It’s Tax Season! Here’s a Comprehensive Guide On Claiming Income Tax & How To Get Your Money Back

By Quinny Tan • 01 Apr 2022 in Adulting

Thirsty for JUICE content? Quench your cravings on our Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp

The deadline for e-filing your income tax form is on 15 May 2022, but before that, make sure you claim these tax reliefs and possibly get back some money.

The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) or Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia (LHDN) has announced that e-Filing submissions for Income Tax Returns for the 2021 year of assessment (YA 2021) will start from March 1.

As long as you’ve earned an annual income of RM34,000 or more for the year 2021, there’s no escaping taxes. However, there are tax deductions, tax reliefs, and tax rebates that you can claim in order to reduce your aggregate income, chargeable income, and amount of tax charged.

For first-time taxpayers, you may register for an income tax reference number at the nearest IRBM branch or via e-Daftar.

Documents Required For Registration

A copy of your latest Salary Statement (EA/EC Form) or latest Salary Slip
A copy of your Identification card (IC) / police IC / army IC / international passport
A copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable)

To ease the burden of taxpayers brought about by the economic challenges of the pandemic, new tax reliefs and extensions of previous short-term ones have been imposed to help you maximise tax refunds.

Take note that the deadline for e-filing submissions of Form BE (for individuals with employment income only) is 15 May 2022. If you are an individual with business income or more than one source of income (one of which includes a business), then you will only need to submit Form B. The e-filing deadline for Form B is 15 July 2022.

With that, read on for the full list of tax reliefs you can claim for the year 2021:

Individual: RM9,000

Medical expenses for parents: ≤RM8,000

Husband/Wife/Alimony: ≤RM4,000

Education fees (self): RM7,000

Eligible if you are paying for your own course of study at a recognised institution in Malaysia that applies to either:

Masters or Doctorate: Any course
Non-Masters or Doctorate: Courses in law, accounting, Islamic financing, technical, vocational, industrial, scientific or technology
Any course of study taken for the purpose of upskilling or self-enhancement, conducted by a recognised body (restricted to RM1,000)

Medical Expenses: ≤RM8,000

For serious diseases* for self, spouse or child
Medical expenses for fertility treatment for self or spouse
Complete medical examination for self, spouse, child (restricted to RM1,000)
Vaccination expenses for self, spouse, child (including Covid-19 vaccines and booster shots) (restricted to RM1,000)
Covid-19 detection test and vaccination expenses for self, spouse, child (restricted to RM1,000)

*Examples of “serious diseases” include AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, leukaemia, heart attack, major organ transplant, etc.

Lifestyle—for self, spouse or child: ≤RM2,500

This category applies to:

Books, journals, magazines, printed newspapers and other similar publications
Personal computer, smartphone or tablet
Payment of your monthly internet bill/subscription (under own name)
Gym memberships and purchase of sports equipment

Lifestyle—tech: ≤RM2,500

If you purchased a computer, smartphone or tablet for yourself, a spouse or child—and they’re not for business use—you’ll be eligible for additional tax relief*.

*This was added to aid those who had to switch to WFH or online schooling during the pandemic.

Domestic travel expenses: ≤RM1,000

Don’t forget to claim this tax relief if you’ve stayed at an accommodation registered with the Commissioner of Tourism OR paid entrance fee(s) to a tourist attraction.

This applies to expenses incurred from 1 March 2020 until 31 December 2021.

Breastfeeding equipment: ≤RM1,000

Childcare fee: ≤RM3,000

Child (Below 18 years old): RM2,000

Child (18 years old and above): RM2,000

Child (18 years old and above): RM8,000

Each unmarried child who is 18 years old and above, and who is pursuing tertiary education:

A diploma or higher (excluding matriculation/ preparatory courses) in Malaysia
An undergraduate, Master’s, or Doctoral degree (or its equivalent) from overseas
Any courses at institutions of higher learning recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)

Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional: ≤RM8,000

Also known as SSPN, it’s a savings plan for parents to invest in their children’s higher education. The tax relief amount is based on the tax deposit, which is the total deposit in 2021 minus the total withdrawal in the same year.

Life insurance and EPF: ≤RM7,000

This is divided into:

Pensionable public servant category — Public servants can claim up to RM7,000 for their life insurance premium
Other than pensionable public servant category — Non-public servants can claim based on two sub-categories: Life insurance premium (≤RM3,000) and EPF (≤RM4,000)

Education and medical insurance: ≤RM3,000

This is different from your life insurance premium. Claimable if you paid for any insurance premium related to education or medical for yourself, spouse or child.

SOCSO: ≤RM350
Your contribution to the Social Security Organisation is eligible for tax relief too. You’ll need your EA form for this (ask your HR if you haven’t received it yet). Enter the amount stated under it on your form. The tax relief for this has been increased from RM250 last year to a maximum of RM350.

Deferred Annuity and Private Retirement Scheme (PRS): ≤RM3,000

Disabled individual: RM6,000
This tax relief is applicable for individuals who are disabled and registered with the Department of Social Welfare (JKM).

Basic supporting equipment for disabled self/dependants: RM6,000

Purchases of supporting equipment for disabled self or dependants (disabled spouse, children or parents) are eligible for a tax relief of up to RM6,000. Similarly, the disabled individual/dependant(s) have to be registered with the Department of Social Welfare (JKM).

Disabled husband/wife: RM5,000

Disabled child: RM6,000

Reminder: Keep your receipts!

It is a taxpayer’s responsibility to keep all the following documents and receipts for at least seven years after filing your Income Tax Return Form (ITRF):