As the deadline for filing our tax returns looms, many are looking to verify the specific tax reliefs allowed as well as find ways to maximise their tax savings. Here are the answers by the tax office to some of our readers' queries.
I RECENTLY sold my house for RM57,000. It was about 30 years old and this is the first time I have sold a house. Do I have to declare it in my BE form? If yes, under which column?
You have to fill up form CKHT1A and CKHT 3 (which can be obtained from our website at www.hasil.gov.my). Please submit the forms to the IRB branch where your tax file is registered.
My late husband left me about RM100,000 cash. Do I have to declare this amount in my BE form? I am a retiree aged 64 years old.
Gift from inheritance is not taxable.
I have both salary and business income which I have been submitting under employment all these years. Is there any possibility to switch to submitting under business income?
You have to submit Form B, which is for an individual who has a source of income from business. You also have to fill up your employment income in this form (under Part of Statutory Income From Other Sources).
I am undergoing treatment for hypothyroidism, a chronic disease requiring continuous medication and treatment for the rest of one's life. Are treatments for thyroid disorders included in the list of deductions for chronic diseases?
Relief of RM5,000 applicable for “Serious disease” only includes AIDS, Parkinson's disease, cancer, renal failure, leukaemia and other similar diseases. The “other similar diseases” here are heart attack, pulmonary hypertension, chronic liver disease, fulminant viral hepatitis, head trauma with neurological deficit, tumour in the brain or vascular malformation, major burns, major organ transplant and major amputation of limbs. However, you can write in to the Tax Policy Department, IRBM, to get consent for your case.
According to the IRB's website, the list of allowable deductions for medical expenses incurred for parents includes expenses at nursing homes and for dental treatment. Are medical expenses for parents for treatment at hospitals or clinics allowed for deductions?
Yes, they are allowable. Individuals can claim medical expenses for parents up to a maximum of RM5,000 per year. Receipt from the medical practitioner (only those approved by Malaysia Medical Council) is required as evidence for certifying that the medical treatment has been provided to the parents.
Are subscriptions to publications such as Financial Times allowable for deductions?
Expenses expended in the basis year for the purchase of books, journals, magazines and other similar publications (in form of hard copy or electronic) for enhancing the knowledge of the individual, his/her spouse or his/her child are allowed. Books would include school textbooks, periodicals and comics whether purchased locally or overseas. Newspapers or banned reading materials such as morally offensive magazines are excluded.
My spouse and I have a separate filing under Borang B. Last year we each put in RM50,000 to expand our farming activities in our orchard so as to generate income after our retirement. How do we report this when we file our income tax?
RM50,000 is considered as capital expenditure which you have to declare under owner's equity in Form B.
My wife is a self-employed salesperson. She has contributed RM100 monthly in the 1Malaysia EPF scheme. Can she file this as part of the RM6,000 relief Insurans nyawa dan KWSP?
Yes, you can claim up to RM6,000 for Insurans Nyawa dan KWSP (Life insurance and EPF).
My wife bought a RM1,000 compact digital camera for her sales use. How can she file this as office/stationery expenses?
Digital camera for sales use cannot be claimed as a stationery. You can claim it as an asset and deduct capital allowance.
I started to contribute RM3,000 a year to my eldest son's SSPN account (joint name with myself). My wife started to contribute RM3,000 a year to my youngest son's SSPN account (joint name with my wife). Does the date of deposit matter (done in a few separate dates in same year 2010)? Can both of us file RM3,000 myself and RM3,000 wife, each in this case?
Yes, both of you are entitled to claim the relief restricted to RM3,000 a year per person (separate assessment).
Is the computer relief Pembelian Komputer Peribadi untuk Individu usable by both myself and wife (RM3,000 each) at the same time if we file separately?
You and your wife can claim the relief which is restricted to RM3,000. This relief is allowed once every three years.
Is the relief Yuran Langganan Perkhidmatan Jalur Lebar (Broadband subscriptions) usable for both myself and wife (RM500 each) at the same time if we file separately?
The deduction allowed is limited to RM500 a year for broadband subscriptions that are registered in the name of the individual.
18 April 2011
Maximise your tax savings - The Star, 17 April 2011
17 April 2011
Denda RM2,000 tak serah borang BE - Harian Metro 16/04/2011
KUALA LUMPUR: Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) mengingatkan pembayar cukai bahawa hanya tinggal 15 hari untuk penghantaran borang cukai Pendapatan Selain Perniagaan Individu Bermastautin (Borang BE).
Pegawai Perhubungan Awam LHDN Masrun Maslim dalam kenyataan semalam berkata, tarikh akhir mengemukakan borang BE bagi Tahun Taksiran 2010 ialah pada 30 April ini.
Kegagalan mengemukakan borang ini satu kesalahan mengikut Akta Cukai Pendapatan 1967 dan boleh dikenakan denda minimum RM2,000 atau enam bulan penjara atau kedua-duanya sekali jika sabit kesalahan.
Justeru, LHDN menasihatkan semua pembayar cukai mengemukakan borang itu dalam tempoh ditetapkan dan menggunakan perkhidmatan e-Filing kerana ia mudah, tepat dan selamat.
Untuk keterangan lanjut, pembayar cukai boleh melayari laman web rasmi LHDN di www.hasil.gov.my atau menghubungi pusat khidmat pelanggan melalui talian 1-300-88-3010. - Bernama
05 April 2011
E-Filing Service To Be Made Available On Smartphone Next Year - Bernama 29 March 2011
PUTRAJAYA, March 29 (Bernama) -- Taxpayers in the country can expect to use the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) e-filing service through their smartphones next year.
Digicert Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Noor Azli Othman said they were in the midst of running several tests to ensure the compatibility of the smartphone with the e-filing system.
"We are also in the midst of studying the security aspect to ensure that the taxpayers' personal information will not be abused," he told reporters here Tuesday.
Earlier, Noor Azli, on behalf of Digicert, signed a service contract to supply, install, test, certify and maintain the public key infrastructure for the e-filing system with LHDN, which was represented by its director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Shukor Mahfar.
Digicert is an associate company of Pos Malaysia Berhad responsible for providing the e-filing system solutions since 1996.
-- BERNAMA
‘Provide accurate information, declare income correctly’ - Borneo Post March 17, 2011, Thursday
MIRI: Taxpayers can now file their taxes from March to April and are advised to file in early to avoid congestions at the counters.
“Taxpayers should come early to our counters to avoid congestion expected near the deadline on April 30,” said LHDN Miri branch assistant director Azami Mohd Amin recently.
He reminded taxpayers to provide accurate information and declare their income correctly.
“Please bring along the relevant documents and information on your claims before coming over,” he advised.
All supporting documents concerning tax exemptions and claimable expenses used in calculating income taxes must also be kept safely for up to seven years for random audits by LHDN.
Taxpayers can also access e-Filing through www.hasil.gov.my or login directly at https//e.hasil.gov.my.
Meanwhile, taxpayers who generated income from business sources have until June 30 as their deadline.
In conjunction with the Taxpayers Services Month 2011 Programme, the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) Miri branch counters and e-Filing facilities at Wisma Hasil in Taman MDL will be opened from March 1 to 31 on Monday to Friday at 8am to 5.30pm, April 1 to 21 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5.30pm), April 23 to 24 (Saturday to Sunday 8am to 6pm), April 25 to 28 (Monday to Thursday 8am to 5.30pm), April 29 to 30 (Friday to Saturday 8am to 6pm). For further information, call Azami at 085-462400 extension 84405.
03 April 2011
IRB to meet tax collection target this year: Awang Adek MySinchew 2011.04.01
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) is expected to achieve the tax collection target of RM91 billion set by the Ministry of Finance for this year, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Husin.
He said the expectation is based on the country's economic performance which saw steady expansion last year and the IRB's approach which has boosted tax collection efficiency.
"The economic performance was better in 2010 and if it can be maintained in 2011,we expect revenue to increase this year," he told reporters after officiating the opening of the new IRB branch building in Petaling Jaya and the Taxpayers Month Programme.
He said the collection target set for this year is higher than that for 2010 (RM86.475 billion) and the previously highest recorded was RM90.650 billion in 2008.
Meanwhile, the IRB Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Mohd Shukor said the organisation has reorganised its strategies and enhanced the publicity efforts towards increasing the tax collection for this year.
Among the steps taken are to enhance enforcement and improve the taxpayers awareness campaign.
"We want them to know that this responsibility of paying tax is the responsibility towards developing the country," he added.
20 Mac 2011
E-mail of RM700 IRB refund a scam - The Star March 15, 2011
PETALING JAYA: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has clarified that it did not send any e-mail to taxpayers telling them that the IRB will return them RM700 in tax.
The IRB said that it did not issue the e-mail refund-payment@hasil.gov.my and told taxpayers not to click http://62.23.69.2/hasil.gov.my/index.php.htm which supposedly informed taxpayers that there would be a RM700 refund.
“The IRB wants to confirm that the e-mail is false and is a phishing effort by the unscrupulous who want to steal information and funds from taxpayers,” said Corporate Communications director Mazlan Wan Chik in a statement yesterday.
Members of the public are advised not to open the e-mail but delete it and not provide any feedback as requested in the content.
The IRB’s ICT Security Division immediately reported the matter to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission when the phishing activity was detected on Sunday and the site had been closed.
“This is the third attempt to cheat taxpayers,” said Mazlan.
The IRB gave the assurance that all taxpayers’ data and information were kept secure.
For enquiries, call 1-300-88-3010 or e-mail callcentre@hasil.gov.my.
25 Februari 2011
e-Filing -Tahun Taksiran 2010 - https://e.hasil.gov.my/
1 Mac 2011, genap usia 15 tahun LHDN dilembagakan dari JHDN. Imej korporat baru akan diperkenalkan pada sambutan ulang tahun ke 15 tersebut. Pada hari yang sama akan dilancarkan e-filing untuk Tahun Taksiran 2010. e-filing akan dibuka kepada umum dan orang ramai boleh mula menghantar borang cukai pendapatan melalui e-filing. Kepada yang memang telah menggunakannya sejak tahun-tahun lepas harapnya teruskan tradisi anda. Bagi yang belum lagi menggunakan mulakan tradisi baru dengan menggunakan e-filing.
Untuk yang akan pertama kali menggunakan e-filing anda akan memerlukan nombor pin yang boleh di dapati di Borang Cukai yang dihantar ke rumah anda. Ataupun alternatifnya anda boleh emel sendiri kepada alamat pin@hasil.gov.my untuk mendapatkan no pin anda dengan menyertakan salinan kad pengenalan depan belakang. Anda juga perlu menyatakan no rujukan cukai, alamat terkini dan nombor telefon.
Bagi yang telah terlupa kata laluan juga boleh emel kepada alamat seperti di atas untuk reset semula kata laluan. Alternatifnya hubungi cawangan LHDN terdekat.
Tahun ini merupakan tahun ke 5 e-filing diperkenalkan untuk memudahkan proses penghantaran Borang Cukai.Jadi digalakkan pembayar cukai akan menggunakan e-filing di premis atau di rumah masing-masing dan tidak membanjiri cawangan LHDN. Sekiranya menghadapi masalah talian khidmat pelanggan sedia membantu anda 1-300-88-3010.
Sekian dulu untuk kali ini. Jumpa lagi ya.
05 Februari 2011
e-PCB dan e-DataPCB- Kemudahan untuk majikan
Agak lama sejak posting terakhir dimasukkan ke sini. Kesibukan kerja membataskan masa menulis dalam blog ini. Dikesempatan ini diucapkan Selamat Tahun Baru Cina untuk yang menyambutnya. Posting kali ini ditujukan khas untuk majikan-majikan di luar sana. Juga untuk kerani-kerani payroll yang kerjanya mengira dan membuat potongan cukai bulanan (PCB)pekerja. Kerap kali kita mendengar keluhan kerani gaji/payroll yang merungut susah mengira PCB pindaan 2010/2009. Kini anda sudah boleh tersenyum.Teruskan membaca sehingga akhir.
e-PCB dan e-Data PCB bukan hanya satu tetapi dua perkhidmatan baru yang disediakan LHDN untuk memudahkan malah menjimatkan kos majikan dalam menghantar PCB kepada LHDN. Dengan menggunakan salah satu dari perkhidmatan ini penghantaran PCB hanya dihujung jari sahaja.
Kita sentuh e-PCB dahulu. e-PCB merupakan satu 'tool' yang dibina oleh LHDN khas untuk majikan yang tiada sistem gaji/payroll berkomputer. Jika sebelum ini anda perlu menulis dengan tangan di borang CP39 setiap pekerja anda kini tidak perlu lagi. Kini anda cuma perlu mendaftarkan pekerja anda sekali sahaja dan untuk bulan-bulan berikutnya hanya kemaskini maklumat pendapatan sahaja dan PCB dikira secara automatik. Sekiranya ada perubahan maklumat pekerja cuma perlu kemaskini sahaja. Setelah semua maklumat dikemaskini dan PCB dikira. Boleh hantar terus ke LHDN dalam talian. Tidak perlu lagi hantar disket. Nampak mudah kan. Memang mudah sangat pun. e-PCB bukan hanya menyediakan 'tool' untuk penghantaran malahan menyediakan 'tool' pembayaran juga melalui e-Pay. Majikan yang mempunyai internet banking boleh terus membayar dari akaun terus ke LHDN secara atas talian.
e-DataPCB pula dibina khusus untuk majikan yang mempunyai sistem gaji berkomputer. Sistem gaji berkomputer akan menghasilkan text file yang biasanya di muat turun ke dalam disket dan dibawa ke kaunter LHDN atau kaunter bank terpilih sebelum membuat bayaran PCB. Kini anda tidak perlu lagi muat turun ke dalam disket. Anda boleh lupakan terus disket. Komputer di pejabat kini pun sudah tiada disket drive kan. Kini apa yang anda perlu buat hanyalah muat naik text file tadi kedalam laman e-DataPCB, disahkan data tersebut dan terus boleh hantar ke LHDN secara atas talian. Seperti e-PCB,e-DataPCB juga mempunyai tool bayaran secara atas talian. Tidak lagi perlu beratur panjang di kaunter LHDN dan bank terpilih. Mudah kan.
Kini majikan tiada lagi alasan tiada masa dan malas beratur di kaunter.Semuanya boleh dilakukan di atas talian. Semuanya dihujung jari. Yang penting kemahuan untuk menjalankan tanggungjawab kepada negara.
Sehingga berjumpa di lain posting. maklumat lanjut boleh didapati di laman web HASIL di www.hasil.gov.my