registers at developers’ offices stopped ringing.

Just when developers are about to look forward to brighter days ahead, the proposed reimposition of the real property gains tax (RPGT), albeit at a flat 5% rate irrespective of holding period and category of owners, is seen as a dampener of the “overall feel good” sentiment.

Although some are not overly concern that the RPGT will slow down sales substantially, especially among first time buyers and owner occupiers, some say it will impact the investor market.

Overall, with the prevailing low interest rates and improving economy, the environment is still relatively positive.

IJM Land Bhd managing director Datuk Soam Heng Choon says with the current benign interest rates and the pent up demand due to lack of new launches in the last nine months, the sentiment should remain positive.

“Most of our projected launches are on track and we will be putting more projects into the market. By our financial year ending March 2010, we would have launched about RM1.3bil worth of products nationwide,” Soam adds.

Among IJM Land’s latest launches are the Nusa Duta project in Johor Baru in July and The Light Waterfront Penang in August. A new commercial project in Melaka will be launched next month.

On challenges ahead, he says land prices are still on the rise and the cost of doing business remains high.

“Industry players should take the lull period to improve their product delivery and refocus on quality products to lift the industry’s image in the years ahead,” Soam points out.

According to SP Setia Bhd president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, the country’s economy is showing strong signs of recovery. Coupled with prevailing low interest rates and ample liquidity, the outlook looks more promising.

Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum ... ‘The market is gaining momentum for an up cycle in the second half of 2010.’
Although sales is picking up, he says developers are still careful with planning their launches and only time will tell if the recovery is sustainable.

Liew adds that product innovation which caters to the people’s changing lifestyle and needs will continue to fuel demand, adding that the company will continue with its launches in its townships in Johor, the Klang Valley and Penang.

Mah Sing Group Bhd group chief executive Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum says: “The market is gaining momentum for an up cycle in the second half of 2010.

This would be true for mid- to high-end landed residential projects as well as commercial projects in prime locations.”

The company is lining up some new project launches next year, including Garden Residence in Cyberjaya by the first quarter of 2010. The project has received more than 600 registrants so far for the superlink homes and semi detached houses.

Mah Sing is also planning to launch the iParc project in Bukit Jelutong comprising semi-detached factories with flexible layouts for corporate warehousing.

Leong says as property demand in the country is largely driven by fundamentals, there has been no price bubble so far and hence, any downside for property prices is limited.

“We have not seen any fire sales, and good properties that are developed by reputable developers in prime locations still see strong take up.”

An artist’s impression of The Light Waterfront Penang’s residential precinct. More developers are lining up new greenfield projects for launch from the later part of this year

As of the middle of July, Mah Sing achieved RM543mil in sales, exceeding the full year target of RM453mil.

Its unbilled sales stood at RM812mil, approximately 1.6 times the revenue recognised from the property division last year.

Hunza Properties Bhd executive chairman Datuk Khor Teng Tong says prevailing low interest rates, a growing population, relatively low unemployment, and no significant overbuilding are strong factors to fuel growth in the market.

Industry players should also be well versed with the industry cycles, trends and changing needs of the society.

Concurring with him, Gamuda Land Sdn Bhd managing director Chow Chee Wah says innovative master plans with strong concept, good systematic implementation and execution will result in quality delivery system.

“Projects by developers with strong track record, good capital appreciation and rental yields will continue to do well even during difficult economic times,” he says.

Chow says to ensure more sustainable growth, it is necessary to maintain the current financing rates. “To provide a further lift to the property market, it is important to liberalise the bumiputra quota issue and state consent on purchase of leasehold property.

“Streamlining the process to cut down red tapes for speedier approvals in the two areas will be great help to the property industry,” he says.

24 Oktober 2009

Budget for 1Malaysia Petikan NewStraisTimes 24 Okt 2009

By Shahriman Johari

KUALA LUMPUR: The 2010 Budget has sent a message that is loud and clear for all: Malaysia is serious about transforming its economy for the second time since independence and this will require hard work and sacrifices.

“We now have to shift to a new economic model based on innovation, creativity and high value-added activities,” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also finance minister, said in his first Budget speech in Parliament yesterday.

The government plans to spend about RM192 billion, about a tenth less than 2009, but it will still cut the deficit to 5.6 per cent of the economy, reflecting its responsibility of keeping the country’s finances in good shape.

Ministry of Finance and the possible introduction of a goods and services tax (GST) in the future.

The global recession has exposed Malaysia as being too reliant on exports and weaker demand for our products means the economy is likely to shrink by three per cent this year.

But the economy is slated to rebound and grow by two to three per cent next year as the global economy recovers. The 2010 Budget lays the foundation for what Malaysia needs to grow its economy further.

There are measures to improve niche areas where the country has an edge over global rivals like tourism and Islamic finance and a plan to fix our schools and produce skilled workers of the future.

One of them involves rewarding headmasters with money and other incentives if they meet their performance targets.

Another highlight is the promise to have a Whistleblower Act to curb corruption where informers of misdeeds will be protected from prosecution.

The government also continued to show that it cares for all with a retirement scheme for the self employed, called the 1Malaysia Retirement Scheme.

At present, the Employees Provident Fund manages old-age contributions from workers in the private sector, leaving people like taxi drivers, hawkers and fishermen to fend for themselves.

But under the new scheme, the government will also contribute a maximum of RM60 a year, on top of the dividends as the fund will be managed by the EPF.

Manfaat rakyat secara holistik Petikan Berita Harian 24 Okt 2009

Bajet fokus pertingkat pendapatan boleh guna, taraf hidup penduduk

KUALA LUMPUR: Bajet 2010 yang dibentangkan Datuk Seri Najib Razak semalam, memanfaatkan setiap masyarakat dengan tumpuan kepada meningkatkan pendapatan boleh guna dan mutu hidup rakyat serta menggerakkan semula sektor swasta sebagai penjana pertumbuhan ekonomi.

Bajet yang menjadi asas pembentukan model ekonomi baru negara dan Rancangan Malaysia Kesepuluh (RMK-10) itu, turut menumpu kepada membangunkan modal insan berkemahiran tinggi serta meningkatkan kecekapan perkhidmatan awam.

Bertemakan '1Malaysia, Kemakmuran Bersama', bajet dengan peruntukan RM191.5 bilion itu berteraskan tiga strategi, iaitu memacu negara ke arah ekonomi berpendapatan tinggi; memastikan pembangunan holistik dan mapan serta mengutamakan kesejahteraan rakyat.

Walaupun 11.2 peratus lebih kecil berbanding RM215.7 bilion dalam Bajet 2009, langkah dan insentif diumumkan Perdana Menteri dalam bajet sulungnya itu adalah menyeluruh dan memastikan setiap ringgit dibelanjakan memberi impak paling maksimum.

Bagi mensejahterakan rakyat, tumpuan adalah kepada meningkatkan pendapatan dan taraf hidup rakyat serta membasmi kemiskinan tegar; meningkatkan kemudahan perumahan, prasarana, mutu perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam serta keselamatan rakyat.

Bagi meningkatkan pendapatan dan taraf hidup rakyat, insentif yang disediakan meliputi semua golongan dengan tumpuan menghapuskan kemiskinan tegar.

Najib antara lain mengumumkan penyediaan latihan kemahiran dan program penjanaan pendapatan untuk 50,000 isi rumah miskin tegar, di samping pelbagai program membantu golongan miskin di luar bandar, termasuk peruntukan RM180 juta bagi Program Pembasmian Kemiskinan dan Skim Pembangunan Kesejahteraan Rakyat (SPKR) dan program pembinaan kedai desa dengan peruntukan awal RM30 juta untuk memberi peluang penduduk luar bandar berniaga.

Sebanyak RM48 juta pula disediakan bagi program pembasmian kemiskinan bandar, di samping meluaskan tanggungjawab Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan yang ditukar nama kepada Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan dan Kesejahteraan Bandar, bagi meliputi membasmi kemiskinan bandar seluruh negara.

Bagi golongan berpendapatan sederhana, Najib antara lain mengumumkan penurunan kadar maksimum cukai pendapatan individu kepada 26 peratus daripada 27 peratus serta menaikkan pelepasan diri kepada RM9,000 daripada RM8,000.

Beliau turut mengumumkan penerbitan Sukuk 1Malaysia dengan saiz RM3 bilion bagi memberi peluang rakyat berusia 21 tahun ke atas meraih pendapatan pelaburan berdaya saing, serta menubuhkan Skim Simpanan Persaraan 1Malaysia untuk simpanan persaraan golongan bekerja sendiri.

Najib juga mengumumkan bayaran khas RM500 yang sebelum ini diberikan kepada kumpulan sokongan, dipanjangkan kepada kakitangan gred 41 hingga 54 serta pesara wajib.

Ke arah mencapai pembangunan holistik dan mapan, beliau menggariskan langkah dan insentif yang berteraskan usaha meningkatkan modal insan berkemahiran tinggi; meluaskan akses kepada pendidikan tinggi; menjaga kebajikan pelajar; menggilap kemahiran tenaga kerja dan memperkasa institusi pengajian tinggi.

Teras lain ialah memantapkan sistem perbankan dan kewangan; mencergaskan pasaran saham, memajukan lagi sistem kewangan Islam; memerangi rasuah serta meningkatkan kecekapan pengurusan kerajaan.

Bagi memacu negara ke arah ekonomi berpendapatan tinggi, langkah dan insentif yang disediakan adalah berteraskan usaha meningkatkan pelaburan swasta; mempergiatkan penyelidikan, pembangunan dan pengkomersialan serta memanfaatkan bidang kekuatan negara.

Ia juga ditumpukan kepada memajukan sektor pertanian; menggalakkan industri pembinaan; memperkasa perusahaan kecil dan sederhana; membangunkan teknologi hijau dan menggalakkan industri kreatif.

Najib turut mengumumkan kerajaan akan melaksanakan satu sistem pengurusan subsidi minyak, awal tahun depan yang mesra rakyat mengguna pakai MyKad dan infrastruktur sedia ada bagi memastikan hanya golongan memerlukan menikmatinya.

Perdana Menteri berkata, daripada peruntukan Bajet 2010 itu, RM138.3 bilion adalah untuk perbelanjaan mengurus dan RM53.2 bilion bagi pembangunan.

Katanya, bagi pembangunan, RM25.4 bilion ringgit adalah untuk infrastruktur, perindustrian, pertanian dan pembangunan luar bandar; RM20.3 bilion bagi pendidikan dan latihan, kesihatan, kebajikan, perumahan serta pembangunan masyarakat; RM3.7 bilion bagi keselamatan; RM1.8 bilion bagi pentadbiran am dan RM2 bilion untuk simpanan luar jangka.

Najib berkata, hasil Kerajaan Persekutuan bagi 2010 dianggarkan merosot 8.4 peratus kepada RM148.4 bilion berbanding RM162.1 bilion pada 2009.

"Dengan mengambil kira anggaran hasil dan perbelanjaan itu, defisit bagi 2010 dijangka menurun kepada 5.6 peratus daripada Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDMK), daripada 7.4 peratus pada 2009.

"Ini mencerminkan dasar perbelanjaan kerajaan lebih berhemat dan mengutamakan 'nilai untuk wang'," tegasnya.

Beliau turut mengumumkan kajian semula unjuran prestasi ekonomi negara tahun ini kepada hanya penyusutan tiga peratus dan pertumbuhan antara dua hingga tiga peratus tahun depan.

Inti pati Bajet 2010

* Ekonomi Malaysia dijangka berkembang 2-3 peratus pada 2010

* Perlombongan dijangka meningkat 1.1 peratus, pembuatan 1.7 peratus, pertanian 2.5 peratus, pembinaan 3.2 peratus dan perkhidmatan 3.6 peratus.

* penggunaan swasta berkembang 2.9 peratus manakala pelaburan swasta 3.4 peratus

* pendapatan per kapita meningkat 2.5 peratus kepada RM24,661

* TNB akan membelanjakan RM5 bilion untuk melaksanakan penjanaan, penghantaran dan pengagihan elektrik pada 2010

* Usaha sama awam-swasta akan meliputi kompleks imigresen, kastam dan kuarantin bersepadu di Bukit Kayu Hitam, pembinaan enam kampus UiTM dan pusat Matrade.

* 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) akan mewujudkan dana tanggungjawab sosial korporat berjumlah RM100 juta sebagai permulaan untuk membiayai aktiviti msyarakat.

* Kerajaan akan memperuntukkan RM899 juta untuk meningkatkan industri pelancongan.

* Kerajaan akan meningkatkan insentif cukai kepada penyedia prkhidmatan penjagaan kesihatan yang menawarkan perkhidmatan kepada pelancong kesihatan rakyat asing dengan pengecualian cukai pendapatan ditingkatkan daripada 50 peratus nilai peningkatan pendapatan eksport kepada 100 peratus.

* Pembayar cukai pendapatan individu diberikan pengecualian cukai ke atas langganan jalur lebar sehingga RM500 setahun mulai 2010 hingga 2012.

* Penjawat awam dibenar membuat pinjaman untuk membeli komputer setiap tiga tahun sehingga maksimum RM5,000 berbanding sekali setiap lima tahun.

* Merangka Akta Halal dengan usaha sama Majlis Agama Islam negeri-negeri.

* Memperbadankan Perbadanan Pembangunan Industri Halal (HDC) sebagai agensi di bawah Miti.

* Menyegerakan Pensijilan Halal oleh Jakim menerusi usaha sama dengan institusi antarabanga bagi memperoleh pensijilan standard seperti HACCP dan GMP.

* Menyediakan RM24 juta untuk membangunkan produk sistem antipenyeludupan produk Halal di tiga pintu masuk utama dan tiga pelabuhan utama.

* Memperuntukkan RM137 juta untuk meningkatkan dan memperbaiki infrastruktur saliran dan perparitan di jelapang padi membabitkan 180,000 petani.

* Memperuntukkan RM70 juta untuk melaksanakan Projek Empangan Paya Peda di Terengganu bagi meningkatkan keupayaan bekalan air untuk Skim Pengairan Padi di Besut.

* Memperuntukkan RM82 juta untuk memodenkan industri akuakultur dan pelaksaan skim latihan keusahawanan bagi ternakan akuakultur, dengan tumpuan terhadap pengeluaran benih ikan dan ikan hiasan.

* Peruntukan RM149 juta untuk untuk bangunkan industri perladangan makanan seperti makanan, sayur-sayuran, perladangan organik, herba, rumpai laut dan sarang burung layang-layang.

* Peruntukan RM58 juta untuk bangunkan infrastruktur asas ladang ternakan dan mewujudkan rangkaian bekalan untuk pengeluaran daging dan kambing.

* Konsortium Felda, Felcra dan Risda akan diwujudkan menjelang akhir tahun 2009, dengan modal berbayar RM300 juta dengan setiap agensi menyumbang RM100 juta.

* Kerajaan menyediakan subsidi, insentif dan bantuan berjumlah RM2 bilion untuk petani dan nelayan untuk menjaga kepentingan mereka.

* Peruntukan RM9 bilion untuk biayai projek infrastruktur, dengan RM4.7 bilion untuk projek jalan dan jambatan, RM2.6 bilion untuk bekalan air dan perkhidmatan pembentungan, RM899 juta untuk kemudahan rel, RM820 juta untuk perkhidmatan pelabuhan dan laut serta RM276 juta untuk projek lapangan terbang.

* Menyepadukan 79 dana PKS kepada 33 untuk memudahkan akses kepada pembiayaan PKS. Akan diselaraskan oleh SME Corp.

* Memperuntuk RM350 juta kepada SME Corp, dengan RM200 juta untuk pinjaman mudah PKS, RM100 juta peningkatan keupayaan dan bakinya untuk penjenaman dan promosi.

* Institusi kewangan meluluskan pembiayaan makro pada purata enam hari dan penyerahan dalam tempoh empat hari.

* Memperuntuk RM538 juta untuk pelaksanaan pelbagai program PKS dengan RM281 juta kepada perbadanan kemajuan ekonomi negeri, RM200 juta untuk Tekun dan RM57 juta untuk membeli premis perniagaan, infrastruktur dan sebagainya.

* Peruntukan RM149 juta untuk untuk bangunkan industri perladangan makanan seperti makanan, sayur-sayuran, perladangan organik, herba, rumpai laut dan sarang burung layang-layang.

* Peruntukan RM58 juta untuk bangunkan infrastruktur asas ladang ternakan dan mewujudkan rangkaian bekalan untuk pengeluaran daging dan kambing.

* Konsortium Felda, Felcra dan Risda akan diwujudkan menjelang akhir tahun 2009, dengan modal berbayar RM300 juta dengan setiap agensi menyumbang RM100 juta.

* Kerajaan menyediakan subsidi, insentif dan bantuan berjumlah RM2 bilion untuk petani dan nelayan untuk menjaga kepentingan mereka.

* Peruntukan RM9 bilion untuk biayai projek infrastruktur, dengan RM4.7 bilion untuk projek jalan dan jambatan, RM2.6 bilion untuk bekalan air dan perkhidmatan pembentungan, RM899 juta untuk kemudahan rel, RM820 juta untuk perkhidmatan pelabuhan dan laut serta RM276 juta untuk projek lapangan terbang.

* Menyepadukan 79 dana PKS kepada 33 untuk memudahkan akses kepada pembiayaan PKS. Akan diselaraskan oleh SME Corp.

* Memperuntuk RM350 juta kepada SME Corp dengan RM200 juta untuk pinjaman mudah PKS, RM100 juta peningkatan keupayaan dan bankinya untuk penjenaman dan promosi.

* Institusi kewangan meluluskan pembiayaan makro pada purata enam hari dan penyerahan dalam tempoh empat hari.

* Memperuntuk RM538 juta untuk pelaksanaan pelbagai program PKS dengan RM281 juta kepada perbadanan kemajuan ekonomi negeri, RM200 juta untuk TEKUN dan RM57 juta untuk membeli premis perniagaan, infrastruktur dan sebagainya.

* Memperkenal insurans asas dan skim takaful untuk perlindungan insurans motor pada pertengahan 2010.

* Memperluas liputan takaful dan insurans mikro kepada peniaga kecil, dengan manfaat perlindungan daripada RM10,000 kepada RM20,000, pada premium serendah RM20 sebulan.

* Pasaran saham akan diliberalisasikan lagi untuk meningkatkan kecekapan.

* Meliberalisasi aturan perkongsian komisyen antara broker saham dan remisier dengan membenarkan perkongsian pembrokeran fleksibel pada kadar minimum 40 peratus dan meliberalisasikan sepenuhnya perkongsian komisten berkuat kuasa 1 Januari, 2011.

* Membenarkan penyertaan 100 peratus ekuiti asing dalam syarikat perancangan kewangan dan kewangan korporat.

* Semua syarikat senaraian awam akan menawarkan e-Dividen dan syarikat pemerokeran saham menyediakan opsyen e-pembayaran.

* Insentif cukai sedia ada untuk perkhidmatan kewangan, terutama kewangan Islam, dilanjutkan hingga 2015.

* Pengecualian duti setem 20 peratus ke atas instrumen pembangunan kewangan Islam.

* Pengecualian cukai ke aras keuntungan bank daripada operasi luar negara.

* Potongan berganda perbelanjaan yang ditanggung untuk mempromosikan Malaysia sebagai pusat kewangan antarabangsa.

* Potongan ke atas perbelanjaan yang ditanggung bagi penubuhan syarikat-syarikat pembrokeran Islam.

* Potongan ke atas perbelanjaan yang ditanggung bagi penerbitan sekuriti.

* Kerajaan akan menggalakkan semua institusi perbankan dan kewangan yang mematuhi syariah seperti Bank Muamalat dan Bank Islam untuk menawarkan skim Ar-Rahnu.

* Kerajaan akan memastikan koridor pembangunan serantau dimajukan mengikut jadual. Setakat ini 126 daripada 195 projek perancangan di pelbagai peringkat pelaksanaan. Pelaburan yang dirancang berjumlah RM221 bilion sudah mengatasi sasaran perbelanjaan Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan sebanyak RM145 bilion.

* Kerajaan akan memperuntukkan RM3.5 bilion untuk kemudahan asas dan infrastruktur serta program latihan dan projek sosio ekonomi untuk menyokong pelaksaan projek sektor swasta.

* Kerajaan kini dalam peringkat awal menyiapkan kajian pelaksanaan Cukai Perkhidmatan dan Barangan (GST). Kadar itu akan dikurangan berbanding cukai perkhidmatan dan jualan semasa.

* Cukai pendapatan bagi 2010 berdasarkan pendapatan yang diperoleh mulai 2009 akan dibenar dibayar secara ansuran dalam lima tahun.

* Cukai lima peratus akan dikenakan ke atas keuntungan daripada pelupusan hartanah mulai 1 Jan, 2010.

* Cukai perkhidmatan RM50 dikenakan ke atas setiap kad kredit utama dan kad caj serta RM25 setahun bagi setiap kad tambahan mulai 1 Januari, 2010.

* RM100,000 dikenakan untuk setiap AP untuk pemegang kad AP terbuka berkuatkuasa 1 Januari, 2010. Sebahagian daripada kutipan akan disalurkan kepada dana pembangunan Bumiputera dalam sektor automatif.

* Akan memperkenal skim insurans asas dan takaful untuk perlindungan insurans motor pada pertengahan 2010.

* Akan memperluas liputan insurans mikro dan takaful untuk peniagaan kecil mendapat manfaat daripada perlindungan RM10,000 hingga RM20,000 dengan premium serendah RM20 sebulan.

* Pasaran saham diliberalisasikan untuk kecekapan.

* Membenarkan penyertaan ekuiti asing 100 peratus dalam kewangan korporat dan perancangan kewangan.

* Semua syarikat senarai awam akan menawarkan e-Dividen dan syarikat broker saham menyediakan opsyen e-pembayaran.

* Insentif cukai semasa untuk majukan perkhidmatan kewangan, terutama kewangan Islam, dilanjutkan hingga 2015.

* Pengecualian duti setem 20 preatus ke atas instrumen kewangan Islam.

* Pengecualian cukai ke atas keuntungan perbankan yang diperoleh menerusi operasi luar negara.
* Mulai 1 Januari 2010, kerajaan bersetuju membenarkan agensi kerajaan mengekalkan 50 peratus sewa yang diterima manakala baki 50 peratus lagi dimasukkan dalam perolehan kerajaan.

* Kerajaan akan laksana sistem pengurusan subsidi bahan api pada awal 2010.

* Kerajaan mencadangkan kadar cukai pendapatan maksimum dikurangkan kepada 26 peratus daripada 27 peratus berkuat kuasa mulai tahun penilaian 2010.

* Kadar cukai maksimum koperasi akan dikurangkan kepada 26 peratus manakala kadar cukai tetap bagi individu bukan pemastautin akan dikurangkan kepada 26 peratus.

* Pengecualian cukai persendirian akan dinaikkan kepada RM9,000 daripada RM8,000 berkuat kuasa mulai tahun penilaian 2010.

* Kerajaan mencadangkan cukai pendapatan bagi pendapatan pekerja Malaysia dan pekerja asing yang menetap dan bekerja di Iskandar Malaysia sebanyak 15 peratus berbanding maksium 26 peratus untuk seluruh negara.

* RM14.8 bilion diperuntuk untuk mengurus, membangun dan menaik taraf hospital dan klinik.

* Kerajaan akan terbitkan Sukuk 1Malaysia bernilai RM3 bilion.

* Kerajaan akan mewujudkan Skim Persaraan 1Malaysia yang diurus oleh KWSP.

22 Oktober 2009

Budget incentives for property sector. Petikan TheStar 21/10/2009

ABOLISHMENT of the real property gains tax, reduction in stamp duty for properties in a certain price range, and the construction and property sector gaining most from the stimulus packages announced – these are clear indications of the Government’s focus on this sector to help accelerate economic growth.

The positive multiplier effect from an improved performance in the construction and property sector is tremendous, with the stakeholder chain including the manufacture and supply of building materials; the service industry of contractors, architects, engineers, etc; the developers and even the financial institutions.

This industry is not just about residential and commercial development but also the tourism and industrial economy. It is a holistic economic driver.

Take the tourism industry for example. When tourist arrivals are up, there will also be a boost to hotel and retail consumer demand. With tourism being one of the Government’s top priority growth sectors, there has been a focus on encouraging the development of affordable three-star hotels to attract mass tourists.

However, with the country shifting towards a modern developed economy, we must turn our attention to attracting investments into upmarket, boutique and innovative hotel property development to bring the industry to the next level; tourist arrivals must increase together with the increase in value spending.

Hotel owners should be given additional incentives to bring the investment yield return earlier. It may be worthy to relook at the existing investment tax allowance incentive as well as the availability of duty exemption for materials in hotel property development.

Closely linked to the tourism industry is the availability of retail attractions to complement hotels of similar class, with retail development popularly linked to commercial office space development to provide the consistent retail traffic. Commercial space also remains the top three property interest of Malaysian and foreign investors.

Currently, there are no incentives for the retail sector. Consideration should be given to developing incentives holistically and linking it with initiatives to drive tourism, thus providing further push to the sector. Perhaps tax incentives such as income exemption based on retail investment turnover value or spending on green technology can be given to retail outlets or “green” commercial buildings.

When it comes to landed or high-rise residential properties, crisis or not, there seems to be no lack of demand, with some of these properties being snapped up on launch.

This show of investor confidence bodes well for the real estate sector which has attracted much foreign investment and known to offer a reasonable investment yield.

Hence, we must continue to attract foreign investment into the high-end property development market and leverage our “preferred location” status in this part of the world.

Here, the attraction for foreign investors would not be tax incentives but rather, high quality development with full facilities and in a prime location – the formula to high investment yield. Hence, the Government should continue to deliver on its policies to facilitate a speedy investment process for foreigners.

A final analysis on the property sector is for the Government to consider how it can support the wish of most Malaysians to own their own home. Malaysia has a large middle-income population who strive to own a home and it is this dream which can keep the demand for residential property healthy.

With pockets of initiatives sporadically introduced such as the reduction in interest rates, subsidies given to developers for low-cost housing and even financial institutions’ willingness to reschedule loan repayments, we must ask if more can be done.

Relative to our salary standards, it is becoming more difficult for the middle-income group/family to sustain a home, let alone own one. Suggestions previously put forward such as first home subsidy and deduction for interest expense on loans for home purchases should be reviewed.

Some other thoughts are tax rebates for a certain period of the loan term depending on the value of property purchased, different stamp duty rates for different property prices, unprecedented tax breaks for developers undertaking certain types of projects or development type.

The challenge will be in ensuring that the savings given to developers is passed on.

The property sector plays a crucial role in sustaining and spurring economic growth. There is a compelling need to review and introduce policies that are holistic and integrated, with incentives provided to each player in the property chain and across the portfolio of properties.

● Ng Say Guat is executive director at PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services Sdn Bhd.

Broad-based, people-friendly budget seen. Petikan TheStar 21/10/2009

SHAH ALAM: SJ Securities Sdn Bhd expects the upcoming Budget 2010 to be broad-based and “people-friendly” with the aim of promoting growth and boosting domestic consumption.

Deputy managing director Peter Lim said smaller contractors were likely to receive more jobs while the man in the street could expect some personal tax incentives that would lift consumer demand.

“I expect it (Budget 2010) to be people-friendly and not burden the public,” he said at the launch of SJ Securities’ new logo at its new corporate headquarters here. He added that personal income tax relief would translate into higher disposable income, which would in turn boost consumption.

But the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) should be held back as it was not supportive of consumption, he said.

“It should be implemented (only) when the economy has recovered and back on a growing trend,” Lim said.

“We want people to spend to boost domestic consumption. The multiplier effect created would expand the economy.”

Nevertheless, the brokerage anticipates a slight contraction in the economy next year.

“The feel good factor has started to flow in and a recovery is seen on the stock market. However, the question of sustainability remains,” Lim said, adding that there had been an increase in retail participation in the local stock market, although not in a big way.

RM649mil excess tax refunded late. Petikan TheStar 21/10/2009

Reports by ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN, SIRA HABIBU, TAN SIN CHOW, MANJIT KAUR, and LESTER KONG

THE Inland Revenue Board was late in refunding a total of RM648.70mil in excess tax payments to taxpayers between 2006 and last year.

The delay, according to the Auditor-General’s Report, was between 10 days and two years for those wo filed their returns manually and up to one year for those who did it through e-filing.

The report was based on an audit carried out on the Internal Revenue Board (IRB) in January and from August to October last year.

It said the delays were due to changes made to the Self-Assessment System, incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the taxpayers and the fact that IRB staff were overburdened with other duties.

“The IRB client charter states that excess tax should be returned to the taxpayer within three months for those doing manual or postal filings or one month for those carrying out e-filing.

“Of 424 transactions checked, 54.5% of them involving RM648.70mil in excess tax payments were not returned to the taxpayers for a period of between 10 days and two years for manual filings and up to one year for e-filings,” the report said.

In the Auditor-General feedback report, the IRB explained that it had supplied a tax payments guideline which was included in the IRB website to avoid delays.

Board under fire for late tax refunds. Petikan NewStraitsTimes 20/10/2009

KUALA LUMPUR: The auditor-general took the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to task for late settlement of some RM648.7 million in tax refunds between 2006 and last year.

Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, in his report, said the delay ranged from 10 days to two years for manually-filed statements and up to a year for those who used e-filing.

He said while there were various factors that contributed to the delays, a major reason was poor staff allocation to match workload.

"The IRB needs to study the actual number of staff needed to manage tax returns at each collection branch or unit so that it is in line with the workload."

The report stated that IRB must stick to the time given to settle tax refunds as set in its customer charter to improve its delivery system.

Ambrin stressed the customer charter must also be "clear and specific" as to procedures related to tax refunds.

He said taxpayers must be informed of their responsibility to follow what was required of them when filing their taxes to avoid future delays.

The report also highlighted 16 cases where IRB wrongly gave more than RM2 million in tax refunds.

Of the cases, four involved company transactions worth RM2.33 million while the rest involved individual transactions worth RM11,721.

Ambrin said IRB must take immediate steps to recover the excess refunds.

He said to make sure such incidents did not happen again, the board needed to create a common format so all branches could prepare uniform tax returns.

Ambrin pointed out that IRB also needed to prepare annual reports for the purpose of auditing, as they were unable to establish the true balance remaining in the fund.

Between 2006 and last year, IRB received 1,834,094 cases.

It has completed 1,788,006 or 97.5 per cent of the cases, with 20,212 still being processed and another 25,776 pending.

LHDN lewat bayar balik RM648.70j lebihan cukai. Petikan Berita Harian 20/10/2009

Jumlah pegawai, beban kerja di unit pungutan perlu selaras

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) lewat membayar balik sejumlah RM648.70 juta kepada pembayar cukai antara 10 hari hingga dua tahun bagi kes manual dan hingga setahun bagi kes e-Filing.

Jumlah membabitkan 421 transaksi yang disemak itu merangkumi 231 atau 54.5 peratus transaksi membabitkan 821 kes di mana lebihan cukai pendapatan lewat dibayar balik.

Ketua Audit Negara, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, berkata kelewatan itu antaranya disebabkan pembangunan Sistem Taksir Sendiri (STS) untuk memproses Borang Nyata Cukai Pendapatan dilaksanakan secara berperingkat, maklumat atau dokumen yang dikemukakan pembayar cukai tidak lengkap atau diragui dan ketidakupayaan LHDN menangani masalah ini disebabkan pegawai bertanggungjawab perlu menguruskan tugas lain.

"LHDN perlu mematuhi tempoh penyelesaian kes pembayaran balik lebihan cukai pendapatan yang ditetapkan Piagam Pelanggannya bagi meningkatkan sistem penyampaiannya dan antara langkah berkesan adalah dengan mengkaji semula bilangan pegawai yang sebenarnya diperlukan untuk mengurus pembayaran balik lebihan cukai pendapatan di setiap cawangan atau unit pungutan supaya ia diselaras dengan beban kerja," katanya dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2008 yang dikeluarkan di sini semalam.

Ambrin berkata, pada masa sama, pembayar cukai juga wajib memastikan maklumat taksiran, baucar dividen asal lengkap dan lebihan bayaran cukai pendapatan bagi tahun taksiran tertentu ditolak hutang cukai pendapatan, cukai keuntungan harta tanah dan jumlah perbandingan bagi kes syarikat.

Selain itu, laporan itu juga menunjukkan daripada 1,83,094 kes permohonan bayaran balik lebihan cukai pendapatan bagi tempoh 2006 hingga 2008, LHDN selesai menyemak 1,788,106 kes atau 97.5 peratus, manakala 20,212 kes sedang disemak dan 25,776 kes lagi belum dibuat semakan.

"Sejumlah RM18.22 bilion bayaran balik lebihan cukai pendapatan dicatatkan membabitkan 1,219,653 kes atau 68.2 peratus antara tempoh 2006 hingga 2008," katanya.

Mengenai ketidaktepatan maklumat dalam Borang BE, katanya, semakan Audit mendapati 1,198 borang bagi tahun taksiran 2005 hingga 2007 di enam cawangan iaitu Jalan Duta, Cheras, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Seremban dan Kuching silap diisi seperti tuntutan jumlah pelepasan, pendapatan bercukai, pelepasan bagi anak kurang 18 tahun, perkiraan cukai yang perlu dibayar dan rebat cukai individu.

"Ketidaktepatan maklumat ini melewatkan proses mengemas kini status jumlah cukai dikenakan kepada pembayar cukai, mengakibatkan perkiraan cukai perlu dibayar atau dibayar balik tidak tepat dan meningkatkan kes yang perlu diaudit Unit Audit Meja," katanya.

14 Oktober 2009

Talian Khas Bajet 2010 Berkenaan Cukai Pendapatan

Summary

Full story

National Seminar on Taxation 2009

19 September 2009

Selamat Hari Raya AidilFitri 1430H

Hari ini 29 Ramadhan 1430H bersamaan 19 September 2009. Bermakna dah 28 hari kita dah berpuasa di bulan Ramadhan dan hari ini hari ke 29. Petang ini anak bulan akan diteropong dan kalau kelihatan ataupun dipersetujui oleh Majlis Raja-Raja maka esok kita akan menyambut Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Sekiranya sebaliknya maka lusa lah kita akan beraya.Diakhir-akhir Ramadhan ini marilah kita menghisab diri adakah Ramadhan kali ini lebih baik dari Ramadhan yang lepas-lepas atau telah berlaku sebaliknya. Yang penting sekali, bagi yang nak buat 'tax planning' dah buat ke seperti yang saya cadangkan di posting ketika awal Ramadhan tempoh hari?

Kalau sudah maka akan kuranglah pendapatan kerajaan tahun ini dari anda.Hehe. Disamping mendapat pahala yang besar dengan membayar zakat samada zakat Fitrah atau zakat yang lain lain dibulan Ramadhan ni dapat pula rebat dari kerajaan untuk cukai pendapatan. Lagi banyak bayar zakat lagi banyak la rebat yang kita dapat. Lagi banyak rebat lagi kurang atau tak payah langsung bayar cukai pendapatan. Bagi yang ada Potongan Cukai Berjadual atau Skim Ansuran Seksyen 107B maka akan dapat bayaran baliklah tahun hadapan. Macam dapat Bonus la kiranya. Walaupun sebenarnya duit kita sendiri jugak.

Sempena nak sambut hari Raya Aidilfitri 1430H esok atau lusa ni saya nak mengambil kesempatan ni buat ucapan sikit.

Saya sekeluarga ingin mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 1430H kepada semua blogger, pembaca setia blog ini, para pengunjung, rakan-rakan facebook , rakan -rakan sekerja di HASIL dan semua rakyat Malaysia khasnye dan seluruh umat Islam amnya.

Saya juga ingin memohon ampun dan maaf sekiranya ada salah dan silap terkasar bahasa termakan terminum minta dihalalkan. Lepas hari raya ni kita buka buku baru ye. Maaf Zahir dan Batin.

Sekian.

07 September 2009

Hari ini Dalam Sejarah. Saya 3 tahun yang lalu.

ARKIB : 08/09/2006 Petikan dari Utusan Malaysia
Agensi kerajaan disaran tubuh Askar Wataniah

Oleh SADATUL MAHIRAN ROSLI

BANGI 7 Sept. – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menyarankan supaya lebih banyak agensi kerajaan dan badan berkanun menubuhkan Askar Wataniah di tempat masing-masing.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata, program ini sebenarnya mampu melahirkan individu yang berdisiplin, semangat berpasukan, yakin diri, mempunyai ketahanan fizikal dan mental.

Menurutnya, di samping anggota tetap, negara amat memerlukan pasukan simpanan seperti Askar Wataniah sebagai barisan pertahanan kedua bagi melindungi kawasan strategik dan bersama anggota tetap di barisan hadapan sekiranya diperlukan.

“Justeru, Kementerian Pertahanan menyasarkan sebelum 2020, bilangan Askar Wataniah akan meningkat kepada tiga kali ganda berbanding sekarang iaitu 44,000 orang bagi mewujudkan benteng pertahanan negara yang kuat.

“Saya berharap agensi kerajaan dan badan berkanun melihat latihan ketenteraan ini sebagai satu program yang boleh memberi manfaat kepada kakitangan dari segi membina semangat disiplin yang tinggi dan boleh meningkatkan mutu kerja,’’ katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas majlis Pelancaran Pasukan Askar Wataniah Hasil di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir ialah Menteri Besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo dan Panglima Tentera Darat, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal.

Menurut Najib yang juga Menteri Pertahanan, tindakan yang diambil oleh Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) mewujudkan pasukan wataniahnya sendiri dan mewajibkan semua pegawai baru untuk mengikuti latihan asas perajurit muda harus dipuji.

“Dengan cara ini, maka LHDN bukan sahaja menyumbang kepada pertahanan negara tetapi dapat memupuk barisan pegawai berdisiplin, mempunyai motivasi tinggi, berani, cekal dan dapat bergerak dalam satu pasukan.

“Ini boleh dilihat melalui prestasi LHDN yang semakin meningkat iaitu pada tahun lalu, hasil kutipan berjumlah RM56.8 bilion dan tahun ini dijangka melepasi RM60 bilion, malah setakat ini RM45 bilion sudah dikutip,’’ katanya.

Najib turut memberitahu, setakat ini kerajaan masih belum mengeluarkan arahan untuk mewajibkan semua rakyat menyertai Askar Wataniah.

“Ia masih secara sukarela,’’ jelasnya.

Sementara itu, menurut Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif LHDN, Tan Sri Zainol Abidin Abd. Rashid, sejak diwujudkan, program ala ketenteraan itu memberi impak yang positif kepada organisasi dan negara.

Sehubungan itu, LHDN telah menetapkan supaya semua pegawai baru eksekutif gred 7 diwajibkan mengikuti kursus asas perajurit muda sebelum disahkan dalam jawatan mulai kemasukan 1 Oktober 2003.

“LHDN juga berhasrat untuk memperluaskan program wataniah ini kepada semua gred jawatan lantikan baru pada masa hadapan,’’ katanya.

Setakat ini, menurutnya, LHDN mempunyai 635 pegawai yang telah mengikuti Kursus Asas Perajurit Muda sejak mula dilaksanakan pada 2002.

Jumlah itu menjadikan LHDN satu-satunya agensi yang mempunyai anggota wataniah teramai berbanding agensi kerajaan dan badan berkanun lain.

01 September 2009

Sambutan Hari Kemerdekaan ke-52 penuh semangat 1Malaysia

Tempohhari semasa upload video sambutan hari kemerdekaan ke 52 tak sempat nak tulis aper2 pun. Hari ini baru la sempat nak menulis.

Sebenarnya tiap tahun sambutan hari kemerdekaan sejak kecil lagi yang ditunggu-tunggu adalah perarakan yang dilakukan oleh kontigen-kontigen yang mengambil bahagian. Dengan pakaian yang berwarna warni dan kadang-kadang futuristik amat menarik minat.
Namun semenjak 3 tahun lepas ni apa yang diberi tumpuan telah berubah dari acara perarakan kepada perbarisan kawalan kehormat Batalion Pertama Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja ketika menyambut dan mengucapkan selamat jalan kepada Yang Dipertuan Agong.
Maklumlah ada kenangan tersendiri yang mengusik jiwa bila teringat ketika terlibat di dalam Perbarisan pelancaran Askar Wataniah Hasil pada 7 September 2006 oleh YAB Perdana Menteri (Pada masa itu masih Timbalan Perdana Menteri) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Hari ini 7 September 2009, 3 tahun selepas pelancarannya kenangan tersebut masih kuat terpahat dihati.

Segala pergerakan hormat senjata. lintas lalu dan pemeriksaan perbarisan oleh YAB Perdana Menteri akan terus tersimpan di sanubari. Walaupun kini tidak terlibat secara aktif dengan Askar Wataniah namun segala ilmu yang diterima semasa Rekrut Perajurit Muda dan seterusnya Pelancaran Askar Wataniah Hasil akan digunakan sepenuhnya sekiranya negara tercinta ini diancam musuh-musuh negara.

Sekian dahulu untuk kali ini.
http://belajarcukai.blogspot.com/

29 Ogos 2009

Keranamu Hati Ku Malaysia. Suatu Entri Khas Sempena Kemerdekaan Malaysia ke 52

LAGU:Keranamu Hati Ku Malaysia
ARTIS:Manis
KOMPOSER:Lead
PENULIS LIRIK:Lead

LIRIK:

Kaulah wiraku yang berbakti untuk negara yang tercinta ini
Kamilah generasi baru yang akan menerajui perjuangan impian yang pasti

Dan kini kau menjadi lagenda hidupku
Berjanji kami bersatu padu
Agar sentiasa mengharumkan namamu

Oh Malaysia tanah airku yang tercinta
Rela kami korbankan segalanya
Jiwa raga dan juga harta benda
Keranamu hatiku Oh Malaysia
Tanah airku yang tercinta
Berikan kami kekuatan untuk
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang

Kaulah wiraku yang berbakti untuk negara yang tercinta ini
Kamilah generasi baru yang akan menerajui perjuangan impian yang pasti

Dan kini kau menjadi lagenda hidupku
Berjanji kami bersatu padu
Agar sentiasa mengharumkan namamu

Oh Malaysia tanah airku yang tercinta
Rela kami korbankan segalanya
Jiwa raga dan juga harta benda
Keranamu hatiku Oh Malaysia
Tanah airku yang tercinta
Berikan kami kekuatan untuk
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang

Dan kini kau menjadi lagenda hidupku
Berjanji kami bersatu padu
Agar sentiasa mengharumkan namamu

Oh Malaysia tanah airku yang tercinta
Rela kami korbankan segalanya
Jiwa raga dan juga harta benda
Keranamu hatiku Oh Malaysia
Tanah airku yang tercinta
Berikan kami kekuatan untuk
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang
Manuju puncak gemilang
Menuju puncak terbilang

28 Ogos 2009

Life: Rejoice, the taxman cometh! Petikan New Straits Time 27/08/2009

P. Selvarani.

The Inland Revenue Board attempts to discard years of bad press with a ‘softer’ approach, writes P. Selvarani.

IT’S an annual “invitation” that most people dread — when that large white envelope emblazoned with the words Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (Inland Revenue Board) turns up in your mail box.

That ritual of filing your tax returns and paying your dues to the government has become such a chore for some of us that many opt to ignore the IRB’s presence until the taxman literally comes knocking on your door!

Realising the need to do away with the “hard-sell” kind of advertisements and use a more subtle approach instead to get Malaysians to file their tax returns, the IRB decided to use “reverse psychology” to remind Malaysians of their responsibility as taxpayers this year.

Datuk Hasmah Abdullah says the IRB is always portrayed as the bad guys when is not.

“This time around, we decided to show our taxpayers how their money has contributed to the development of our country and how fortunate we are to be born in Malaysia,” said IRB director-general Datuk Hasmah Abdullah.

The IRB’s Corporate Communications Division came up with a story idea depicting the friendly neighbour, the continuous upgrading of infrastructure, the skyline, busy traffic and Malaysians ever ready to lend a helping hand during an emergency.

After talking to people in the advertising industry, the IRB found that actor and producer Afdlin Shauki would be the best person to sell the idea effectively.

“A commercial is about selling emotions. People are not interested if someone tells them ‘go pay your taxes’. But a lot of government commercials are usually too ‘hard-sell’. So, it was a pleasant surprise when the IRB told me they wanted something different that would appeal to the emotions of the public. I thought it was very forward-thinking of them,” said Afdlin who produced, directed and acted in the commercial together with his Sepi co-star Vanida Imran.

During the meeting with Hasmah, Afdlin asked her what the IRB wanted to achieve.

Hasmah said they are always depicted as the bad guys although, in reality, they are helping Malaysians build a nation.

“When she said that, it hit a nerve. I realised it’s about being thankful for what we have. There is a direct correlation between paying our taxes and the development we benefit from.”

With only a minute to tell the story, Afdlin came up with the idea of a man rushing his pregnant wife, who has gone into labour, to the hospital and along the way, he realises how great his country is.

“The man needs to get to the hospital so that his child can be delivered safely. And he gets help along the way. It is like a ‘best-case’ scenario. We are trying to sell this feeling that there is hope and at the end of it, you feel proud to be Malaysian. You realise how lucky you are,” said Afdlin.

Hasmah stressed that the message of the commercial was not just to remind the people of their tax obligation but to also instil a sense of pride that they have contributed to the development of the country and are beneficiaries of it as well.

Afdlin was given a big hand.

“It’s a reminder that the development we enjoy today was made possible by the taxes our forefathers paid, and likewise, what we pay today will go towards providing more and better amenities for our future generation.

“It is a reminder that the independence that our forefathers fought for with blood and tears is protected so that our children can continue to enjoy the peace and prosperity of living in Malaysia. Together, we have made this great nation a place we proudly call home. We enjoy so many things, including peace and security, that many other countries lack.”

Hasmah said Afdlin was given a free hand in coming up with the storyboard. Shooting began soon after the IRB approved his idea.

“We were present during the shoot. It was an amazing experience to see that he could actually understand and deliver the messages the way we had hoped for,” Hasmah added.

Despite having only two weeks to come up with the idea and produce the commercial, Afdlin is thrilled that they were able to produce an IRB commercial “that did not look like an IRB commercial”.

“I really think the clincher was in the tagline — I told them that the message they should send to the people is ‘thank you for helping us build a nation’.

“It’s a very strong message that the rakyat have been a part of all this. That all the development, peace and security we enjoy is because of you. And it was big of the IRB, on behalf of the government, to say thank you to the people.”

The commercial, which was aired on television for 15 days in April, had such an impact upon viewers that about 1.26 million people filed their tax returns via e-filing this year compared with about 900,000 last year.

“It even became the topic of discussion among bloggers, with some reminding their friends of the tax deadline. Their positive response to the message was heartening,” added Hasmah.

The impact has been so good that the IRB’s Corporate Communications Division is already plotting up scenes for the sequel to Anak Bertuah (Lucky Child)!

20 Ogos 2009

Selamat Datang Ramadhan & Selamat Hari Merdeka ke 52 tahun

Beberapa hari lagi sekiranya dipanjangkan umur kita akan bertemu lagi dengan bulan Ramadhan yang sentiasa dinanti nanti oleh umat Islam. Bulan yang sinonim dengan ibadah puasa. Jadi apa kaitannya bulan Ramadhan yang mulia ini dan ibadah puasa dengan percukaian? Teruskan membaca....

Ramadhan tahun ini boleh dikirakan istimewa sedikit berbanding dengan Ramadhan yang lepas lepas. Ramadhan tahun ini akan berlaku beberapa peristiwa yang akan dan sentiasa diingati oleh Rakyat Malaysia khususnya.

Pertama, yang paling hampir pilihanraya kecil DUN Pematang Pasir. Seingat saya dalam seumur hidup saya ini pertama kali ada pilihanraya di dalam bulan Ramadhan. Selalunya pilihanraya umum atau kecil akan dilakukan di bulan-bulan lain selain bulan Ramadhan. Jadi pastinya semangat dia akan jadi lain. Mungkin boleh jadi seperti semangat sahabat-sahabat Rasulullah ketika berlakunya Perang Badar yang juga berlaku dibulan Ramadhan.

Kedua, kemudian adalah perayaan paling penting untuk rakyat Malaysia iaitu ulang tahun Kemerdekaan Tanah Melayu ke 52 tahun ataupun Hari Kebangsaan kita. Jarang sekali kita menyembutnya di dalam bulan Ramadhan. Mungkin sebab itulah untuk tahun ini Sambutan Hari Kebangsaan diadakan di Stadium Bukit Jalil. Tidak di Dataran Merdeka seperti biasa.

Mungkin anda rasakan posting kali ini tidak ada kena mengena dengan Cukai pendapatan. Sebenarnya ada kaitannya samada kita sedar atau tidak.

Pertama, bulan Ramadhan disamping umat Islam diwajibkan berpuasa ada satu lagi ibadah yang juga diwajibkan hanya di dalam bulan Ramadhan iaitu Zakat Fitrah. Zakat Fitrah ini diwajibkan keatas semua umat Islam yang hidup pada pagi 1 Syawal atau hari Raya Aidilfitri. Bayaran Zakat Fitrah ini juga telah diputuskan oleh Kerajaan dibenarkan sebagai tolakan kepada jumlah cukai yang kena dibayar oleh pembayar cukai. Walaupun nampak seperti jumlah yang sedikit, tetapi untuk yang mempunyai ahli keluarga dibawah tanggungannya yang ramai jumlahnya agak besar juga. Di negeri Selangor tahun ini Zakat Fitrah yang kena dibayar adalah sebanyak RM 7 seorang. Jadi jika ada tanggungan sebanyak 5 orang termasuk diri sendiri, jumlah zakat dibayar adalah RM 35. Untuk yang berpendapatan kecil hingga sederhana yang boleh kena cukai, dengan offset jumlah zakat yang dibayar ini ada kemungkinan tiada cukai perlu dibayar lagi.

Kedua, di dalam bulan Ramadhan ini juga Umat Islam dituntut memberikan derma dan sumbangan kepada badan badan kebajikan kerana amat besar pahalanya. Derma kepada badan kebajikan atau institusi yang diluluskan LHDN juga boleh ditolak daripada pendapatan kasar seseorang.Dengan syarat tidak melebihi 7% daripada pendapatan aggregat seseorang itu.

Walaubagaimanapun, sebanagi umat Islam kita janganlah membayar zakat atau menderma dengan tujuan untuk mengurangkan cukai pendapatan kita. Lakukanlah dengan niat untuk mendapat keredhaan Allah. Insyaallah kita akan mendapat ganjaran di dunia dan di akhirat. Sebahagian ganjaran di dunia pihak kerajaan telah memberi kelebihan kepada yang membayar zakat dan menderma. Ganjaran yang lain hanyalah Allah yang maha mengetahui.

Akhir kata, saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan selamat melakukan ibadah Puasa bagi umat Islam dan Selamat Menyambut Hari Kebangsaan yang ke 52.

Satu Malaysia. Rakyat didahulukan, Pencapaian diutamakan.

Bersama Membangun Negara

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

08 Ogos 2009

Taxpayers can now have rebates deducted monthly Petikan Thestar 6 Ogos 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: The Schedular Tax Deduction (STD) scheme has been reviewed to enable the deduction of rebates and relief to be done on a monthly basis, Inland Revenue Board chief executive officer Datuk Hasmah Abdullah said.

Previously, she said rebates and relief were only taken into account when taxpayers claimed for it when they filed their income tax returns annually.

“By deducting on a monthly basis, we can have real-time payment of taxes due,” she said, adding that this was in line with the agency’s policy to provide the best service to the public by emphasising on accuracy of information.

Hasmah was speaking at the National Tax Conference 2009 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here yesterday. The two-day conference which ended yesterday attracted more than 1,300 participants comprising auditors, tax agents, consultants and accountants.

Hasmah also announced that as of June 30, a total of RM3.13bil had been refunded to 331,034 taxpayers.

Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia (CTIM) president Dr Veerinderjeet Singh called for a review of tax agents’ licencing process.

The process must be revamped as the profession must be involved in self-regulating exercises, he said.

“CPD (continuing professional development) must be imposed and monitored by the profession (tax agents), not by the regulators.

“The current system has led to administrative constraints and certain undesirable consequences,” he said, adding that the CTIM could continue to follow up on the issue in the interest of having a clear, fair and transparent framework to regulate tax practitioners.

Federation of Malaysian Manu-facturers council member Datuk Md Khair Ahmad said small and medium-scale enterprises were facing constraints because banks were overcautious and their existing credit lines had been recalled.

24 Julai 2009

Ogos Bulan Kemerdekaan Negara

Tinggal beberapa hari lagi sebelum bulan Ogos menjelang tiba. Setiap kali tibanya bulan Ogos, masing masing yang bergelar rakyat Malaysia berkobar-kobar semangat patriotiknya. Sepertimana berkibarnya bendera-bendera Malaysia yang dipasang di bangunan-bangunan, kenderaan dan ada juga yang memakai bendera di badan.Tetapi apa kaitan semua ini dengan Cukai Pendapatan?

Sebenarnya semangat patriotik kepada negara Malaysia yang dicintai ini bukan hanya pada kibaran bendera setiap kali Ogos tiba ataupun ketika menonton filem Bukit Kepung atau Leftenan Adnan. Menunaikan tanggungjawab sebagai pembayar cukai pendapatan juga merupakan tindakan yang patriotik. Kenapa? Ini kerana negara dapat meneruskan pembangunan dengan wang yang dikumpulkan dari semua pembayar cukai di negara kita ini. Kita sebagai pembayar cukai sememangnya patut berbangga negara dapat membangun dan maju dengan wang hasil titik peluh kita tidak kiralah berapa banyak sumbangan kita samada kecil atau besar. Walau seringgit kita tetap ada bahagian di dalam membangun negara.

Ingat tak iklan Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia yang pernah diudarakan di TV tidak lama dahulu? Anak bertuah yang dilahirkan di negara Malaysia yang pesat membangun dan aman damai ini walaupun hidup berbilang kaum. Dengan wang cukai Hospital dapat didirikan, Sekolah dapat dibangunkan, Jalan dapat diturapkan dan banyak lagi yang boleh digunakan wang cukai yang dipungut oleh LHDNM dari rakyat Malaysia.

Jadi kesimpulannya, selaras dengan konsep 1Malaysia, marilah kita sama-sama membangun negara dengan menjadi pembayar cukai yang bertanggungjawab dan seterunya rakyat Malaysia yang cemerlang gemilang dan terbilang.

Akhir kata,

Berkhidmat Untuk Negara
Bersama Membangun Negara

Cukai dihujung Jari anda, Jom e

04 Julai 2009

Operasi Post BPPC

Selepas tamatnya BPPC selama 2 bulan pada 30 Jun 2009 lalu kini operasi pejabat kembali seperti biasa. Tugasan pejabat kini tertumpu kepada proses audit Borang Nyata yang telah dihantar dan juga proses bayaran balik cukai yang terlebih bayar.

Saya juga mengambil kesempatan ini untuk merehatkan diri dari operasi pejabat. Kebetulan juga pertengahan bulan ini ada peperiksaan jabatan yang perlu dibuat persediaan. Jadi setengah bulan pertama Julai ini saya akan tiada dipejabat untuk membuat persediaan peperiksaan ini. Untuk Setengah bulan kedua pula ada kursus yang perlu dihadiri sehingga hujung bulan.

Jadi bulan Julai ini tiadalah saya dipejabat sepanjang bulan.

Sekian. sehingga berjumpa di post seterusnya.

30 Jun 2009

30Jun 2009 - Hari terakhir Bulan Perkhidmatan Pembayar Cukai

Hari ini 30 Jun 2009. Hari terakhir penghantaran Borang Nyata Cukai Pendapatan bagi Punca Pendapatan Perniagaan. Juga kemuncak Bulan Pekhidmatan Pembayar Cukai (BPPC). Hari ini juga dijangka pembayar cukai akan berduyun-duyun ke kaunter perkhidmatan untuk bertanyakan hal cukai pendapatan dan mengisi borang B (Bagi Punca Perniagaan).

Walaubagaimanapun, kemuncak Borang B ini tidaklah semeriah kemuncakBorang BE pada 30April tempoh hari. Ini kerana kebanyakan warga perniagaan menggunakan khidmat ejen cukai bertauliah untukmenguruskan Borang B mereka. Jadi kaunter efiling kurang sikitlah sesaknya.

Sempena hari terakhir ini, bagi yang ingin membuat bayaran menggunakan cek boleh menyerahkan cek kekaunter khas yang disediakan. Tidak perlu ke bank atau kaunter bayaran Jln Duta. Walaubagaimanapun resit akan diposkan ke alamat surat menyurat.

Akhir kata untuk yang bakal menghantar borang selamat menghantar borang. yang belum membuat bayaran buatlah bayaran sebelum petang hari ini untuk mengelakkan denda 10% keesokan hari.

Sekian dulu untuk pagi ini.

Membangun Bersama Negara
Cukai dihujung jari anda.Jom e

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