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SST Registration Checker

Find out if your business needs to register for Sales and Service Tax based on your annual taxable turnover.

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Tax Deadline Calculator

See your next 3 tax deadlines based on your business type, with countdown timers and penalty information.

Monthly Financial Checklist

Track your essential monthly financial tasks. Your progress saves automatically—come back anytime.

Bank accounts reconciled
Invoices issued for completed work
Receipts organized and digitized
Payroll processed
SST return filed (if applicable)
Management accounts reviewed
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Key Deadlines

Never miss a deadline again

Important dates for Malaysian businesses. We know deadlines are stressful—that's why we list them clearly.

SST
Corporate Tax
SSM
EPF / SOCSO / EIS
Deadline What to file Who Penalty if missed
15th (bimonthly) SST-02 Return SST registrants RM200/day late
30 April Form B (Individual / Sole Prop) Sole proprietors 10% surcharge + RM200-RM20,000
30 June / 7 months after FYE Form C (Corporate Tax) Sdn Bhd, LLP 10% surcharge + RM200-RM20,000
15th (monthly) EPF, SOCSO, EIS contributions All employers Varies by scheme
Within 30 days of AGM Annual Return (AR) All Sdn Bhd RM100-RM1,000
30 days before month-end CP204 (Tax Estimate) Companies with chargeable income 10% increase in tax
Practical Guides

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Real content you can read right here. No email gates, no PDFs—just useful information.

SST Registration & Compliance

6 sections • 8 min read

You must register for SST if your annual taxable turnover exceeds RM500,000. This includes:

  • Service Tax (6%): Professional services, digital services, F&B, accommodation, etc.
  • Sales Tax (5-10%): Manufacturing of taxable goods

Registration must be done within 28 days of exceeding the threshold. Use our SST Checker tool above to see if you qualify.

Registration is done through the MySST portal:

  • Visit mysst.customs.gov.my
  • Click "SST-01 Registration" under Services
  • Complete company details, business activities, and banking info
  • Upload supporting documents (Form 9/24, IC copy)
  • Submit and await approval (typically 3-5 working days)

Once approved, you'll receive your SST registration number.

Service Tax applies to:

  • Professional services (legal, accounting, consulting)
  • IT services and digital platforms
  • Hotels and accommodation
  • Food & beverage (dine-in)
  • Telecommunications

Sales Tax applies to: Locally manufactured goods (not services). Most common rate is 10%, with some items at 5%.

SST returns (SST-02) are filed bimonthly:

  • Jan-Feb → Due 15 March
  • Mar-Apr → Due 15 May
  • May-Jun → Due 15 July
  • Jul-Aug → Due 15 September
  • Sep-Oct → Due 15 November
  • Nov-Dec → Due 15 January

Payment must be made together with filing through FPX or bank transfer.

  • Late registration: Must register within 28 days of exceeding threshold
  • Wrong classification: Ensure you're registered for correct tax type
  • Missing filing deadline: Set reminders for the 15th of filing months
  • Incorrect invoicing: SST-registered businesses must show SST separately
  • Not tracking exempt supplies: Keep records of zero-rated/exempt transactions

Late filing: RM200 per day, up to a maximum penalty

Late payment: 10% surcharge on outstanding amount

To appeal: Submit written appeal to RMCD within 30 days of penalty notice. Include explanation and supporting documents. First-time offenders with valid reasons often receive reduced penalties.

Startup Financial Setup

5 sections • 6 min read

Required documents:

  • SSM registration documents (Form 9, Form 24, Form 49)
  • IC copies of all directors
  • Company rubber stamp
  • Board resolution for account opening

Recommended banks for startups: Maybank (widest network), CIMB (good digital services), or fintech-friendly options like Aspire or Wise for multi-currency.

For startups, we recommend:

  • Xero: Best for tech startups, investor-friendly reports, great integrations
  • QuickBooks: Good balance of features and price
  • SQL Accounting: If you need Malaysian-specific features and SST modules

Don't overcomplicate—spreadsheets work fine until you hit ~50 transactions/month.

A clean chart of accounts makes reporting painless. Start with:

  • Revenue: By product line or service type
  • COGS: Direct costs tied to revenue
  • OpEx: Salaries, rent, marketing, software, professional fees
  • Other: Interest, bank charges, forex gains/losses

Keep it simple—10-15 expense categories is plenty for most early-stage startups.

By the 10th of each month:

  • Reconcile all bank accounts
  • Review uncategorized transactions
  • Send outstanding invoices
  • Review AR aging (who owes you)
  • Review AP aging (who you owe)
  • Generate P&L and Balance Sheet

Use our Monthly Checklist tool to track this.

Clean financials signal professionalism:

  • Audited accounts (required for Series A+)
  • Monthly management accounts with trends
  • Unit economics (CAC, LTV, margins by product)
  • Cash runway and burn rate tracking
  • Cap table that's clean and up-to-date

Start these practices early—retrofitting messy books is painful.

Tax Optimization Strategies

5 sections • 7 min read

Claim deductions on qualifying assets:

  • Computers & software: 40% initial + 20% annual
  • Office equipment: 20% initial + 10% annual
  • Vehicles (business use): 20% initial + 10% annual
  • Small value assets (≤RM2,000): 100% immediate deduction

Plan large purchases before year-end to maximize current year deductions.

Double deduction available for:

  • In-house R&D expenditure (approved by MOSTI)
  • Payments to approved research institutions
  • R&D companies can get Pioneer Status (100% tax exemption)

Keep detailed records of R&D activities, staff time allocation, and direct costs.

For tech companies with MSC status:

  • 5-year Pioneer Status (100% tax exemption) OR
  • 10-year Investment Tax Allowance (60%)
  • Exemption from foreign worker levy for knowledge workers
  • Duty-free import of multimedia equipment

Apply through MDEC. Process takes 2-3 months typically.

For established manufacturers reinvesting in expansion:

  • 60% allowance on qualifying capital expenditure
  • Available for 15 consecutive years
  • Must be in operation for at least 36 months
  • Applies to: automation, modernization, diversification

Commonly overlooked deductions:

  • Home office: Proportionate utilities, internet
  • Training & courses: For employees and founders
  • Professional subscriptions: Industry memberships
  • Bad debts: Written off after 6 months
  • Group insurance: Medical, life coverage for staff
  • Donations: To approved institutions (limited)

Keep receipts for everything—you can't claim what you can't prove.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common questions. Can't find what you need? We're here to help.

Our AI automatically categorizes transactions, flags anomalies, and reconciles accounts. A qualified accountant reviews everything before finalization, ensuring accuracy while saving you hours of manual work. Think of it as having a tireless assistant that handles the repetitive tasks while our team focuses on judgment calls.

Most businesses are fully onboarded within 5-7 business days. This includes connecting your bank feeds, migrating historical data, and setting up your dashboard. Complex cases with significant backlog may take longer—we'll give you an honest timeline upfront.

We integrate with Xero, QuickBooks, and SQL Accounting. If you're not on any platform yet, we'll recommend the best fit for your business size and complexity, and handle the setup at no extra cost.

Absolutely. We handle the transition smoothly, including requesting records from your previous accountant and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Most transitions are complete within 2-3 weeks.

Yes! We serve Malaysian-registered companies regardless of where the founders are based. We're experienced with multi-currency transactions, cross-border e-commerce, and the unique challenges of remote-first businesses.

Growth and Scale plan clients have access to priority support with faster response times. For urgent matters during tax season or funding rounds, we're known to go the extra mile. Just reach out.

All plans include monthly bookkeeping—your books are fully reconciled and ready to review by the 10th of the following month. Growth and Scale clients can opt for weekly updates at no extra cost.

Transaction categorization, bank reconciliation, accounts receivable/payable tracking, monthly P&L and Balance Sheet, and a summary of key metrics. We'll flag anything unusual for your review.

We set up a shared folder (Google Drive or Dropbox) where you can dump receipts anytime. Our AI scans and extracts data automatically. You can also forward emails directly to your dedicated inbox.

Yes, payroll is included in all plans. We handle salary calculations, EPF/SOCSO/EIS deductions, EA form preparation, and monthly submissions. Just provide us your headcount and salary details.

We fix errors at no additional cost—that's our responsibility. We also have professional indemnity insurance for peace of mind. Every entry is reviewed by both AI and human accountants before finalization.

We handle the complete SST cycle: registration (if needed), bimonthly return preparation and submission, payment reminders, and liaison with RMCD if queries arise. All included in your plan at no extra cost. See our SST Guide for more details.

When your annual taxable turnover exceeds RM500,000. You must register within 28 days of crossing this threshold. Use our SST Checker tool above to check your status instantly.

Yes, annual tax filing (Form C for companies, Form B for sole props) is included. We prepare the computation, file the return, and handle any queries from LHDN. Tax planning advice is included in Growth and Scale plans.

Absolutely—legally, of course. We'll identify eligible deductions, capital allowances, and incentives you might be missing. Read our Tax Optimization Guide for strategies we commonly use.

Penalties apply (see our Deadlines table). If you're already late, we'll help file ASAP and can assist with penalty appeal letters if there are valid reasons. Prevention is better—we send multiple reminders before every deadline.

Yes, we support clients through LHDN desk audits and field audits. We'll prepare documentation, accompany you to meetings, and negotiate on your behalf if needed. Audit support is included in Scale plan; others pay per-incident.

MSC Malaysia status offers significant benefits: 5-year Pioneer Status (100% tax exemption), Investment Tax Allowance, and more. We can help with the application process. See our Tax Optimization Guide for details.

Strategic financial guidance without hiring a full-time CFO. This includes financial planning, investor reporting, cash flow forecasting, pricing strategy, and board-level financial insights. Included in Scale plan; available as add-on for others.

Yes—we prepare investor-ready financials, financial models, and can join investor calls to answer finance questions. We've supported multiple clients through seed to Series B rounds with Malaysian and regional VCs.

Yes, we build detailed 3-5 year projections including P&L, cash flow, and balance sheet. These are essential for fundraising, loan applications, and strategic planning. Available for Growth and Scale plans.

Most services are included in your plan. Add-ons like company incorporation, audit coordination, or one-time projects are quoted upfront with no surprises. We'll always tell you before any charges apply.

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