Professional Level – Options Module

Paper P6 (MYS)
Advanced Taxation
(Malaysia)
March/June 2017 – Sample Questions

Time allowed: 3 hours and 15 minutes

This question paper is divided into two sections:

Section A – BOTH questions are compulsory and MUST be attempted
Section B – TWO questions ONLY to be attempted
Tax rates and allowances are on pages 2–4

Do NOT open this question paper until instructed by the supervisor.

This question paper must not be removed from the examination hall.

The Association of
Chartered Certified
Accountants
SUPPLEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONS
1. You should assume that the tax rates and allowances shown below will continue to apply for the foreseeable
future.
2. Calculations and workings should be made to the nearest RM.
3. All apportionments should be made to the nearest whole month.
4. All workings should be shown.

TAX RATES AND ALLOWANCES

The following tax rates, allowances and values are to be used in answering the questions.

Income tax rates

Resident individual
Chargeable income
Rate Cumulative tax
RM RM % RM
First 5,000 (0 – 5,000) 0 0
Next 15,000 (5,001 – 20,000) 1 150
Next 15,000 (20,001 – 35,000) 5 900
Next 15,000 (35,001 – 50,000) 10 2,400
Next 20,000 (50,001 – 70,000) 16 5,600
Next 30,000 (70,001 – 100,000) 21 11,900
Next 150,000 (100,001 – 250,000) 24 47,900
Next 150,000 (250,001 – 400,000) 24·5 84,650
Next 200,000 (400,001 – 600,000) 25 134,650
Next 400,000 600,001 – 1,000,000) 26 238,650
Exceeding 1,000,000 28

Resident company
Paid up ordinary share capital First Excess over
RM500,000 RM500,000
RM2,500,000 or less 19% 24%
More than RM2,500,000 24% 24%

Non-residents
Company 24%
Individual 28%

Labuan entity – income from a Labuan trading activity

All chargeable profits 3%

Trust body – resident or non-resident

All chargeable income 24%

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 Personal deductions
RM
Self 9,000
Disabled self, additional 6,000
Medical expenses expended on parents (maximum) 5,000
Medical expenses expended on self, spouse or child with serious disease,
including up to RM500 for medical examination (maximum) 6,000
Parental care (each) 1,500
Basic supporting equipment for disabled self, spouse, child or parent (maximum) 6,000
Purchase of sports equipment (maximum) 300
Study course fees for skills or qualifications (maximum) 7,000
Expenses on books for personal use (maximum) 1,000
Spouse relief 4,000
Disabled spouse, additional 3,500
Child – basic rate (each) 2,000
Child – higher rate (each) 8,000
Disabled child (each) 6,000
Disabled child, additional (each) 8,000
Life insurance premiums and contributions to approved funds (maximum) 6,000
Private retirement scheme contributions, deferred annuity premiums (maximum) 3,000
Medical and/or education insurance premiums for self, spouse or child (maximum) 3,000
Purchase of a personal computer (maximum) 3,000
Deposit for a child into the National Education Savings Scheme (maximum) 6,000
Contribution to Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) (maximum) 250

Rebates
Chargeable income not exceeding RM35,000 RM
Individual – basic rate 400
Individual entitled to a deduction in respect of a spouse or a former wife 800

Capital allowances
Initial Annual
allowance allowance
(IA) (AA)
Rate % Rate %
Industrial buildings 10 3
Plant and machinery – general 20 14
Motor vehicles and heavy machinery 20 20
Office equipment, furniture and fittings 20 10
Agriculture allowance
Buildings for the welfare of or as living accommodation for farm employees Nil 20
Other buildings used in the business Nil 10
All other qualifying agricultural expenditure Nil 50

3 [P.T.O.
 Real property gains tax
Companies Individuals – All
Non-citizens and others
non-permanent
residents
Rate Rate Rate
% % %
Category of disposal
Disposal within three years after the date of acquisition 30 30 30
Disposal in the fourth year after the date of acquisition 20 30 20
Disposal in the fifth year after the date of acquisition 15 30 15
Disposal in the sixth year after the date of acquisition or thereafter 5 5 0

Goods and services tax (GST)

Standard rate 6%

Stamp duty
Rates of duty under the First Schedule
Conveyance, assignment, transfer or absolute bill of sale
Rate %
Sale of property
For every RM100 or fractional part thereof:
On the first RM100,000 1
On the next RM400,000 2
On the excess over RM500,000 3
Sale of company shares
On every RM1,000 or fractional part thereof 0·3

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Section A – BOTH questions are compulsory and MUST be attempted

1 You are a tax associate of Tax Firm. You and your tax director met with Tax Firm’s new client, Serene Garment Sdn
Bhd (SGSB), a company involved in the manufacturing of ladies’ cotton garments. Below are the notes taken from
this client meeting.
Notes of meeting with SGSB

– SGSB has a paid up ordinary share capital of RM10 million and is registered for goods and services tax (GST).
SGSB’s factory is located in Shah Alam, Malaysia.
– As part of its expansion plan, SGSB intends to undertake the following capital investment projects:
Project A: New factory building
SGSB plans to embark on the manufacturing of men’s garments by investing in a new production facility. The
total investment is expected to be RM4·5 million, made up as follows:
Financial year ending 30 September
2017 2018 Total
RM’000 RM’000 RM’000
New factory building (to be completed in October 2017) 1,500 1,000 2,500
Machinery (to be put into use in October 2017) – 2,000 2,000
–––––– –––––– ––––––
Total investment 1,500 3,000 4,500
–––––– –––––– ––––––
Note: All amounts are quoted exclusive of GST.
The new machinery will be acquired under hire purchase as follows:
RM
Cost of machinery 2,000,000
Down payment 200,000
Hire purchase loan 1,800,000
Number of instalments 24
First instalment due 1 October 2017
Project B: Yarn weaving machine
In view of increasing fabric prices, SGSB has decided to invest in a yarn weaving machine to produce cotton
fabrics, which are the raw materials for its garment business. The machine will cost RM4,000,000 (exclusive
of GST) and following the machine being put into use in August 2017, SGSB’s cost of purchasing fabrics is
expected to reduce by 50%.
– SGSB intends to claim the reinvestment allowance (RA) incentive in respect of both the above capital
investment projects. SGSB first claimed RA in the year of assessment (YA) 2001.
– In its financial year ending 30 September 2017, SGSB has also incurred the following expenditure all of which
has been expensed in the profit or loss account:
Chimney construction
The old chimney, forming part of the existing factory building, was damaged and needed to be rebuilt. Due to
SGSB undertaking the yarn weaving activities in this building (Project B), the chimney needed to be
heightened to meet the environmental requirements. The new chimney cost RM530,000 (inclusive of GST of
RM30,000). According to the contractor, had the chimney not been required to be heightened, the
replacement cost would only have been RM200,000. The input tax on this tax invoice has been claimed in
SGSB’s GST return.
Light bulbs
SGSB replaced the light bulbs used in its office at a cost of RM159,000 (inclusive of GST of RM9,000). The
supplier’s tax invoice was erroneously issued in the name of SGSB’s parent company. As a result, the input
tax on this tax invoice was not claimed in SGSB’s GST return and the full amount of RM159,000 was
expensed.

5 [P.T.O.
Notes of meeting with SGSB (continued)

Compensation payment to a neighbouring company

A neighbouring company to SGSB, Taylormade Sdn Bhd (TMSB), is currently involved in the manufacturing
of silk garments. TMSB proposed to venture into the manufacturing of cotton garments. As the production of
cotton garments would have been in direct competition to SGSB, it managed to persuade TMSB not to venture
into the manufacturing of cotton garments. Instead, it was agreed that TMSB will refer all its orders for cotton
garments to SGSB and that SGSB will reciprocate by referring all its orders for silk garments to TMSB. As part
of this arrangement, SGSB is required to make a compensation payment of RM300,000 to TMSB. TMSB is
a GST registrant.
– SGSB has computed the following tax projections, before taking into account the RA claim for YAs 2017 and
2018:
Note YA 2017 YA 2018
RM’000 RM’000
Adjusted income/(loss) 1 (500) 5,000
Capital allowance 2 2,000 2,000
Notes:
1. The adjusted income/(loss) has been calculated before taking account of any tax adjustments required for
the expenditure relating to the chimney, light bulbs and compensation payment.
2. The capital allowance figures have taken into account the effect of the capital expenditure in Projects A
and B but not the effect of any tax adjustments to be made to the adjusted income/(loss).

Your tax director has sent you an email requesting you to prepare a report for the board of directors of SGSB, which
addresses the following:
(i) Whether, as a company, SGSB will be eligible for the RA incentive, and if so, when the incentive period will
expire.

(ii) Assuming that SGSB as a company will be eligible for the RA incentive, the applicability of such an incentive
claim to each of Project A and Project B. In each case you should clearly indicate whether, and if so how, each
investment will be regarded as a qualifying (or a non-qualifying) project and where relevant, identify the eligible
qualifying expenditure and the timing of the claim.

(iii) The income tax deductibility of the expenditure incurred on the construction of the chimney, light bulbs and the
compensation paid to TMSB. In relation to the compensation payment, you should present the arguments for
both its deductibility and non-deductibility and draw an appropriate conclusion.

(iv) Whether the input tax incurred by SGSB in respect of the chimney construction and the light bulbs will be allowed
as an income tax deduction.

(v) Whether the compensation paid to TMSB will be subject to GST.

(vi) Illustrate the tax impact of the above items by computing SGSB’s total income for each of the YAs 2017 and
2018, clearly identifying any amounts to be carried forward.

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Required:
Draft the report to Serene Garment Sdn Bhd (SGSB) as instructed by your tax director.
The following marks are available:
(i) Eligibility for the reinvestment allowance incentive and its expiration date. (2 marks)

(ii) Applicability of the incentive claim for each of Project A and Project B. (6 marks)

(iii) Income tax deductibility of the expenditure incurred on the chimney construction, light bulbs and
compensation payment. (9 marks)

(iv) Tax deductibility of the input tax incurred on the chimney construction and the light bulbs. (4 marks)

(v) Goods and services tax (GST) implications of the compensation payment. (3 marks)

(vi) Computations of SGSB’s total income for each of the years of assessment 2017 and 2018. (7 marks)
Professional marks will be awarded in question 1 for the appropriateness of the format and presentation of the
report and the effectiveness with which the information is communicated. (4 marks)

(35 marks)

7 [P.T.O.
2 Tax Firm has been appointed as the tax agent for Lamsah Berhad (LB) to prepare its income tax return for the year of
assessment (YA) 2017. LB is a company listed on Bursa Malaysia and its principal activity is that of investment
holding. In addition, to support its group, LB also provides management services to its subsidiaries.
The relevant financial information provided by LB for the preparation of its tax return is as follows:
Financial information for the year ended 31 March 2017

RM’000
Revenue
– Dividend from local subsidiaries 3,000
– Dividend from foreign subsidiaries 1,400
– Interest from local subsidiaries 4,600
– Fees for management services from subsidiaries 1,000
Other income
– Gain from disposal of an investment 3,000
Investment balances (no movement during the year)
Investment in local subsidiaries 80,000
Investment in foreign subsidiaries 50,000
Amount owing by local subsidiaries (interest-bearing) 110,000
Amount owing by local subsidiaries (non-interest-bearing) 10,000
Notes:
1. The direct expenses incurred in respect of the provision of the management services are RM200,000 for staff
costs and RM100,000 for office overheads.
2. The interest expense incurred for the year is RM600,000, of which RM100,000 relates to the loan taken from
a Labuan bank to finance investment in foreign subsidiaries.
3. The amount of common expenses after excluding the expenses in items 1 and 2 is RM1 million.
4. The current year capital allowance relating to the common assets is RM200,000.
5. During the financial year, due to the bearish stock market performance and to improve the share price of the
company, LB carried out a share buyback exercise by which it purchased its own shares on the Bursa Malaysia
at a cost of RM100,000. These shares are held as treasury shares. Half of the shares will be used to fulfil
LB’s obligations under an employee share award scheme to be given to its employees in the financial year
ending 31 March 2018. The balance of the shares will be sold on the stock exchange market in the future,
when the share price sufficiently improves.
6. Based on the tax computation for YA 2016, there was an excess of deductible expenses over gross income in
respect of the management fee and interest income sources of RM100,000 and RM50,000 respectively.

Your tax manager has arranged a meeting next week with the finance director of LB to discuss the tax computation
for YA 2017 as well as the income tax treatment of the share buyback made by the company.
In preparation for this meeting, your tax manager has requested you to carry out the following work:
(a) Investment holding company
Explain, with supporting calculations, why LB will be regarded as an investment holding company and its tax
treatment as an investment holding company.

(b) Tax computation for YA 2017

Starting with the gross income from the respective sources, compute LB’s total income for YA 2017. Each
revenue or other income item should be reflected in this tax computation, indicating by the use of ‘nil’ any item
for which no adjustment is required.

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(c) Share buyback
Explain the income tax treatment of the share buyback in terms of:
– the initial purchase of the shares on the stock exchange market;
– the application of the shares to fulfil the share award scheme; and
– the future disposal of the shares on the stock exchange market.

Required:
Carry out the work as instructed by your tax manager.
The following marks are available:
(a) The tax status of Lamsah Berhad as an investment holding company. (7 marks)

(b) Tax computation for the year of assessment 2017. (12 marks)

(c) Tax treatment of the share buyback. (6 marks)

(25 marks)

9 [P.T.O.
Section B – TWO questions ONLY to be attempted

3 ForinCo, a company incorporated and operating in Ruritania with a paid up share capital of RM2 million, intends to
expand its sales network to Malaysia. Beginning in July 2017, ForinCo will station a marketing manager in Malaysia
to establish business contacts, collect local market information and exhibit ForinCo’s products to businesses. On
1 December 2017, the marketing manager will report to ForinCo as to the feasibility and viability of doing business
in Malaysia.
If the report is favourable, in January 2018, the marketing manager will proceed to establish a sales team, enter into
contracts, maintain inventory and fulfil orders. It is expected that the Malaysian operation will pay interest and
technical fees to the ForinCo head office in Ruritania.
ForinCo is seeking tax advice on whether to locally incorporate a wholly-owned subsidiary (with an issued share
capital of about RM1 million) or to operate in Malaysia through a branch.
In the double tax agreement signed between Malaysia and Ruritania, the article relating to a permanent establishment
is based on the standard clauses in the OECD model convention for double tax treaties.

Required:
(a) Assuming a positive feasibility report, explain whether ForinCo will have a permanent establishment in
Malaysia in (1) 2017; and (2) 2018. (4 marks)

(b) Explain to ForinCo the comparative income tax treatment of a branch and a Malaysian-incorporated company
with reference to each of the following aspects:
– the deductibility of business expenses;
– the claiming of capital allowances in respect of the assets used in the Malaysian operations, including
small value assets;
– the application of the withholding tax provisions on the payment of interest and technical fees to ForinCo
head office;
– the tax rates applicable to the chargeable income; and
– the repatriation/distribution of profits. (16 marks)

(20 marks)

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4 (a) After a long absence, Mr Balik Kampong (BK) returned to live and work in Malaysia in September 2016. In
November 2016, as a sole proprietor, BK rented a warehouse building from Madam Rich. During the period
November 2016 to April 2017, BK incurred expenditure of RM300,000 on renovations to alter the building from
a storage building into a factory, and installed plant and machinery costing RM200,000. On 1 May 2017, the
raw materials arrived and the production of fine pottery began immediately. On 1 June 2017, the first shipment
of finished goods was delivered to a customer overseas.
In addition to the above business venture, BK receives rental income from his residential property located
overseas and dividend income from companies in Singapore and Malaysia.
BK has forecast his income for 2017 to be as follows:
RM
Pottery business
Turnover 1,000,000
Business expenses (all tax deductible) (793,000)
Rental income from overseas property 90,000
Singapore dividend income 22,000
Malaysian dividend income 8,000

Required:
(i) Determine the date of commencement of the pottery business and the first basis period for the business.
(5 marks)
(ii) Assuming that the business commenced in 2017, compute Mr Balik Kampong’s (BK’s) aggregate
income for the year of assessment 2017, duly supported with explanations regarding the assessability
or otherwise of each of his sources of income and his eligibility for capital allowances. (8 marks)
(iii) Explain Madam Rich’s eligibility to claim industrial building allowance against her income from the
letting of the warehouse to BK and the expenditure on which any such claim will be based. (3 marks)

(b) OneTwoThree Sdn Bhd (OTT) has filed its annual tax return on time every year since its commencement in 2009.
In July 2015, the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) conducted a tax audit on OTT, reviewing the tax returns for the
years of assessment 2010 to 2013 inclusive.
On 1 June 2017, OTT received an additional assessment for each of the four years of assessment 2010 to 2013,
all dated 18 May 2017 and totalling RM100,000. The additional amount represents the tax on additional
chargeable income arising from the company’s directors remuneration being deemed excessive and disallowed,
and the penalties for incorrect returns.

Required:
Explain the statutory time bar in the context of the case of OneTwoThree Sdn Bhd and state, for the
additional assessments for each of the years of assessment 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, whether they were
issued within the statutory time limit. (4 marks)

(20 marks)

11 [P.T.O.
5 DEF Sdn Bhd (DEF) paid a premium of RM180,000 on 1 May 2010 to secure a 30-year lease of a piece of freehold
land in Pahang from Mr Pemilik. This is the first time Mr Pemilik has granted a lease of this property.
In addition, DEF paid annual rent of RM36,000 to Mr Pemilik. The annual rent is payable in advance every three
years. DEF used the land for the storage of goods in its trading business.
On 1 May 2017, DEF sub-leased the land to XYZ Sdn Bhd (XYZ) at a premium of RM295,000 for the remaining
duration of the lease. XYZ will be responsible for paying the annual rental to Mr Pemilik from this date.
On 5 June 2017, DEF disposed of a shophouse in Selangor because the location had become prone to flooding due
to poor drainage. DEF incurred a loss of RM77,000 on this disposal, after taking into account all relevant and
qualifying expenditure.

Required:
(a) Explain the income tax treatment of the premium and the annual rental paid to Mr Pemilik from the
perspective of DEF Sdn Bhd (DEF). (5 marks)

(b) Explain the real property gains tax (RPGT) treatment of the grant of the sub-lease to XYZ Sdn Bhd by DEF,
and the premium of RM295,000 received from the sub-lease. (3 marks)

(c) Compute the RPGT liability of DEF in the year of assessment 2017 in respect of the sub-lease, explaining
the treatment of the loss of RM77,000 from the sale of the shophouse. (7 marks)

(d) Explain the income tax treatment of the premium and the annual rent received in advance from the
perspective of Mr Pemilik. Where alternative feasible treatments are available, present both sets of
arguments. (5 marks)

(20 marks)

End of Question Paper

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