Income Tax In Malaysia For Foreigners
For the most part foreigners working in malaysia are divided into two categories.
Income tax in malaysia for foreigners. As a general rule anyone earning a salary in malaysia is required to pay income tax unless they fall into one of the exceptions. The chargeability of income is governed by section 3 of the income tax act 1967 ita which states that income shall be charged for tax for each year of assessment ya upon the income of any person accruing in or derived from malaysia or received in malaysia from outside malaysia. Foreign workers should seek help from registered local tax advisors to better understand their tax liabilities. This includes interest earned on income sitting in accounts in malaysia.
You ll still need to pay taxes for income earned in malaysia and will be taxed at a different rate from residents. Foreigners working in malaysia for less than 60 days are exempt from filling out taxes as are those who are employed on board a malaysian ship or those aged over 55 years old who are receiving a pension from employment in malaysia. Malaysia adopts a territorial principle of taxation meaning only incomes which are earned in malaysia are taxable. Foreigners with the non resident status are subjected to a flat taxation rate of 28 this means that the tax percentage will remain the same no matter the amount of income.
As a non resident you re are also not eligible for any tax deductions. If taxable you are required to fill in m form. Under the mm2h visa expats are not required to pay tax on their income no matter where it comes from as long as it s remitted from overseas. Not all expatriates in malaysia are required to file personal income tax.
References income tax act 1967. Resident stays in malaysia for more than 182 days in a calendar year. Expatriates working in malaysia for more than 60 days but less than 182 days are considered non tax residents and are subject to a tax rate of 30 percent. Malaysia adopts a territorial approach to income tax.
You are regarded as a non resident under malaysian tax law if you stay in malaysia for less than 182 days in a year regardless of nationality.