KUCHING, Feb 8: DAP Sarawak is filing a complaint to the Finance Ministry about Inland Revenue Board (IRB) going after a taxpayer despite the seven years limitation.
DAP Sarawak chief Chong Chieng Jen said the case involved a taxpayer named Tsai, who has been penalised under Section 113(2) of Income Tax Act, even though the transaction performed has passed a limitation of seven years.
“I have today personally submitted the appeal to the Minister of Finance against the oppressive and unfair tax collection practice of IRB in going beyond seven years (up to 20 years) against a taxpayer, Mr. Tsai.
“This may be a case that is personal to Mr. Tsai, it may also happen to anyone of us who has a parcel of land and may in future wish to sell to a developer in exchange for some houses built by the developer on the land.
“Furthermore, the oppressive and unfair act of IRB going after a taxpayer beyond the 7-year limitation will also affect anyone carrying out legitimate businesses or earning legitimate income,” said Chong in a statement today.
He said on Nov 17, 2020, Tsai was issued the notice for the following additional taxes in respect of the Years of Assessment hereinbelow listed:
| Date of Assessment | Year of Assessment | Tax Raised
(RM) |
Penalty under Sec. 113(2) of Income Tax Act (RM) | Total Tax Payable
(RM) |
| 17/11/2020 | 2000 | 95,373.48 | 42,918.07 | 138,291.55 |
| 17/11/2020 | 2007 | 214,958.30 | 96,731.24 | 311,689.54 |
| 17/11/2020 | 2011 | 64,792.00 | 22,372.92 | 87,164.92 |
| 17/11/2020 | 2015 | 7,500.00 | 163.78 | 7,663.78 |
| 17/11/2020 | 2018 | 25,741.44 | 11,583.65 | 37,325.09 |
| TOTAL | 408,365.22 | 173,769.66 | 582,135.88 |
Chong who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said the additional tax arose because in November, 2020, the IRB re-classified the “Real Property Gains Tax” (RPGT) in the disposal of Tsai’s land during those years to his “personal income”.
He said despite Tsai having had during those years submitted the RPGT returns to the IRB and had, in some cases, paid the RPGT on the gains, the IRB now turned around and re-classified the “gains” on the disposal of land to “personal income” and imposed additional income tax.
To illustrate the case, Chong brought up an example. A bought land in 1990 at the price of RM100,000.00. A then sold the land in year 2010 at the price of RM500,000.00 and thereby making a gain of RM400,000.
Under RPGT Act, as A disposed his land 20 years after his acquisition in 1990 (i.e. after 5 years of acquisition), there is no RPGT payable on the gain.
“However, under Income Tax, A is treated as having earned an income of RM400,000 in year 2010. For the gain above RM100,000, he will have to pay tax at the rate of 26%. That means, A has to pay at least 26% x RM300,000 = RM78,000 income tax,” said Chong who is also Stampin MP.
He pointed out that in the case of Tsai, notwithstanding that the re-classification was only done in 2020, he has immediately imposed a 45 per cent on the additional tax which was imposed on him because of the re-classification by IRB.
This is not a case of tax evasion but that Tsai has fully complied with the law by reporting to the IRB his transaction on the land and the IRB has during those years accepted them as RPGT, Chong said.
“In fact, under the Income Tax law, a taxpayer is only obliged to keep his accounts up to seven years. This was made very clear during the Pakatan Harapan government’s time. But the Perikatan Nasional Government seems to have a different view.
“If the IRB were allowed to re-classify transactions entered into 20 years ago and start taxing the taxpayer, this will impose too heavy a burden on the taxpayer and is most unfair. In the long-run, to the macro-economy of the country, such oppressive and unfair tax practices of IRB will also deter investments in the country.
“As such, I view the case as one that has a wide-ranging effect against the people and the country’s economy as a whole and thus personally submit the appeal to the Minister of Finance,” said Chong. — DayakDaily
