Cabinet to review issue of staff asked to pay additional tax

MELAKA: The grouses of employees who have been issued letters to settle additional taxes by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) will be brought to the Cabinet’s attention.

Human Resources Ministry Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said he would raise this issue concerning taxpayers who did e-filing several years ago with Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz during the Cabinet meeting.

“I know it will be hard for the affected employees to settle back taxes during this period, especially those facing pay cuts.

“I am sure our Prime Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) will give priority to the people’s welfare,” he said when met after launching Melaka MIC’s annual convention in Ayer Keroh here on Monday night.

However, Saravanan said he had not received any such complaints directly from employees.

“LHDN officers probably issued the letters after checking the status (of taxpayers).

“I will help the employees by bringing up the matter with the Cabinet,” he said.

Meanwhile, Melaka Consumer and Environment Association’s chief K. Murali said some employees had received a letter from LHDN asking them to pay additional taxes amounting to thousands of ringgit.

He said these were taxpayers who had filed their income tax assessments online a few years ago.

“I hope LHDN will give these employees a chance to appeal as many are facing financial constraints with no jobs or pay cuts due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Murali also pointed out that most employees were subjected to monthly tax deductions and any discrepancies in e-filing could have been detected by LHDN before tax refunds were made.

“Some taxpayers could have made genuine mistakes when keying in the tax exemptions under e-filing and LHDN should trace the record of taxpayers if they had been sincerely declaring their income in previous assessments,” he added.