Income tax e-filing opens on March 1

PETALING JAYA: Taxpayers can begin e-filing income tax assessment from March 1.

They should send in the Income Tax Return Form and pay the tax within the stipulated period to avoid late penalty or late payment charges, said the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

“IRB would also like to remind all taxpayers to declare their income tax information correctly. All income received in 2016 from taxable sources such as employment, tuition classes, businesses, commissions, direct sales, rent, royalties and other income as stated under Section 4 and Section 4A of the Income Tax Act must be declared,” said the IRB.

The deadline for the return form for individuals who do not conduct business (BE form) is on April 30, while the return form of employers (E form) falls on March 31.

IRB chief executive officer Datuk Sabin Samitah said the take-up rate for electronic submission for 2016 was only 51.7%.

He said only 229,393 out of 443,418 employers submitted their E form electronically.

“We expect to see an increase in this figure, especially after the amendment in tax law which makes it mandatory for employers which are companies to submit the E form electronically,” said Sabin at the Taxation and Employer seminar jointly hosted by the IRB and Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) yesterday.

Sabin’s speech was read by IRB deputy CEO (policy) Datuk Noor Azian Abdul Hamid.

Also present were MEF executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan and vice president A. Ramadass.

IRB collected RM114.015bil last year, which was 52.51% of the overall government revenue for the year.

“I implore you to give us the correct data. If you are a business entity, please use the right business code. If you are an individual, claim the genuine and correct amount of relief,” Sabin emphasised compliance.