The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) will settle all refunds to taxpayers by December this year, including those outstanding from previous years.

IRB Chief executive office Hasmah Abdullah said a special task force was set up early this year in every state to concentrate solely on getting the refunds out. (more…)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) aims to refund taxpayers, especially for backlogged cases by the end of this year, said its chief executive officer Hasmah Abdullah.

Despite the heavy task ahead, Hasmah said the IRB was determined to give out all refunds as soon as possible with priority given to senior citizens.

“My mission is that there will be no more backlogged refunds that will be carried forward to next year including refunds for 2006.

“We are aware that there are backlogged refunds that are still due from previous years and we are working round the clock to ensure that it is reimbursed quickly,” she said during a press conference here Monday.

She said 70% of refunds, a majority of which was for e-Filing, had already been processed for the 2006 tax year while 53% of refunds from backlogged cases (2005 and before) had already been reimbursed.

Hasmah said IRB aimed to give out e-Filing refunds for the 2006 assessment year by the end of this month while refunds for those who filed their returns by paper and backlogged cases would be given out by the end of this year.

A special task force, she said, had been set up in every state to ensure refunds were processed quickly and in a smooth manner. Hasmah urged those who had yet to receive their backlogged refunds to contact her personally by e-mail at hasmah@hasil.org.my.

The Confederation of Malaysian Brewers Bhd (CMBB), concerned over consumers increasingly switching to compounded hard liquor and home brews due to high prices, has called on the government not to impose any further increase in excise duties for such beverages in Budget 2008. (more…)