Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia: Perquisites From Employment
Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia: Perquisites From Employment
Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia: Perquisites From Employment
Published by
Inland Revenue Board Of Malaysia
CONTENTS Page
1. Objective 1
2. Summary Of Changes 1
3. Related Provisions 1
4. Interpretation 1
5. The Distinction Between Perquisites And Benefits In Kind 3
6. Perquisites 4
7. Types Of Perquisites And The Tax Treatment 8
- Employee’s pecuniary liabilities 9
- Credit card facilities 11
- Loan interest 11
- Recreational club membership 14
- Tuition or school fees of child 14
- Insurance premiums 15
- Gardener, driver, domestic help or guard 15
- Scholarship 17
- Waiver of loan or advance 17
- Assets provided free of charge or sold at discounted prices 18
- Gift vouchers
18
- Gift of personal computers
19
- Excellent public service award
19
- Professional subscriptions
19
8. Tax Exemption On Perquisites Received By An Employee 19
- Innovation or productivity award - Paragraph 25C Schedule 19
6 of the ITA 1967
- Allowances 22
- Subsidies on interest 27
- Gifts and monthly bills for fixed line telephone, mobile 31
phone, pager, personal digital assistant (PDA) and
subscription of broadband
PERQUISITES FROM
EMPLOYMENT
A Public Ruling as provided for under section 138A of the Income Tax Act 1967 is
issued for the purpose of providing guidance for the public and officers of the Inland
Revenue Board Of Malaysia. It sets out the interpretation of the Director General of
Inland Revenue in respect of the particular tax law, and the policy and procedure that
are to be applied.
1. Objective
2. Summary Of Changes
3. Related Provisions
The provisions of the Income Tax Act 1967 (ITA 1967) related to this Public Ruling
are sections 2, 7, 13, 25, 77, 82, 82A, 83, 112, 113, 119A, 120, subsection 4(b) and
Schedule 6.
4. Interpretation
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(a) Where the relationship of master and servant subsists, the master,
(b) Where the relationship of master and servant subsists does not
subsist, the person who pays or is responsible for paying any
remuneration to the employee who has the employment,
notwithstanding that that person and the employee may be the same
person acting in different capacities.
4.5. “Market value”, in relation to anything, means the price which that thing would
fetch if sold in a transaction between independent persons dealing at arm’s
length.
(a) Where the relationship of servant and master subsists, the servant,
(b) Where that relationship of servant and master does not subsist, the
holder of the appointment or office which constitutes the employment.
(b) Any appointment of office, whether public or not and whether or not
that relationship subsists, for which remuneration is payable.
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(c) Any other records as may be specified by the Director General under
statutory order.
4.14. “Not resident”, for a basis year for a year of assessment in relation to an
employee, means an employee other than a resident employee.
5.1. Perquisites and BIK (including the value of living accommodation (VOLA))
are benefits arising from an employment. These benefits are gross income
from employment under subsection 13(1) of the ITA 1967 and is taxable
under subsection 4(b) of the ITA 1967. However, there are differences
between these benefits.
5.2. Perquisites are benefits in cash or in kind which can be converted into money
received by an employee from his employer or from third parties in respect of
having or exercising an employment. Perquisites are taxable under
subsection 4(b) of the ITA 1967 as part of the gross income from
employment under paragraph 13(1)(a) of the ITA 1967.
5.3. BIK are benefits which are not convertible into money provided for the
employee by or on behalf of the employer. These benefits are categorised as
gross income from employment under paragraph 13(1)(b) of the ITA 1967.
The tax treatment on BIK is explained in detail in the Public Ruling No.
3/2013: Benefits-In-Kind dated 15 March 2013.
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5.5. It is important for the employer to determine and categorise correctly whether
a benefit otherwise than in money provided to the employee is a perquisite
under paragraph 13(1)(a) of the ITA 1967 or a BIK under paragraph 13(1)(b)
of the ITA 1967. The distinction is important as the gross income from
employment under paragraph 13(1)(a) of the ITA 1967 will affect the
computation of the value of living accommodation enjoyed by the employee
under paragraph 13(1)(c) of the ITA 1967.
6. Perquisites
6.1. Paragraph 13(1)(a) of the ITA 1967 provides that the gross income of an
employee in respect of gains or profits from an employment includes any
wages, salary, remuneration, leave pay, fee, commission, bonus, gratuity,
perquisite or allowance (whether in money or otherwise) in respect of having
or exercising the employment. This means that the gross income of an
employee from an employment under paragraph 13(1)(a) of the ITA 1967
comprises of not only wages, salary, leave pay, fee, commission, bonus and
gratuity, but also includes any perquisite or allowance, whether in money or
otherwise, received by an employee in respect of having or exercising the
employment.
6.2. All perquisites are gross income under paragraph 13(1)(a) of the ITA 1967
and are chargeable to tax under subsection 4(b) of the ITA 1967.
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received from third parties, the employee must declare such income
in the ITRF BE or B.
Example 1
The tax treatment on Alfred in respect of the receipt and sale of shares is as
follows:
As the shares –
(b) Are received from the employer in respect of having or exercising the
employment,
they are perquisites to Alfred and form part of his gross income from
employment. As the perquisites arose on 1.4.2010, when Alfred received
them (subsection 25(1) of the ITA 1967), the amount that is chargeable to tax
for the year of assessment 2010 is RM4,500 (RM4.50 X 1,000).
However, subsequent profits arising from the sale of shares on 1.9.2010 are
capital gains and are not subject to tax.
(Note: The tax treatment in respect of the shares offered to the employee
free of charge by the employer is explained in detail in Public Ruling No.
11/2012. - Employee Share Option Scheme Benefit dated 31.12.2012)
Example 2
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The tax treatment on Mei Hwa in respect of tips received by her is as follows:
Example 3
The perquisite is Alex’s gross income from employment to be taxed for the
year of assessment 2011, even though Alex is not actively involved in the
performance of any duties.
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Example 4
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6.7. Pure gifts or testimonials received by an employee from his employer or third
parties purely for personal appreciation or for specific personal reasons are
not taxable as such gifts are not related to having or exercising the
employment. Examples of pure gifts or testimonials include –
(a) Wedding gifts whether in the form of cash, jewellery or other items
given to an employee by the employer
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(i) Scholarship
7.2. The value of a perquisite received by the employee is his gross income from
employment under paragraph 13(1)(a) of the ITA 1967. For perquisites
having a market value, the value of the perquisite is ascertained as follows:
RM
Market value of the perquisite XX
Less:
Amount paid for the perquisite received (if any) XX
Value of the perquisite chargeable to tax on the employee XX
For perquisites not having any market value, the value of the perquisite is
ascertained as follows:
RM
Amount of the perquisite XX
Less:
Amount paid for the perquisite received (if any) XX
Value of the perquisite chargeable to tax on the employee XX
(a) Is made direct to the person who should receive the amount owing
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(b) Given to the employee so that the employee can settle his pecuniary
liability, or
Among the pecuniary liabilities of the employee paid by the employer are
income tax, water bill, electricity bill, telephone bill, road tax, car insurance
premiums, car parking fees and car maintenance charges.
(b) Pays the amounts owing as shown in such bills direct to the
authorities concerned,
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EMPLOYMENT
(b) The bills for these utilities are under the name of the employer
and not that of the employee, and
(c) The employee only enjoys the benefits when provided by the
employer who subscribes for them.
7.3.3. Car insurance premium, road tax, parking fees and car
maintenance charges
7.5.1. The charge to tax on the employee in respect of the receipt of this
benefit is based on the facts of each case. In general, this benefit is a
perquisite based on the cost borne by the employer when the
employer provides the loan to the employee whether for -
(b) Loan where only part of the interest is borne by the employer,
or
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In other words, the source of fund for the loan is the primary factor
which determines whether the receipt of such benefit is taxable on the
employee.
Where the loan given to the employee arises from the internal funds
of the company, no benefit is taxed on the employee even though the
employee actually derives monetary benefit from the loan given to him
since the employer did not bear any cost when the loan was given to
the employee. Such a tax treatment would be given in the case where
an interest free loan is given to an employee from the excess
business funds of the employer or without any loan taken from any
other persons.
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EMPLOYMENT
RM
Amount of interest charged on the employer by the XX
loan provider
Less:
Amount of nominal interest paid by the employee XX
Value of perquisite chargeable to tax on the employee XX
Example 5
Less:
Amount of interest charged on Wahid 3,200
Value of perquisite chargeable to tax on Wahid 2,800
7.5.4. If the loan to the employee is given at the rate which is the same as
the cost paid by the employer, there is no perquisite to be taxed on
the employee.
7.5.5. In summary, perquisites related to this benefit would arise only where–
(a) The funds for providing the loan facility originate from external
funds, and
(b) The rate of interest charged on the employee for the loan
provided by the employer is lower than the rate of interest
borne by the employer.
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The tax treatment for this benefit is based on the facts of each case.
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7.8.1. Where the employer pays the annual insurance premium for an
insurance scheme in which the employee, members of his family or
his nominee is appointed as the beneficiary to the policy, the amount
of annual premium is a perquisite to the employee.
7.9.1. Where the gardener, driver, domestic help or guard is hired by the
employee or the employer allows the employee to make claims for
reimbursement of the salaries of the gardener, driver, domestic help
or guard, the amount of salary or the reimbursement paid by the
employer is a perquisite to the employee.
Example 6
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The amount of the house rent, the driver's and domestic help's
salaries paid by the employer are perquisites to Chong Hin and are
taxable on him.
Example 7
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7.10. Scholarship
Paragraph 24, Schedule 6 of the ITA 1967 provides that any sums paid by
way or in the nature of a scholarship or other similar grant or allowance to an
individual, whether or not in connection with an employment of that individual
is exempted from income tax. However, the salary paid to an employee
during the study leave period is taxable as income from employment as the
employee is regarded as having an employment, even though he is not
exercising his employment.
Example 8
Gwen works with a legal firm. In February 2008, her employer gave her a
loan of RM20,000 to enable her to attend a one-year course in law. The loan
contract provides that if Gwen works with the employer for a period of 24
months after the completion of the course, the loan need not be repaid.
Gwen successfully fulfilled this condition under the contract in January 2011
and the loan was subsequently waived.
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7.12.1. Where assets such as houses, cars or other items are provided free
of charge or sold at discounted prices by the employer to his
employee, the difference between the market price of such assets
and the amount paid by the employee (if any) is a perquisite to the
employee. The amount is gross income from employment under
paragraph 13(1)(a) of the ITA 1967.
Example 9
(a) The car has money's worth and can be convertible into
money, and
(b) The employee upon purchasing the car, has ownership rights
over the car and is subsequently able to sell the car to a third
party.
7.13.1. Normally, gift vouchers are not taxable in the hands of the employee
unless they are of a recurring nature and are provided in the
circumstances where the employee expects such gifts as part of his
remuneration.
7.13.2. Where it is the practice of the employer to give gift vouchers to the
employees on festive occasions such as Christmas, Chinese New
Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri or Gawai Day, based on the
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8.1.1. Paragraph 25C, Schedule 6 of the ITA 1967 was introduced in year
of assessment 2007 to provide tax exemption on perquisite received
by an employee limited to RM1,000 pursuant to his employment in
respect of –
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(c) Long service on condition that the employee has served with
the same employer or with companies within the same group
of companies for more than 10 years.
Example 10
Example 11
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Example 12
Example 13
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Example 14
8.1.3. For purposes of paragraph 8.1.1.(c) above, a holding company and all
its subsidiaries are regarded as companies within the same group
regardless of whether the companies are in Malaysia or outside
Malaysia.
Example 15
The employees are regarded to have served within the same group of
companies for the purposes of paragraph 25C, Schedule 6 of the ITA
1967.
8.2. Allowances
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Example 16
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Example 17
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Example 18
However, the meal allowance and per diem allowance are only
exempted if they are given based on the rate fixed in the
internal circular or written instruction of the employer.
Example 19
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(b) For the purposes of this exemption, child means a child of the
age of 12 years and below and who is a legitimate child or step-
child of an individual or his wife/husband or a child proved to
the satisfaction of the Director General to have been adopted
by the individual or his wife/husband in accordance with any
law.
Example 20
Example 21
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Example 22
Example 23
Both Ziad and his wife are each entitled for an exemption on
child care allowance up to an amount of RM2,400 for year of
assessment 2008. In the case where Ziad and his wife elect
for a combined assessment, the total amount to be exempted
is RM4,800.
Example 24
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A x B
C
Where,
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Example 25
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Interest payable
9,600 2,400 2,362 14,362
by employee (b)
Interest subsidised
by the employer
4,800 1,200 788 6,788
Perquisite)
(c = a – b)
The amount of perquisite exempted from tax is computed as
follows:
8.4. Gifts and monthly bills for fixed line telephone, mobile phone, pager,
personal digital assistant (PDA) and subscription of broadband
8.4.1. Gifts
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8.4.2. Monthly bills for fixed line telephone, mobile phone, pager or
PDA
Monthly bills paid by the employer for the fixed line telephone, mobile
phone, pager or PDA registered under the name of the employee is
fully exempted from tax. Cost of registration and installation are
included in the amount to be exempted.
Example 26
(a) The gifts received by Vendrajah from his employer in the form
of fixed line telephone and PDA which are registered under his
name are exempted from tax in the year of assessment 2008.
(b) The monthly bills and the cost of registration and installation
paid by the employer for the fixed line telephone, PDA and
broadband which are registered under his name are exempted
from tax in the year of assessment 2008.
8.4.4. Where an employee receives a fixed allowance for telephone, the full
amount of that telephone allowance is taxable as part of his gross
income from employment under paragraph 13(1)(a) of the ITA 1967.
An amount equal to the value of the benefit of one new personal computer
received as a gift by an employee from his employer is exempted from tax.
Personal computer means a desk top computer, laptop computer or handheld
computer but does not include computer accessories. The exemption was
effective from –
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(a) The year of assessment 2001 to the year of assessment 2003 inclusive
[P.U.(A) 503, Income Tax (Exemption) Order (No. 56) Order 2000 dated
22 December 2000], and
(b) The year of assessment 2008 to the year of assessment 2010 [Income
Tax (Exemption)(No. 4) Order 2008].
8.6. Non-application
8.6.1. The above tax exemption does not apply if the employee who was given
an allowances, subsidised interest or gifts by the employer who has
control over his employer. Thus, allowances, subsidised interest or gifts
received by that employee is perquisite to the employee.
8.6.2. For the purposes of this Ruling, control over his employer means:
(a) For a company, the power of an employee to control is through
the holding of shares or the possession of voting power in or in
relation to that or any other company, or by virtue of powers
conferred by the articles of association or other document
regulating that or any other company, that the affairs of the first
mentioned company are conducted in accordance with the wish
of the employee
(c) For a sole proprietor, the employee and the employer is the
same person.
9. Employer’s Responsibilities
9.3. In accordance with subsection 83(1) of the ITA 1967, the employer is
required to report in the employee's statement of remuneration (Form EA
and EC) and Form E for the employer, all payments in respect of services
provided by the employee including all types of perquisites. This includes the
benefits provided for the spouse, family, servants, dependent or guest of the
employee. The failure by the employer to comply with this subsection will
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render the employer liable to prosecution under subsection 120(1) of the ITA
1967.
9.4. In accordance with section 82 of the ITA 1967, the employer is also required
to keep records and receipts pertaining to all claims on expenses incurred on
the employees. These records and receipts must be kept for a period of
seven (7) years from the end of the year of assessment in which the ITRF is
furnished for the purposes of verification during a tax audit. The failure by the
employer to comply with this section will render the employer liable to
prosecution under section 119A of the ITA 1967.
10.1. In accordance with subsection 77(1) of the ITA 1967, the employee is
required to report in the ITRF BE or B (whichever is applicable) all payments
received in respect of having or exercising the employment including all types
of perquisites received from the employer or third parties. This includes
benefits received for the spouse, family, servants, dependent or guest of the
employee. The failure by the employee to comply with this section will render
the employee liable to prosecution or penalty under section 112 of the ITA
1967. Where the employee under declares his income, he is liable to
prosecution or penalty under section 113 of the ITA 1967.
10.2. In accordance with section 82A of the ITA 1967, the employee is required to
keep records and documents pertaining to all receipts from the employer or
third parties in respect of having or exercising an employment including the
receipts of perquisites. Such records or documents must be kept for a period
of seven (7) years from the end of the year of assessment in which the ITRF
is furnished for purposes of verification during a tax audit.
Where an employee receives a perquisite from his employment, the employer must
ensure that the tax to be charged on the perquisite is deducted from the employee’s
remuneration based on the Schedule (Rule 3) of the monthly Income Tax Deductions
under the Income Tax (Deduction From Remuneration) Rules in the month in which
the perquisite is paid. In the case where the salary of the employee is not sufficient to
absorb the monthly income tax deduction on the perquisite, the employer is required
to obtain the approval of the LHDNM for payment on the perquisite by instalments
with the issuance of the Directive of Tax Deduction (CP 38).
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