Malaysia ratifies BEPS multilateral convention (MLI)
On 4 August 2020, Malaysia published the Official Gazette PU (A) 224/2020 of 13 July 2020 providing ratification announcement of the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent BEPS (MLI), by way of the Double
See MoreMalaysia publishes updated guide on digital services tax
On 1 August 2020, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department issued an updated guide on digital services by foreign service providers. The Updated Guide replaced the earlier version dated 20 August 2019. Effective 1st January 2020, service tax
See MoreOECD: Revenue Statistics in Asian and Pacific Economies 2020
On 23 July 2020 the OECD published Revenue Statistics in Asian and Pacific Economies 2020. The publication presents important statistics tracking progress on domestic resource mobilisation to support tax policy and reform. This can assist countries
See MoreMalaysia: IRB posts FAQs on advance pricing agreement due to coronavirus pandemic
On 16 June 2020, the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board posted online FAQs on advance pricing arrangement (APA) procedures for businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic. The questionnaire covers the filing of new APA applications; the treatment of
See MoreCOVID-19: Malaysia announces short-term economic recovery plan
On 5 June 2020, the Prime Minister of Malaysia announced a Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) in response to COVID-19. The relief plan contains the following tax measures. New tax holiday incentive for foreign manufacturers that relocate
See MoreCOVID-19: Malaysia publishes third amendment providing further extension of deadline
On 28 April 2020, Malaysian Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has published third amendment to the return form filing programme for the year 2020 with further extending the deadlines for the filing of tax returns and making tax payments for companies,
See MoreCOVID-19: Malaysia extends again deadlines for filing CbC report and notification
On 21 April 2020, the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRBM) released an updated FAQ on tax matters during the movement control order period. The FAQ contains the further extension of country-by-country reporting deadlines in response to the
See MoreCOVID-19: Malaysia extends deadline for filing CbC report and notification
On 10 April 2020, the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRBM) published an updated FAQ document related to the tax management issue in response to COVID-19 pandemic that includes the extension of the deadline for submitting country-by-country (CbC)
See MoreCOVID-19: Malaysia extends income tax filing deadline
The Malaysian Inland Revenue Board issued a series of releases 20-25 March 2020 that provides tax relief measures including postponed tax filing deadlines. Under this, taxpayers have been granted an extension of time two-month grace period to
See MoreMalaysia gazettes Labuan Business Activity Tax (Amendment) Act 2020
On 10 February 2020, Malaysia has gazetted the Labuan Business Activity Tax (Amendment) Act 2020 (“the Amendment Act”) which comes into operation on 11 February 2020. The following tax measures are included in the act. A company in Labuan
See MoreMalaysia: IRB releases Transfer Pricing audit framework for 2019
On 15 December 2019, the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board (“MIRB”) published the TP audit framework (2019). The Transfer Pricing Audit Framework 2019 is effective from 15 December 2019 and replaces the Transfer Pricing Audit Framework 2013 which
See MoreMalaysia announces principal hub incentive
On 8 October 2019, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority ("MIDA") announced enhancements to its headquarters hub tax incentive. From a tax point of view, Principal Hub companies are classified on the basis of their level of
See MoreMalaysia: IRBM issues income tax penalties for late return
On 16 October 2019, the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia issued Operational Guideline No. 5/2019, which sets out the penalties for taxpayers who fail to file the tax returns within the prescribed timelines under the Income Tax Act 1967, the
See MoreMalaysia: Finance Minister presents the budget for 2020
Malaysia's Minister of Finance tabled in parliament the Budget for 2020. The budget provides the following tax measures: The SME income tax rate for Chargeable Income up to the first RM500,000 was reduced by 1% to 17% in 2019. To further
See MoreMalaysia withdraws withholding tax exemptions available to MSC Malaysia status companies
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn Bhd (MDEC) has recently announced on its website that the withholding tax (WHT) exemption on certain types of income received by a non-resident company from an approved Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC)
See MoreMalaysia releases digital services tax guide
On 20 August 2019, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department published a service tax guide on digital services. The purpose of the guide is to provide a general understanding of the relevant treatment under Sales Tax and Services Tax Legislation and
See MoreMalaysia: IRBM releases guidelines on restrictions to the deductibility of interest
On 5 July 2019, the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia has published new guidance on restrictions to the deductibility of interest expenses. The restriction is provided under Section 140C of the Income Tax Act 1967 (hereinafter referred to as the
See MoreMalaysia: Parliament passes Finance bill 2018 (Budget 2019)
On 10 December 2018, the House of Representatives passed the Finance Bill 2018 which was published in the Federal Gazette on 27 December 2018. The key changes of Finance Bill 2018 are summarized below: Corporate Tax Changes The limitation
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