By M. KRISHNAMOORTHY and YONG AI WEN

KUALA LUMPUR: Almost half a million taxpayers have filed their returns through the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) online filing system so far.

Some 450,000 people had e-Filed their returns by yesterday afternoon, IRB public relations officer Najlah Ishak said.

She said there were two ways to overcome any income tax returns filing problems.

Taxpayers can go online at http://e.hasil.org.my, and if they have problems logging in they can visit the nearest IRB office which will be open from 8am to 10pm today and tomorrow. The deadline for filing returns is tomorrow.

Secondly, those who encounter online congestion can download the form from the website, fill it in and send it to the IRB office.

She said that because many of the taxpayers had resorted to e-filing at the eleventh hour, there was some congestion on the website.

“If you have any problem with your Internet connection, please go the nearest IRB office and our customer service staff will help you.

“The waiting time is not too long, and within 30 minutes you can e-file your returns at our offices,” she said.

For those who are not familiar with e-Filing, there is a demo manual or guide on the website.

“If you do not remember your password, the customer service counter can help you,” Najlah added.

Former IRB officer Stanley Selvakumar said that he had helped more than 50 people file their tax returns online as it was an easy, fast and safe system.

“We are equipped to face the last- minute rush. We have more computers and laptops and customer service officers to help the public,” Najlah said.

PETALING JAYA: There won’t be any extension of the Monday deadline for filing your income tax.

Inland Revenue Board (IRB) offices will be open today and tomorrow until 10pm to serve last-minute taxpayers.

IRB public relations officer Najlah Ishak said taxpayers were encouraged to e-File their returns at the offices and could also seek the assistance of their customer service personnel.

She added that those who had forgotten their e-Filing number could still register for a new one at any IRB office.

Several taxpayers complained that they could not get into the website as they had forgotten their PIN.

Najlah said IRB customer service counters atl their offices would assist anyone seeking help.

With the last-minute rush yesterday, it took some people a long time to get into the system.

Several taxpayers also complained that they had difficulty getting to Digicert and that it kept appearing as an “unknown” file.

Some married taxpayers complained that this year they had to get two separate PIN numbers for themselves, whereas last year one number for both was allowed for a married couple.

“We have not received any directive or information from IRB on separate PIN numbers for husband and wife filing together.

“Neither was any information displayed on the website. This being the second year of e-Filing, we expect the department to be better organised in disseminating information on any changes,” said a taxpayer who had used the e-Filing facility.

Tax consultant Datuk Dr V. Shanmuganathan said a lot of people had complained on the shortcomings of the e-Filing system and had to wait for hours to access the system.

“Some of them are still not familiar with the system and soon there is going to be a congestion as the deadline nears. The IRB should have provided more extensive training to the public who want to e-File their returns,” he said.

Although the title of this article might seem a bit weird as it’s the last thing anyone wants to do but nevertheless many people are already doing this successfully on an annual basis. It would prove to be both humorous and enlightening to a look at some of this common endeavours that the taxpayers take upon themselves every year. One of the most common mistakes that taxpayers make are when it comes to payments. (more…)

Here is some advise for those people that like to leave doing their tax until the last minute, or feel as though it does not really matter what figures they put in. (more…)

Singapore: PEACE of mind comes with a S$7,000-a-year (RM15,900) price tag for coffeeshop owner Oh Tien Fatt – that’s what he pays a number cruncher to keep his taxes straight.

Those hefty accountant’s fees really hurt last year as his barbecue seafood business ended up S$10,000 (RM22,700) in the red, but Oh still felt it was better to get the numbers in order for the taxman. (more…)

KUALA LUMPUR: Having declared your earnings to the taxman, you wear a satisfied smile.

Then comes a notice from the Inland Revenue Board that sends shock waves throughout your body. (more…)

By DR JEYAPALAN KASIPILLAI

While exempting property transactions from real property gains tax (RPGT) will provide a boost to the real estate sector, the move may also spur greater market speculation. In view of this, the Government’s move to exempt rather than repeal RPGT may provide a safety net over the long term. (more…)

Users vexed by network congestion and download delays when filing their tax returns online last year won’t experience the same problem again—at least this is what Malaysia’s Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has promised. (more…)

By TEH ENG HOCK, News

JOHOR BARU: She may be computer illiterate but when it comes to filing her income tax returns, she goes e-Filing.

Tailor Hong Poh Chin, 34, was at the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) office here to collect the forms.

The staff persuaded her to file the returns online. (more…)

Many people don’t realize it, but there are infact two vastly different tax systems in this country…..no I am not talking about Corporate Tax and Individual Tax. I am talking about the 2 Tax systems that society has created for itself, both of which are perfectly legal. Let’s call them the ‘Educated Tax System’, and the ‘Uneducated Tax System’. The ‘Educated Tax System’ has been created by those who want to understand the tax system and want arrange their affairs so that they can minimise their tax. On the other side is the ‘Uneducated Tax System’, which was created by those that either don’t know or don’t care, for those that pay their taxes, this generally means they will pay more Tax than they need to each year. The difference is like night and day. (more…)