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Single Tier Company Income Tax System

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1.0 Introduction

Singapore already start adopting a one-tier corporate tax system effect from 1 January 2003. In Malaysia, it is referred as the ‘single tier’ system. The government allowed a six-year transitional period to enable companies with unutilized dividend franking credits to pay franked dividends. From 1 January 2008, all resident companies in Singapore will come under the one-tier system. Meanwhile, other countries including Hong Kong, Ireland and also Malaysia are adopting the one-tier system effective from 1 January 2014.

Generally, the Malaysian dividend system has undergone a complete overhaul in 2008 with the objective of providing companies, shareholders and the government with a simple, transparent, efficient and …show more content…

It is indicates company has to involve additional expenditure. Similarly, any excess in the dividend payment for capital gains over the tax credit balance will cause the company to incur the s 108 charge. This is no tax efficient to the company and increase the cost of dividend payment.

While, the fourth advantage is shareholders whose marginal tax rate is at 27% will not be paying additional tax on dividend. As a comparison to previous imputation system, the income tax payment by company is imputed as tax credit to individual shareholders upon dividend payments, which is YA 2009, 25% of the dividend income. However, the individual shareholders with the marginal tax rate of 27% will end up paying an additional 2% of tax dividend income received. With effective from YA 2009, an individual is assessed on 27% tax rate if is chargeable income exceeded RM100, 000.

Fifth, it simplifies the job of tax authorities. Now, tax authorities does not need to process tax refunds to the shareholders. Thus, the tax authorities are freed up to focus their time and effort in particular the areas, such as tax audit to ensure complete tax compliance by taxpayers in a self-assessment system.

The sixth advantage is single tier dividend system is business friendly, economical and tax efficient as companies are no longer requires to maintain tax credit balance for dividend payment. A portion of tax administration

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