IRBM considers compulsory e-filing for individuals

The Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRBM) is considering compulsory e-Filing for individual tax payers in the next four years.

IRBM chief executive officer Tan Sri Dr Mohd Shukor Mahfar said a 40 percent increase in e-filing by individual tax payers this year was a positive development towards this end.

"It was 466,000 for 2013. But as of yesterday for this year we have 647,938," he told reporters after delivering the IRBM-CTIM Tax Forum keynote address, Thursday.

Mohd Shukor said the move will, however, depend on the success rate of e-filing made compulsory to all companies for this year of assessment.

But he realises that such idea would be tough to implement as it was a challenge to change the attitude of the masses.

"Its like when you drive through a highway. You have the cash lane, Smart Tag and Touch and Go. You can see which lane is the longest? (cash lane). Unless and until you close that cash lane... this is the attitude. People might be angry at first. This is normal in a transitional period," he said.

But he believed that such a move was possible with more tax payers coming from younger generations and with continuous education of the public.

Mohd Shukor also reminded tax payers to submit their BE Form or B Form on time for this assessment year.

He said those who chose e-filing would have an extra 15 days compared to those who submitted their forms manually.

Tax payers using the manual method need to submit their forms by April 30 for individuals without business income and June 30 for individuals with business income, he said.

Individuals who choose e-filing can do so by May 15 or July 15 for companies, he added.

Mohd Shukor also stated that IRBM was considering publishing the names of tax evaders on their website like in the United Kingdom.

He said this was among the strategies to ensure people paid their taxes.