...idea of introducing a flat consumption based Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Malaysia has been floated since 1989. It now seems as though this may become a reality in the 2014 Budget, with implementation beginning within 18 to 24 months at an initial rate of 4 % on the supply chain. The plan to overhaul the tax system has begun to gain momentum as the government deals with an increasingly weak economic outlook, combined with global uncertainty. While not at the emergency levels of many advanced Western European economies, Malaysia has not run a structural budget surplus since the Asian Financial Crisis hit in 1997. Federal government debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) currently sits at 55.4 %.1 For the time being, this is manageable, but it is the government’s ability to reign this spending in, as well as lack of budgetary reform that has led ratings agency Fitch to downgrade Malaysia’s credit outlook to negative this year. The government’s recent 20 sen cut to the fuel subsidy and increasing speculation of a GST framework to be included in the upcoming budget can be seen as evidence that they are trying to remedy both structural and cyclical economic challenges. Furthermore, for far too long there has been an overdependence on the revenue generated from oil and gas dividends, which currently account for over a third of total government revenues. 2 A GST offers a single unified system where the tax burden is equally shared between the services and manufacturing...
Words: 6974 - Pages: 28
...EPGB6122 Title: “Public Readiness in GST Implementation 2015 - In case of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia” Prepared by: Noorul ‘Aini Hanifa binti Su’aidi EGC140004 Masters in Public Administration Semester 2014/2015 Public Readiness in GST Implementation 2015 - In Case of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1. Background Taxation is one of the important elements in managing national income, especially in developed countries and has played an important role in civilized societies since their birth thousands years ago (Lymer and Oats, 2009). The introduction of Goods and Service Tax (GST) was first announced in Malaysia Budget 2005, and then projected to be implement in January 2007. In February 2006, government has announced that the implementation would be postponed to a later date. In 2010, it was when Government finalizing the study of the implementation of GST and identifying the social impact of GST on the public and inviting many discussions among expert and GST proponents publicly. The uncertainty on GST implementation cast many doubts as to whether Malaysia needed the GST regime, and if so, what could be the public benefits to the public from this exercise. The government had putting a great effort in promoting the implementation of GST, however an attention to educate the public of GST understanding should be in place as well. Hence, GST is not a new exercise of tax; with more than 140 countries worldwide having had implemented GST, and this is includesd many developed...
Words: 2638 - Pages: 11
...AND SERVICES TAX (GST) IMPLEMENTATION IN MALAYSIA CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION 1.1 Backgroud of Study Malaysian taxation system is generally divided into two, which are direct taxes and indirect taxes. Indirect taxes are controlled by the Royal Malaysian Custom Department (RMCD) and it consists of four components such as excise duties, customs duty, sales tax and service tax. Direct taxes are under the control of the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRBM). The IRBM is responsible for all policies relating to direct taxes such as income tax of individual and business, petroleum income tax, real property expansions tax, and stamp duty. From the government perception, taxation is a vital economic tool because it can be employed to regulate the economy, to invigorate economic growth through the granting of fiscal incentives as a principal aim of implementing tax policies and to provide funds for development projects (JeyapalanKasipillai, 2005). The contribution of direct taxes and indirect taxes to government revenue in 2009 amounted to RM78.375 billion (49.4%) and RM28.129 billion (1 7.73%), respectively. This shows that taxation contributes more than 60% to the Malaysian government revenue. Recently, the Malaysian government established the implementation of goods and services tax (GST) to replace Sales Tax and Services Tax (SST). The GST plan was first raised in 1988 but at the time it was considered unnecessary because the sales tax and services tax was effectively...
Words: 15209 - Pages: 61
...commencement of GST, the Goods and Services Tax, in Malaysia has been critically received by citizens. This study has been conducted to gauge the level of awareness and approval of GST among IIUM students. The general outlook on GST is negative, stemming from a lack of awareness as to what GST truly is and the taxpayers mindsets (Abdul Mansor & Ilias, 2013). Questionnaires were distributed to random IIUM students aimed at getting their awareness on GST and its implementation. The findings indicate that IIUM students are aware of GST and its imminent implementation and conflicting views on whether or not they approve of its implementation. Perhaps with a little scrutiny and education it might be possible to increase awareness on GST, and may change people perceptions and reception of it, be it positive or negative. 1.0 Introduction In general, Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a consumption tax which is imposed on the sale of goods and services, and it is divided into two categories indirect taxes and direct taxes and is administered by the Royal Malaysian Custom (RMC). The Malaysian government has announced that the new system which will be implemented starting 1st April 2015 at the rate of 6% (Robinson, 2014). The GST (goods and services tax) system will be replacing the present SST (sales and services tax). In the current tax regime, the 10% Sales Tax and 6% Service Tax is collected by one party (usually the seller) and passed on to the tax authorities. For...
Words: 3240 - Pages: 13
...of that tax system for the Malaysian economy, If implemented. The Malaysian government has to make procedure decisions on how to implement the GST. The most necessary decision about VAT is if it should be imposed as a expenditure, gross-product or income-type tax. Malaysia proposed a consumption-based GST. The use of invoices for GST provides more simplicity on how the tax is imposed. For VAT imposed as an income-type the accounting representation would be more suitable. In that case it would be based on the economic records of the company. The main advantage of a VAT is that it is a broad based system. Typically government and non-profit enterprises are excluded from the tax base. Further an important policy decision is to determine the place where GST is levy. For International Trade the place where the GST is levied is a vital matter. On the one hand the GST can be levied on the location of assembly (the origin principle) on the other it can be based on the location of the final consumption (the destination principle).The origin principle VAT is levied on value added within the state for all goods and services despite of whether they are sold within the state or export out of the state. It excludes value added personified in the goods and services that originate outside the state. The most regular is the use of the goal principle. Our analysis thus far has focused on evaluate if GST is a regressive or progressive tax and the corrective actions, the impact of GST on different...
Words: 1607 - Pages: 7
...Implementation of GST in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study The production of a good or service, in general, goes through several stages before the final product or service reaches the consumer. To illustrate, if the production and distribution process is divided into three basic stages of manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing, value is added at each stage through further processing, packing or other improvements before it reaches the consumer via the retailer. The GST is a tax on the value added to the output or service at each stage of the process. In its generic form, the GST is a value-added tax (VAT). These terms are used interchangeably in this note. A multi-stage tax like the GST protects tax collections through two built-in features. First, the multi-point collection and invoice trail minimizes tax avoidance and tax evasion. This is because the need to issue and obtain invoices to claim tax deductions for taxes imbedded in inputs from a previous stage of the production chain fosters greater compliance. Second, the GST is better able to protect revenue from tax evasion by retailers as compared to a single-stage sales tax imposed solely at the retail sales tax (RST). This feature, however, comes with greater administrative and compliance costs. 1.2 Problem Statement The introduction of GST in Malaysia has called for many...
Words: 5991 - Pages: 24
...and easing the transition to GST for business and consumers, while placing the nation on a firmer growth trajectory towards Vision 2020. Part 1 The three key issues concerning the individuals and sole-proprietor business have been introduced in 2015 budget. The first issue is about individual tax. The first change is that the income tax rate is reduced by 1 to 3% for resident individuals depending on different levels of chargeable income since Year of Assessment (YA) 2015 (KPMG, 2014). This results in that tax payers with family and income of Rm4,000 per month will not have tax liability. Besides, the income tax rate for non-resident individuals is reduced by 1% from 26% to 25% (KPMG, 2014) Chargeable Income(RM) | Current Tax Rate (%) | Proposed Tax Rate (%) | Reduction(%) | 1—5,000 | 0 | 0 | - | 5,000—20,000 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 20,001—35,000 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 35,001—50,000 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 50,001—70,000 | 19 | 16 | 3 | 70,001—100,000 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 100,001—250,000 | 26 | 24 | 2 | 250,001—400,000 | 26 | 24.5 | 1.5 | Exceeding 400,000 | 26 | 25 | 1 | This tax brackets illustrates the chargeable income is raised from RM100,000 to RM400,000 and the rate for chargeable income band exceeding RM100,000 is structured into three bands with reduced rates of 24%, 24.5% and 25%, which results in existing taxpayers receiving a saving of at least 5.3% (Reuters, 2014). It is significant to note that the deduction in tax rates is expected to provide tax saving for individuals This...
Words: 2824 - Pages: 12
...Literature Review 1.1 Readiness, Perception and Awareness of people towards GST. The literature on the GST is extremely wide . The are many areas that can be focus on basically while doing my research . The most highlight areas on GST is on the public reaction towards GST in Malaysia before the implementation which can known their readiness , perception and awareness on GST. According to ( Mohd Rizal Palil ,2011) he has done a research in Malaysia on the impact of Good and Service Tax towards Middle Income Earners. The author has done survey towards people all around Kuala Lumpur through questionnaire. Based on the finding of his research he reveals that most of the employees does not support the government decision for the implementation of GST and also they strongly does not accept the fact that GST will be implemented in the nearest future. At the same time they strongly does not support the implementation. Based on (K. Saira ,2010) he has done a research on the awareness of the people towards GST and his finding indicates that people are not aware that GST will be charge on Goods and Services. The researcher conclude that people are not aware of GST as soon its going to be control in their life. Beside that they are not aware that it will impact on the economy very well. (K. Saira ,2010) There is also another research which is concerning about the perception of Tax Payers on GST by (Tan Mei Lian ,2010) .The author has also done survey questionnaire towards people...
Words: 5096 - Pages: 21
...Services Tax in Malaysia Lim Kim-Hwa Penang Institute & University of Cambridge limkimhwa@penanginstitute.org Ooi Pei Qi Penang Institute peiqi.ooi@penanginstitute.org 8 October 2013 Abstract External economic factors and Malaysia’s domestic fiscal position dictate that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is likely to be introduced in the upcoming Budget 2014. In this paper, we: 1) assess if GST is a progressive or regressive tax; 2) study the impact of GST on Malaysian households; 3) estimate the total GST raised from households in perfect condition vs. practical circumstance; 4) estimate the expected inflation spike based on the Consumer Price Index; and 5) discuss the wider implications of implementing GST. Despite setting essential items like basic food, public transportation, education and healthcare as exempt or zero rated items, we show that GST is a regressive tax. Using 7% as the standard GST rate, the average household is expected to pay 2.93% of monthly income as GST (RM 104 per month in July 2013 values). Households will pay higher percentage of their income as GST if they are: middle and low income groups (with those earning around RM 2,500 per month paying 3.07%), engaged as technicians, clerical and services workers, farmers and fishermen, in single person household, in young households (less than 24 years old), Bumiputera-led households and households residing in Peninsular Malaysia. We find that it is not possible to make GST a progressive...
Words: 14521 - Pages: 59
... Pages | 1. Introduction to GST 4 1.1. Background Of Study 4 1.2 What is GST 6 1.3 Why is GST implemented 8 1.4 Difference between GST and SST 9 1.5 General operations of GST 10 1.5.1 Goods and Services Tax (Zero-rated supply) Order 2014 11 1.5.2 Goods and Services Tax (Exempt supply) Order 2014 132. Content 14 2.1 Effect of implementation of Goods Services Taxes (GST) in Malaysia 14 2.1.1 GST are regressive tax or progressive tax? 14 2.1.2 Effect of implementation of GST on inflation based on CPI 16 2.1.3 Effect of implementation of GST on the household income 19 2.2. Impact of GST on sub regions of Malaysia ...
Words: 12413 - Pages: 50
...changes in income tax rates and policies concerning individuals and sole proprietor businesses that were proposed in the Budget 2014. The three significant changes in tax policies are listed below. Review of Individual Income Tax In consideration of the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which takes effect on 1stApril 2015, the government had proposed several changes to reduce individual income tax rates with effect from Year of Assessment (YA) 2015. The proposed changes are: I. Income tax rates for resident individuals is to be reduced by 1% to 3% II. Income tax rates for non-resident individuals is to be reduced by 1% from 26% to 25% III. Current maximum tax rate at 26% to be reduced to 24% IV. Two new chargeable income bands be added above the existing highest income band exceeding RM 100,000, with RM100, 001-RM250, 000 as the second highest band and RM250, 001-RM400, 000 as the highest band. V. Chargeable income subjected to the maximum rate will be increased from exceeding RM100,000 to RM400,000. Such proposed changes will bring about savings across the band for all taxpayers and so increase the disposable income for all individuals. This measure is necessary as the implementation of GST will increase the cost of living which will impact the lower income bracket the most. The proposed change will bring about a more progressive tax structure as families with a monthly income of RM4, 000 will no longer have a tax liability. Also,...
Words: 3421 - Pages: 14
...Overview of GST GST (good and service tax), other words it also known as VAT (value added tax). It have implemented in many countries throughout the world. Currently there are 170 counties in the world that have implemented GST /VAT. NO REGION No of country 1 ASEAN 7 2 Asia 19 3 Europe 53 4 Oceania 7 5 Africa 44 6 South Africa 11 7 Caribbean, Central and North America 19 Table 1: No of countries implement GST/VAT Sources: Ministry of Finance GST is a multi-stage tax system, this is due to its nature which the tax is collected based on the supply of goods and services at each of the supply chain from the supplier to the retailer stage of the distribution. Even though GST is imposed at every stage of the supply chain, but the tax element will be not become a part of the cost of the product, because the GST paid on the business inputs is claimable as input tax. Where the business will pay the GST as output tax and claim for the input tax from the customs. In addition, it does not matter how many stages where a particular goods and services goes through the supply chain because the input tax incurred at the previous stage is always deductible by the businesses at the next in the supply chain. GST consider as a broad based consumption tax, which includes all sectors of the economy. In Malaysia the GST have been establish in a very clear manner, for example all goods and services made in Malaysia including...
Words: 15950 - Pages: 64
...2eqfewfwefefqefqefeq Findings – Tax Advisors 2wfqwefqewfqwefqefqw 3efqwefqewfwqefqwefqwef Findings – Individual 7efqwefwefwefwefweqfqwefq 4wefqwefqwefqwefqefq References 18wefqewfqewfqwefqwefqwefqwe fqwefqewfq 5wefqwefqwefqwefqwefqwefqwef Appendix 19qwefqwefqefqefqwefefwefweqfwefwqefwef 1. INTRODUCTION The Goods and Services Tax (GST) can be defined as a value-added tax that is levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption. The tax is implemented to provide revenue for the federal government. In Malaysia, the GST was scheduled to be implemented during the third quarter of 2011 but the implementation was delayed until the 1 st of April 2015. The Goods and Services Tax was tabled for the first time at the ‘Dewan Rakyat’ on 16 th of December 2009. Since there is a high number of criticism, it was delayed. On 25 th of October 2013, during the government’s reading of the National Budget 2014, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Najib Razak announced a GST tax of 6% will be implemented starting on the 1 st of April 2015 to replace the Sales and the Services tax. The implementation of the GST is a part of the government’s tax reform program to enhance the capability, effectiveness and transparency of tax administration and management. Since the government’s reading regarding GST in the National Budget 2014, there are a lot of reactions by Malaysians. Many of them were unhappy with the news and some of them are happy...
Words: 4702 - Pages: 19
...Portfolio: Business and financial information Article 1 Source: News.com.au 20 May 2012 The name of the article is “Pressure on to secure staff”. It relates to Australia’s private owners struggling to retain and attract quality staff – but are also pulling back from strategies that would allow them to do so. PwC’s winter 2012 Private Business Barometer finds employment is a major challenge for private firms. The report shows about 39 per cent of businesses intend to pay bonuses, down from 50 per cent in March 2011, while fewer businesses intend to offer working hours or competitive salaries (both down from 41 per cent to 24 per cent), working-from-home conditions (19 per cent to 13 per cent) and lifestyle-based leave (16 per cent to 6 per cent). PwC partner Michael Browne says firms have cut bonuses and other recruitment strategies in response to more uncertain economic times. By not adequately investing now businesses could face problems retaining staff in the future. This can affect their profitability, and also expectations, objectives and needs. “Businesses are looking to cut costs, so you have this trade-off with staffing strategies” Michael Browne says. Businesses can improve their retention of valued staff by planning to: * Ensure staff remain engaged in their roles * Promote a healthy work/life balance approach * Have regular career conversations with staff These strategies would be relevant to the development of plans to provide...
Words: 4387 - Pages: 18
...IMF Country Report No. 15/58 MALAYSIA March 2015 2014 ARTICLE IV CONSULTATION—STAFF REPORT; PRESS RELEASE; AND STATEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MALAYSIA Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. In the context of the 2014 Article IV consultation with Malaysia, the following documents have been released and are included in this package: The Staff Report prepared by a staff team of the IMF for the Executive Board’s consideration on February 13, 2015, following discussions that ended on November 24, 2014, with the officials of Malaysia on economic developments and policies. Based on information available at the time of these discussions, the staff report was completed on January 23, 2015. An Informational Annex prepared by the IMF. A Press Release summarizing the views of the Executive Board as expressed during its February 13, 2015 consideration of the staff report that concluded the Article IV consultation with Malaysia. A Statement by the Executive Director for Malaysia. The document listed below has been or will be separately released. Selected Issues Paper The policy of publication of staff reports and other documents allows for the deletion of market-sensitive information. Copies of this report are available to the public from International Monetary Fund Publication Services PO Box 92780 Washington, D.C. 20090 Telephone: (202)...
Words: 28686 - Pages: 115
