Individual Income Tax Return Season - YA 2009 - Reliefs

Long time no see my friends!

Since now is reaching the Individual Income Tax Return season (for employment income earners only, like me!), I guess it's time to remind you, if you own a company, that you are obliged to distribute EA form to your employees by end of February 2010.

For individuals whom are still trying to find out the reliefs (only for residents!), here's a complete but simple table for you to know what can be exempted:-

• Personal relief  - RM8,000
• Further self relief - disabled - RM6,000
• Wife / Husband relief  - RM3,000
• Further wife/ husband relief - disabled - RM3,500
• Parents’ medical expenses (maximum)  - RM5,000 
• Disabled relief (maximum) - RM5,000 (for purchase of basic supporting equipment for self, wife, child or parent)
• Expenses on supporting unmarried children:
• Below 18 years of age - RM1,000
• Disabled child - RM5,000
• Over 18 years old (pursuing tertiary education at university or college) - RM4,000
• Life insurance and/or contributions to approved provident funds (maximum) - RM6,000
• Handicapped child reliefs - RM5,000
• Medical/education insurance (maximum) - RM3,000
• Annuity premium on annuity purchased through EPF Annuity Scheme - RM1,000
• Purchase of books & similar publication - RM1,000 (maximum)
• Fee of acquiring law, accounting, Islamic finance, technical, vocational, industrial, scientific or technological skills or qualification. In cases of post graduate studies, no restrictions on the field of study. - RM5,000
• Purchase of books, journals and magazines and other similar publication (excluding newspapers) - RM1,000
• Purchase of computer for once every three years with effect from the year of assessment 2007 - RM3,000

The tax charged on a resident individual is reduced by way of the following rebates:

1. An individual with a chargeable income not exceeding RM35,000 enjoys a rebate of RM350. Where the wife is not working or the wife's income is jointly assessed, she also enjoys a further rebate of RM350. Similarly, a wife who is assessed separately will also enjoy a RM350 rebate, provided her chargeable income does not exceed RM35,000. Effective year of assessment 2009, the rebate shall be increased from RM350 to RM400. 
2. Any fee paid to the government for the issue of an employment pass, visit pass or work permit.