Did you pay Service Tax (SST) for Imported Taxable Services? (Updated 12/3/2020)

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With effect from 1st January 2019, service tax will be imposed on the imported taxation services into Malaysia (Section 7 of Service tax Act 2018 amended under Finance Act 2018) .

Imported Taxable Service means any Taxable Service acquired by any person in Malaysia from any person who is outside Malaysia (defined under Section 2 of Service tax Act 2018).

In view of foregoing, all businesses (regardless of Sales & Service Tax (SST) registrant or non-SST registrant) are required to self-account for and pay service tax to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (Customs) for imported taxable services

(Section 26A(1)  of Service tax Act 2018 amended under Finance Act 2018) :

26A. (1) Any person other than a taxable person who, in carrying on his business, acquires any imported taxable service shall—
(a) account for the service tax due in a declaration as may be prescribed and the declaration shall be furnished to the Director General; and
(b) pay to the Director General the amount of service tax due and payable by him, not later than the last day of the month following the end of the month in which the payment on the service has been made by him or invoice is received by him.

The standardized tax treatment for services imported and locally supplied by service providers are to ensure fair competition between overseas and local providers of services. As a result, service tax will be borne by Malaysian business (regardless of Sales & Service Tax (SST) registrant or non-SST registrant) for imported taxation services.


When is the Service Tax due for imported taxable services?

At the time when the payment is made or invoice is received for the imported taxable service, whichever is the earlier (Section 11 of the Service Tax Act 2018 amended under Finance Act 2018).


Service Tax Exemption

Description Remarks
Service Tax Policy No 2/2020

 

Service tax exemption on imported taxable service.

Your business may be qualified for service tax exemption if fulfilling the conditions stated in the Service Tax Policy.


Declaration and payment of imported services

SST registrant (business)
– to account for the service tax due for imported taxable service according to the business service taxable period
– to submit SST-02 Form and pay SST not later than the last day of the following month after the taxable period ended.

Non-SST registrant  (business)
– to account for service tax due for imported taxable service
– to submit SST-02A Form and pay SST not later than the last day of the month  following the end of the month in which the payment on the service has been made to service provider or  invoice is received by business, whichever is earlier.


Manual for online declaration and payment.

All business owners can declare their imported taxable services online via MySST portal and make online payment via FPX system. Kindly click the links below.

No. User Manual
1. User manual for online declaration of imported taxable services by a registered person (via Form SST-02)
2. User manual for online declaration of imported taxable services by a person other than a taxable person (via Form SST-02A)

Late Payment Penalty

Number of Late Days Penalty Rate
First 30 Days 10%
Next 30 Days (i.e. 31 – 60 days) + 15%
30 Days Thereafter (i.e. 61 – 90 days) + 15%

Prosecution for the offence may be instituted after the expiry of the period of 90 days.

Important!

  1. Section 27 of the Service Tax Act 2018 empowers Director General of Customs to raise best judgment assessments (i.e. any service tax sum raised by Customs based on Customs best judgment and requesting businesses to pay) if any businesses acquire imported taxable services but “fail to furnish a return” or “furnish an incomplete/ incorrect return”.
  2. “Failure to submit the return (SST 02 / SST 02A Form) by the due date” or “failure to pay the service tax by the due date” or “furnishing the incorrect return” commits an offense and shall on conviction, be liable to fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both under Section 26 of the Service Tax Act 2018.
  3. The company is required to pay “Withholding Tax (WHT) to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB)” in addition to the aforesaid “Service Tax paid to Customs” if the services provided fall within the ambit of WHT scope under Income Tax Act 1967.

e.g. 1 : Advertising services rendered by foreign companies such as digital marketing providers from Google, Facebook and etc. are subject to service tax and also fall within the scope of WHT.   

e.g.2:  Software downloaded/delivered by email from software provider will be classified as “Digital Service (if FRP)/ Imported Taxable Services and subject to “service tax and also WHT”.

Kindly click :  Service Tax on “Digital Services” for importation of digital service into Malaysia.

Kindly click : Service Tax Policy 1/2020 concerning the Expansion of scope of Taxable Services effective from 1st Jan 2020.

Disclaimer: All information above are presented for reference purposes & you are advised to contact the Customs or IRB for further information or your company’s appointed tax agent for more details.