Going through Malaysia’s complex business tax system is a big challenge for all companies, no matter if they are big or small. There are many rules to follow and the tax laws keep changing often, so you need to pay close attention and make sure you do everything on time. In such a scenario, having a robust tax management system becomes indispensable.
This is where Xero steps in, offering a suite of features tailored to automate tax calculations and filing processes. The tax journey is thus simplified for Malaysian businesses. Additionally, we will also be showing you how FastLane can assist you in adopting and using this powerful cloud accounting solution.
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Challenges of Navigating Malaysia’s Complex Tax System
The tax system in Malaysia is known for being very complicated, which creates many difficulties for companies. Understanding the details of Sales and Services Tax (SST) and following the rules for income tax properly are some of the complex issues that businesses usually have to deal with.
In addition, Malaysia’s tax authorities, Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) frequently issue updates to tax laws. Keeping abreast of the latest amendments and understanding their implications on business operations can be overwhelming, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited resources.
Here are some of the common challenges faced:
Complex Tax Regulations
Malaysian tax laws are complex and make things hard for individuals and businesses alike. To keep track of the always updating tax codes and guidelines is tough, because businesses must understand many parts like provisions, exceptions, reductions, and reporting obligations. Additionally, tax law interpretation is often complicated for people who don’t have expertise in finance or accounting. Many times, those paying taxes need help from experts, which can be expensive.
Tight Deadlines
Balancing business responsibilities with tax deadlines is tough. Every year, Form EA needs to be submitted to your employees by 28 February. This is their individual statement of remuneration. In addition, Form E which states the employee tax deductions must be submitted to LHDN by 31 March. Failure to prepare these forms may result in fines of up to RM20,000, imprisonment of up to 6 months, or both.
Record-Keeping Requirements
According to LHDN, taxpayers are supposed to keep all records and documentation for at least 7 years. However, many SMEs fail to do so. A study done by the International Islamic University of Malaysia cited the reasons for lost documents include: documents destroyed in fire, lost in flood, eaten by termites and lost/misplaced during office relocation.
Tax Accuracy and Compliance by Employees
Preparation of tax calculations manually is difficult for all but the largest corporations. For one, the sheer volume and ambiguity of tax laws often results in misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Manual computation may also result in calculation errors. Many SMEs don’t bother with this process – instead they hire a tax agent to do these calculations for them every year.
Automate Business Tax Calculations and Filing
For making taxes easier, small and medium enterprises could use cloud accounting software. One main benefit of using this type of accounting is it allows you to work together with your internal team, accountant and tax agent (if applicable). When all financial information is in a single place, everyone has the ability to access and work with that same data at any given moment.
Tax management software like Xero, with over 3.95 million users worldwide, simplifies tax management for SMEs. It gives business owners real-time updates on their finances and performance, making it easy, smart, and secure. With Xero, tax calculations and filings become straightforward, whether it’s corporate income tax, SST, or any other tax. Its user-friendly interface and advanced features help businesses stay on top of their tax responsibilities effortlessly.
Here are some of the benefits you get from using Xero’s software to simplify business taxes:
Precise tax tracking
With Xero’s software, companies are able to keep precise records of their earnings, spending and tax duties as they happen. It can even apply the correct tax rate to the correct type of transaction. This accuracy makes sure all money movements are recorded, reducing chances for mistakes when figuring out taxes. When businesses understand their financial information well, they can do their taxes with precision and avoid possible fines or investigations.
Reporting Made Simple
Xero makes it easier to create detailed tax reports, like sales taxes, tax liabilities, deductions, etc. These reports give important information about the company’s tax position and help with making informed decisions. In addition, the reporting features of Xero can be customized to let businesses make reports fit their requirements.
Simple Tax Payments
Xero works smoothly together with Malaysian financial institutions, making it easier to manage tax payments to LHDN. Companies can set up automated alerts for when they need to pay, which helps avoid extra costs from late payments or fines. Additionally, Xero’s software does the work to figure out the taxes that a business owes using updated tax rules and percentages. This means companies don’t have to spend as much time doing taxes manually.
Compliance and Governance
It is essential for businesses to follow tax laws and rules so they do not face legal problems or financial penalties. Xero helps companies stay current with new tax changes by automatically making the necessary updates and changes. Moreover, Xero offers help and assistance so companies can understand their tax responsibilities, with professional tax guidance from accountants and bookkeepers. Using Xero’s features for compliance allows companies to concentrate on their core operations with confidence that their taxes are managed correctly.
Integration with Business Tax Authorities for Seamless Reporting
Xero has a standout feature where it works together smoothly with Malaysian tax authorities and financial institutions. It connects with the LHDN and RMCD systems, so when you report your finances, it happens in real-time without having to manually enter data which reduces mistakes.
When Xero syncs directly to these systems, it helps businesses file their business tax and do their tax returns on time very accurately. This makes work more efficient and lowers stress about compliance.
Moreover, companies dealing with many transactions can relax because SST is managed automatically, where transaction details are gathered on their own and the appropriate SST percentage gets used. Xero also integrates with point-of-sale systems such as Storehub to make sure that sales records are precisely tracked in real time.
Xero also works with payroll programs such as Kakitangan and PayrollPanda for managing payroll taxes. It assists company owners in the exact calculation of employees’ PCB, making reports more precise and lightening the workload on HR managers.
Furthermore, Xero also meets all the requirements for e-invoicing set by LHDN. With LHDN introducing mandatory e-invoicing in phases starting on 1 August 2024, it’s essential for businesses to make sure they follow these rules before this change happens.
Helping Businesses Stay Compliant and Save Time and Money on Business Tax
Xero’s solution provides advanced tax calculation and automation tools that help companies simplify their tax tasks, allowing them to concentrate on important goals like business growth and success.
With the help of Xero’s automation, companies can stop doing tedious and difficult manual data entry work. This gets rid of mistakes and frees up people to work on strategic projects that generate revenue.
Additionally, Xero provides prompt alerts and reminders so important tax deadlines are not missed. Xero also stays up-to-date with changes to Malaysian tax laws, so businesses aren’t caught unaware. This helps businesses prevent expensive penalties that come from late filings, protecting their financial well-being and reputation.
In short, Xero is like a reliable partner for companies, helping them comply tax rules and also improving their operations. Overall, Xero helps businesses stay compliant with tax rules, boosts efficiency, and saves money in the long term.
The Essential Tool for Business Tax Compliance in Malaysia
In a dynamic business environment like Malaysia, where regulatory requirements evolve constantly, having a reliable tax compliance solution is non-negotiable.
Xero stands out as the top choice for businesses navigating Malaysia’s intricate tax system effortlessly. Its easy-to-use interface, strong features, and seamless integration make tax management simpler and enable businesses to excel in a competitive market. By adopting Xero, Malaysian enterprises can confidently tackle tax compliance, supported by a trusted partner at every stage.
By harnessing the power of technology, Xero empowers businesses to conquer the complexities of the Malaysian business tax system, enabling them to focus on what truly matters: driving business growth and success.
Step Up to Cloud Accounting with FastLane
To help you integrate Xero into your business, FastLane Group is your ideal choice for speed and efficiency.
Founded in 2013, FastLane provides best-in-class services for businesses in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and the rest of ASEAN. We use innovation and technology to offer expert services, helping startups, scale-ups, SMEs, and corporate businesses navigate the complicated tax structure in the region.
As Xero’s Platinum Champion Partner and Certified Xero Advisor, FastLane helps you simplify business tax in Malaysia with an end-to-end solution, transitioning your existing accounting process to Xero’s online platform. All your data will be transferred into Xero, including any offline data, Excel sheets etc to prepare for your audit and tax obligations.
FastLane will even provide a dedicated implementation manager to help facilitate the transition process, ensuring effective delivery and satisfaction when setting up Xero. Additionally, FastLane can help enhance your Xero experience even further, identifying the best third-party applications to integrate with your Xero account, such as payroll software or customer relationship management (CRM) software.
FastLane’s involvement doesn’t stop at implementation. We can provide 1-on-1 training for your team to further understand and become familiar with Xero, fully unlocking its potential. FastLane also provides a dedicated customer service line and WhatsApp chat for support and issue resolution.
Contact FastLane Group for a free consultation now