Individual income tax in Malaysia for the year of assessment 2025
- GSK & Associates
- 7 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Individual tax due dates, tax residence status, rates of tax, tax reliefs and tax rebates for resident individuals for the year of assessment 2025.
1. Year of assessment (YA) for Individual
Liability to tax is determined on a calendar-year basis, which is the same as the basis year, i.e., 1 January to 31 December every year.
The basic distinction in tax treatment of an Individual between resident and non-resident in Malaysia is as follows:
Item | Resident | Non-resident |
Tax rate | Tax at the scale rate as per the table below, refer to No. 4 (a) | Business and employment income is taxed at a flat rate of 30% |
Dividend income | Starting from 1 January 2025: Annual dividend income exceeding RM100,000 received from Malaysian resident companies is subject to 2% tax | Starting from 1 January 2025: Annual dividend income exceeding RM100,000 received from Malaysian resident companies is subject to 2% tax |
Personal tax reliefs | Entitled to claim | Not entitled to claim |
Rebates | Entitled to claim rebate if chargeable income does not exceed RM35,000 | Not entitled to claim |
2. Due dates for submission of the income tax return form (ITRF) and payment of the balance of tax:
ITRF | Type of income | Statutory due date | Grace period |
BE / BT | Resident individuals who have income other than business income | 30 April 2026 | 15 days - from the statutory due date for submission of ITRF via e-filing and payment of the balance of tax |
B / BT | Resident individuals who have business income | 30 June 2026 | 15 days - from the statutory due date for submission of ITRF via e-filing and payment of the balance of tax |
P | Partnerships | 30 June 2026 | 15 days - from the statutory due date for submission of ITRF via e-filing and payment of the balance of tax |
M / MT | Non-resident individuals. |
| 15 days - from the statutory due date for submission of ITRF via e-filing and payment of the balance of tax |
TF / TP | Associations / Deceased person's estate |
| 15 days - from the statutory due date for submission of ITRF via e-filing and payment of the balance of tax |
3. Tax residence status of individuals in Malaysia
Section 7 of the Income Tax Act, 1967 (ITA) sets down 4 circumstances for an individual to be considered as a tax resident in Malaysia as follows:
Section 7 (1) (a) - An individual who is in Malaysia for 182 days or more in a basis year.
Section 7 (1) (b) - An individual who is in Malaysia for less than 182 days in a basis year and that period is linked to another period of 182 days or more consecutive days in the following or preceding basis year. Temporary absences in Malaysia due to the following reasons are counted as part of the consecutive days, provided that the individual is in Malaysia before and after each temporary absence:
- business trips
- treatment for ill-health
- social visits not exceeding 14 days
Section 7 (1) (c) - An individual who is in Malaysia for 90 days or more in that basis year and in any 3 of the 4 immediately preceding years of assessment either: i) he is a resident in Malaysia for that basis year in question; or ii) he was in Malaysia for at least 90 days or more in that basis year in question.
Section 7 (1) (d) - An individual who has never actually been in Malaysia at all during that basis year, provided he is a resident for the immediately following basis year and had been resident for the 3 immediately preceding basis years.
4. Tax rates - individual income tax in Malaysia for the year 2025
a. Resident individuals
Chargeable Income (RM) | Calculations (RM) | Rate (%) | Tax (RM) |
0 - 5,000 | On the first 5,000 | 0 | 0 |
5,001 - 20,000 | On the first 5,000 Next 15,000 | 1 | 0 150 |
20,001 - 35,000 | On the first 20,000 Next 15,000 | 3 | 150 450 |
35,001 - 50,000 | On the first 35,000 Next 15,000 | 6 | 600 900 |
50,001 - 70,000 | On the first 50,000 Next 20,000 | 11 | 1,500 2,200 |
70,001 - 100,000 | On the first 70,000 Next 30,000 | 19 | 3,700 5,700 |
100,001 - 400,000 | On the first 100,000 Next 300,000 | 25 | 9,400 75,000 |
400,001 - 600,000 | On the first 400,000 Next 200,000 | 26 | 84,400 52,000 |
600,001 - 2,00,000 | On the first 600,000 Next 1,400,000 | 28 | 136,400 392,000 |
Exceeding 2,000,000 | On the first 2,000,000 Next ringgit | 30 | 528,400 ----------- |
b. Non-resident individuals
Types of income | Rate (%) |
Public entertainer's professional income | 15 |
Interest | 15 |
Royalties | 10 |
Special classes of income, such as rental income, advice, assistance or services rendered in Malaysia | 10 |
Dividend | Starting from 1 January 2025: Annual dividend income exceeding RM100,000 received from Malaysian resident companies is subject to 2% tax |
Employment income, business income and other gains or profits | 30 |
Income other than the above | 10 |
5. Tax reliefs for resident individuals
Types of reliefs | RM (maximum relief) |
Self | 9,000 |
Disabled self - additional relief | 6,000 |
Spouse | 4,000 |
Disabled spouse - additional relief | 5,000 |
Payment of alimony to former wife | 4,000 |
Per child, unmarried: | |
- below 18 years old | 2,000 |
- over 18 years old and receiving full-time education for e.g. A-levels, certificate, matriculation or preparatory courses) | 2,000 |
- receiving further education in Malaysia in respect of diploma or higher (excluding matriculation and preparatory courses) OR - receiving further education outside Malaysia in respect of degree or its equivalent (including Master or Doctorate) - the education establishment shall be approved by the Government | 8,000 |
Per child, mentally or physically disabled: | |
- unmarried | 6,000 |
- and if over 18 years of age and pursuing the following qualification in higher education institute that is approved by the government: - diploma level and above in Malaysia; OR - degree level and above outside Malaysia, OR | additional 8,000 |
Life insurance | - Private individuals - 3,000 - Civil servants under pensionable scheme - 7,000 ( a combined maximum relief for contributions made to Takaful, life insurance and voluntary EPF contributions). |
Employees' provident fund (EPF) | - Private individuals - 4,000, including voluntary contributions by self-employed individuals) |
Private retirement scheme (PRS) and deferred annuity | 3,000 |
Education or medical insurance | 4,000 |
Medical treatment, special needs or carer expenses for parents (to be certified by a medical practitioner) | 8,000 |
Employee’s contribution to Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) and Employment Insurance System (EIS) | 350 |
Medical expenses for: - self, spouse or child with serious diseases - self or spouse on fertility treatment - self, spouse or child on vaccination, complete medical examination, COVID-19 detection test kit and mental health examinations or consultations - maximum relief of RM1,000 | 8,000 |
Education fees for self: - Other than a degree at Masters or Doctorate level; course of study in law, accounting, Islamic financing, technical, vocational, industrial, scientific or technological - Degree at Masters or Doctorate level; any course of study - Course of study undertaken for the purpose of upskilling or self-enhancement - maximum relief of RM2,000 | 7,000 |
Purchase of supporting equipment for self (if a disabled person) or for disabled spouse, child or parent | 6,000 |
Lifestyle expenses for the use/benefit of self, spouse or child in respect of: - purchase or subscription of books, journals, magazines, newspaper and other similar publications (in the form of hardcopy or electronic) - purchase of personal computer, smartphone or tablet (not for business use) - purchase of sports equipment and gym memberships, and - internet subscription (under own name) | 2,500 |
Purchase of breastfeeding equipment for own use and for a child aged 2 years and below (deduction allowed once in every 2 years of assessment) | 1,000 |
Fees paid to childcare centre and kindergarten for a child aged 6 years and below | 3,000 |
Net deposit into the Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional (total deposit in 2025 less total withdrawals in 2025) | 8,000 |
Domestic tourism expenses on accommodation, entrance fee to tourist attractions and domestic tour package. | 1,000 |
Additional relief for the purchase of a personal computer, smartphone or tablet, not for business use | 2,500 |
Additional relief for the purchase of sports equipment, entry/rental fees for sports facilities and registration fees for sports competition | 500 |
Expenses related to electric vehicle charging facilities, not for business use. | 2,500 |
Payment of housing loan interest for first home ownership (Sale and purchase agreement from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027): Relief Limit: i. Residential house price up to RM500,000 or ii. Residential house price exceeding RM500,000 up to RM750,000 | 7,000 5,000 |
6. Tax rebates for resident individuals
Types of rebate | RM |
Individual's chargeable income does not exceed RM35,000 | 400 |
If husband and wife are separately assessed and each chargeable income does not exceed RM35,000 | 400 (each) |
If husband and wife are jointly assessed and the joint chargeable income does not exceed RM35,000 | 800 |
Rebate for Zakat, Fitrah or other Islamic religious due paid | Actual amount expended |
Rebate for departure levy paid for performing umrah and for religious pilgrimage by followers of other religions | Actual amount expended (twice in a lifetime) |
The above rebate granted is deducted from the tax charged, and any excess is not refundable.
For historical data with regard to tax reliefs and matters with regard to individual income tax in Malaysia, click the following link:
All information contained herein is summarised based on the information published by LHDN, as updated on 6 April 2026 in its website and it is intended to provide a general overview of the subject matter and should not be regarded as a basis for ascertaining the tax liability in specific circumstances or as a a basis for formulating business decisions. No responsibility for loss to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication can be accepted by GSK & Associates. Readers should not act on the basis of this publication without seeking professional advice.
Should you require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us at 03-6416 0151 or email to gunalan@gskassociates.net or Manager whom you are accustomed to dealing with.
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