Budget 2023: Government does not neglect M40 group

KUALA LUMPUR: Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz today announced good news for one million taxpayers among the middle-income (M40) households as proof that the government has never neglected the group and always strives to increase the disposable income that the group can benefit from.

When tabling the national budget or the Supply Bill 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat today, the minister said the individual resident income tax rate will be reduced by two percentage points for the taxable income range between more than RM50,000 up to RM100,000.

He said the taxable income range of more than RM50,000 to RM70,000 is reduced from 13 per cent to 11 per cent, while the taxable income range of more than RM70,000 to RM100,000, the rate is lowered from 21 percent to 19 percent.

"At the same time, the taxable income range of more than RM250,000 to RM400,000 will be combined with the range of more than RM400,000 to RM600,000 and be subject to a 25 per cent tax rate.

"With this special income tax treatment, tax savings for the middle-income group is now up to RM1,000 and for the top group is up to RM250. This means an estimated RM800 million is available as excess income for the people to spend," he said.

Tengku Zafrul also said that the e-Pemula M40 initiative will be implemented, which is an e-wallet credit offer of RM100 to the M40 group with an annual income of less than RM100,000 to promote cashless payments.

"It is estimated that eight million individuals are eligible to claim this credit with an allocation of RM800 million," he added.

-- BERNAMA