by Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, April 19: Inland Revenue Board (IRB) Sarawak expects to collect RM6.8 billion in income tax revenue for 2023, compared to RM6.6 billion in 2022.
In revealing this, Federal Deputy Minister of Finance I, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said IRB Sarawak could use three approaches to help them to achieve the target.
“First, IRB Sarawak could use the Voluntary Disclosure Programme (PPS) effective from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024.
“This would involve 50,000 taxpayers across the whole country and not only from Sarawak. The estimated collection could be RM1 billion or more,” he said.
“I hope Sarawak taxpayers will come to the respective IRB Sarawak branches and use this programme to settle their income tax payment. This could help IRB Sarawak achieve the target collection of RM6.8 billion,” he added.
He told reporters this at a press conference today after his first working visit to IRB Training Academy Kuching. He also presented Hari Raya Aidilfitri contributions from IRB to 30 needy recipients at the academy.
Meanwhile, Ahmad explained that the second approach for income tax collection is through the AES programme which stands for Awareness, Education, and Services.
He noted that the Hasil Recovery Call Centre (HRCC) could make a telephone call to individual taxpayers concerning their outstanding income tax payment and resolve how they could settle it without incurring any penalty.
Ahmad said the third approach would be direct intervention, that is to discuss and negotiate directly with taxpayers on how to settle income tax which is due.
“I would encourage taxpayers who have not settled their income tax that is already due to come forward and to join the PPS programme from June 1, 2023 to 31 May, 2024 as there would be a zero per cent penalty.
“This is an opportunity to settle your outstanding income tax given by this unity government,” he said.
Also present was the IRB Sarawak Director Viyayen Nagalingham. — DayakDaily
