GST in Malaysia Essay

In Malaysian Tax System, Royal Custom & Excise Department is responsible for all policies related of Goods and Services Tax (GST). Currently, the rate of GST can be category to 3 rates which are standard rate, zero rate and exempt supplies. (Gst.customs.gov.my, 2014) GST can only be charged on the business was registered under the Malaysian Goods and Services Act 2014. The registration exemption is given if the business’s annual turnover of taxable supplier is below than the GST registration threshold. Thus, such businesses cannot charge GST on their products or services from their customers. (Gst.customs.gov.my, 2014) The GST registration is available from 1st June 2014 for any businesses which have reach the GST registration threshold of more than RM500, 000 are required to register under with Royal Malaysian Customs Department for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) before 31st December 2014. Nevertheless, the business with annual turnover below RM500, 000 may apply for the GST voluntary registration that is because registration GST is voluntary. (HengAnn, 2014) There are no any extra fees charged for GST registration processing. Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Value-Added Tax (VAT) are a type of consumption tax had been invented in 1950’s. Both of GST and VAT are based on value added concept and it is a multi-stage tax, so GST or VAT will charge at each stage of supplies chain. Currently, there are 160 countries had implemented GST or VAT and from this statistic has shown that GST and VAT are an effective and fair tax system. According to the data shows based on the region, 160 countries had implemented GST or VAT are as the following countries: 7 countries in ASEAN, 19 countries in Asia, 53 countries in Europe, 7 countries in Oceania, 44 countries in Africa, 11 countries in South America and 19 countries in Caribbean, Central and North America. On 7th April 2014, the Goods and Services Tax was passed in Dewan Rakyat Malaysia with 119 votes for and 81 votes against. Start from 1st April 2015, GST will effective at a standard tax rate of 6%. The propose of implementation GST will replace the current consumption taxes which are Government Sales Tax (10%) and Services Tax (6%).