All expat workers in Malaysia have fulfilled their tax obligations: JIM

In fact, IRB statistics showed that taxes collected from expats have increased yearly up until 2019.

Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud, Director-General of Malaysia's Immigration Department (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia, or JIM), has shared that there are currently no records of expatriate (expat) workers in the country failing to pay their taxes.

Mentioning this during a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing between JIM and Inland Revenue Board (IRB), the DG reminded that all expat workers are required to show that they have fulfilled their tax obligations before being able to renew their expat passes.

According to The Star, the MOU, signed by DG Khairul and IRB Chief Executive Officer Datuk Mohd Nizom Sairi on Tuesday (9 August), aims to facilitate information sharing on expats between the two parties.

As cited in a separate report by Bernama, IRB statistics showed that taxes collected from expats have increased yearly, from RM1.06bn in 2014, to RM3.6bn in 2019. However, taxes collected from expats in 2020 and 2021 dropped to RM3.1bn and RM2.5bn respectively as a result of the pandemic. 

The MOU will be effective for three years, lasting until 2025. It is an extension of the first MOU signed between the two parties on 19 June 2014. 

As part of this MOU, information such names, nationalities, passport numbers, records of exit forms and entry into Malaysia, and period of validity from passes will be available for sharing.

As of the date of signing, there are now 162,170 individuals holding active expat passes, of which 99,200 are principal pass holders and the remaining 62,970 are dependant pass holders, Bernama reported.

Photo / Malaysia Immigration Department's Facebook