Malaysia: 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
See MoreMalaysia: Corporate tax proposals under budget 2019
On 2 November 2018, the Malaysian Finance Minister presented his budget proposals for 2019. Summary of the main corporate tax proposals: Introduction of a Special Voluntary Disclosure Program for taxpayers to voluntarily declare any unreported
See MoreMalaysia: New government plans to reduce GST from 1st June 2018
On May 16, 2018, the new Malaysian government said it will reduce the tax on goods and services to zero from June 1 and effectively abolish it. In a statement from the Ministry of Finance, all registered traders have been instructed to comply
See MoreMalaysia: IRB issues practice note on tax treatment of digital advertising for non-resident
On 16 March 2018, the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board (IRB) published Practice Note No. 1/2018, which describes the tax implications of income received by a non-Malaysian taxpayer from the provision of digital advertising. The Notice briefly
See MoreMalaysia: MIRB updates the form require to collect information for TP transactions
The Malaysian tax office (MIRB) has recently updated the form used by the tax authority to gather information from certain taxpayers in connection with their cross-border transactions to conduct a transfer pricing risk assessment. Certain taxpayers
See MoreJamaica and five more countries sign MLI to implement tax treaty related BEPS measures
On 24 January 2018, the Ministers and high-level officials from Jamaica, Malaysia, Panama, Barbados, Côte d’Ivoire and Tunisia have signed the BEPS Multilateral instrument (MLI) to amend double tax treaties to bring into effect changes designed
See MoreMalaysia: IRBM amends the APA rules and updates the MAP guidelines
Recently, the MIRB (Malaysia Inland Revenue Board) has published an amendment to the APA Rules and the updated Mutual Agreement Procedure (“MAP”) Guidelines. The APA rules referred to as the Income Tax (Advance Pricing Arrangement) Rules 2012
See MoreMalaysia signs the BEPS multilateral instrument
On 24 January 2018, Malaysia signed the OECD Multilateral Convention to implement tax treaty related measures to prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“Multilateral Instrument” or “MLI”). At the beginning of 2017, Malaysia announced its
See MoreMalaysia enacts Finance (No. 2) Act 2017
The Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 has been published in the Gazette on 29 December 2017, effective as of 1 January 2018. The Act includes certain measures of the 2018 Budget. The law introduces new rules requiring companies to inform the tax authority of
See MoreMalaysia: IRBM updates the rules for CbC reporting
The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has recently published an amendment to the country-by-country (CbC) rules. Among the changes, the amended CbC rules include revised measures regarding entities having cross-border transactions with other constituent
See MoreMalaysia: Budget-2018 introduces a number changes to GST
Malaysia's 2018 budget introduced a number of changes to the tax regime for goods and services. These include: The sale of newspapers, magazines and books is newly classified as a zero value Exempting municipal services from GST Exempting
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