Sabah collects RM8mil in extra income tax

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has collected RM8.1mil in additional income tax and penalties from 148 taxpayers following the voluntary tax disclosure programme introduced nationwide on Nov 3.

Inland Revenue Board (IRB) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah said from this amount, about RM7.1mil from 78 people was collected at the IRB state headquarters in Kota Kinabalu.

As for the overall tax collected statewide, he said the amount reached RM3.6bil up to last month.

Sabin said this after witnessing the handing over of duties between outgoing Sabah IRB director Suhaili Sudin and Datuk Hajam Lajah Alam, who takes over on Jan 1.

He said the government’s tax reform initiative, aimed at encouraging taxpayers to voluntarily declare their income, was offered to all categories of taxpayers.

“The rate of penalty will be reduced according to the voluntary disclosure and tax payment period.

“The taxpayer will be subjected to a lower penalty rate of between 10% and 15% of the tax payable compared with the penalty rate of between 80% and 300% after the voluntary disclosure period expires on June 30, 2019,” Sabin said.

Taxpayers can contact the Hasil Careline at 1800 885 436 or 03-7713 6666 (from overseas) or e-mail pengakuansukarela@hasil.gov. my for details.