TAXPAYERS are urged not to worry if they receive any letters or emails from the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) in relation to the Special Voluntary Disclosure Programme (SVDP).
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said about 8.3 million letters and emails have been issued by the IRB pertaining to the programme which was started on Nov 3 last year and would end on June 30 this year.
“They are not intended to worry the public as they are just a friendly reminder about voluntary disclosure scheme,” Lim told a press conference at the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) today.
“Through this programme, taxpayers are offered a penalty rate as low as between 10% and 15% on the amount of additional tax payable.
“This includes those who failed to submit the Income Tax Return Form / Petroleum Return Form / Real Property Gains Tax Return Form in an orderly manner or those who had submitted the forms but under-declared income or over-claimed on deductions.
“Taxpayers who have declared their incomes, expenses and tax reliefs in an orderly manner to IRB may ignore the letters and e-mails received.
“The voluntary acknowledgment made during the programme will be accepted without further inquiry from IRB.”
For taxpayers who want clarification or further information on the programme or regarding the letters and emails, Lim said they could visit the nearest IRB offices or contact IRB hotline at 1-800-88-5436 (local) or 603-77136666 (overseas); or email at [email protected].
Earlier, PCCC executive advisor Datuk Seri Choot Ewe Seng, who was also present at the press conference, announced that PCCC would hold a Chinese New Year open house on the first day of the Chinese New Year.
It will be held at Setia Spice Convention Centre on Feb 5 from 10am to 12pm.
All Penangites and members of the public are invited to join in the festivity to make the event merrier.
“The open house is a multicultural event and everyone will be treated with a wide range of delicious buffet, various performances, lion dance and so forth. I hope all visitors will have a great time,” he said.
Choot said Penang Governor Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, Lim and several other dignitaries would also be invited to attend the auspicious event.
Story by K.Thaarshenii
Pix by Law Suun Ting