Below is a summary of the updated tax structure:
Sales Tax | 0% (Exempted Items)
Essential goods such as:
- Poultry and seafood: chicken, beef, mutton, fish, prawns, squid
- Food staples: vegetables, local fruits, rice, barley, oats, wheat, flour, sugar, salt, white bread, pasta, noodles, instant noodles
- Household items: cooking oil, canned sardines, milk
- Medical needs: medicine, medical devices
- Reading materials and pet food
Also exempted:
- Construction materials: cement, stones, sand
- Agricultural sector: fertilisers, pesticides, machinery for agriculture and livestock
5% Sales Tax | Applies to selected non-essential and luxury goods:
- Certain seafood and imported items: king crabs, salmon, cod, truffles, imported fruits
- Specialty goods: essential oils, silk
- Equipment: industrial machinery
10% Sales Tax | Levied on:
- Road bicycles
- Antique hand-painted artworks
Service Tax
1. Rental or Leasing Services – 8%
Applies to service providers with annual income exceeding *RM500,000*.
Exemptions:
- Residential building rentals
- Reading materials, financial leases, and overseas asset leases
- MSMEs with turnover under RM500,000
- Business-to-business (B2B) transactions
- Non-reviewable contracts (12-month exemption)
2. Construction Services – 6%
For providers with contracts exceeding RM1.5 million.
Exemptions:
- Residential buildings and public housing-related amenities
- B2B transactions
- Non-reviewable contracts (12-month exemption)
3. Financial Services – 8%
Applies to fee- or commission-based services.
Exemptions:
- Basic financial services for Malaysians
- Islamic financing (profit-based)
- Foreign exchange, remittances, capital market gains
- Export-related financing and specific insurance/takaful services
- B2B and Bursa Malaysia/Labuan-related services
4. Private Healthcare – 6%
Applies to private medical, traditional and complementary medicine, and allied health services for foreigners from providers with income over RM1.5 million.
5. Education Services – 6%
Applies to:
- Private preschools, primary and secondary schools with annual fees exceeding RM60,000 per student
- Private higher education institutions *for international students*
Exemption:
- All Malaysian students
- Disabled Malaysian students in private schools
6. Beauty Services – 8%
Includes hairdressing, facial treatments, and similar services from providers earning over RM500,000 annually.
This expansion of SST is aimed at broadening the tax base while protecting essential goods and services.
Source : Bernama
Image Credit : Sinar Harian , YouTube Papa Li , Astro Awani