Following from the budget announcement form Prime Minister last week, a lot of confusion regarding the Real Property Gain Tax. Is it 5% flat or depending on the year of selling?
Malaysian Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah clarified that the Real Property Gains Tax, effective January 1 next year, is fixed at 5 per cent, irrespective of the property disposal year.
This rate of 5 per cent will be implemented through the Real Property Gains Tax (Exemption) Order 2009. This Order will be gazetted as soon as possible and is effective January 1, 2010.
Therefore, the current rate of RPGT, which is higher than 5 per cent as in Schedule 5 of the Real Property Gains Tax 1976, will no longer be applicable.
There are three circumstances where the property owner is exempted from the 5 per cent gains tax.
The first is where the level of exemption is increased from RM5,000 to RM10,000 or 10 per cent of the chargeable gains.
The second, is when the property sale are gifts between parent and child, husband and wife, grandparent and grandchild.
And finally, when the disposal of a residential property is a once in a lifetime transaction.