Use EPF to Reduce Your Income Tax

The EPF (Employees Provident Fund) is a compulsory contribution for Malaysian employees and employers. Although foreigners are not required to contribute EPF, they can opt to contribute at the same rate as Malaysians. While the employees’ portion of contribution can be deducted as a relief from income for tax calculations, the employers’ portion is a tax-free income to the employees. It is this part of income that we want to concentrate in.

Employees have 8% (option to increase to 11%) of their salaries deducted and contribute to the EPF whereas employers pay 12%. Employers are allowed to contribute up to 7% more than the statutory rate of 12%, i.e. up to 19% under the Income Tax Act for employers to be able to deduct these contributions from the employers' taxable income. If an employer contributes more than 7% above the statutory rate, the excess is not allowed as a deduction when calculating the employers' income tax.

An employee can arrange for his/her employer to contribute 19% to EPF by lowering his/her salary. For example,

Original salary RM10,000 a month, Employer’s EPF (12%) RM1,200.
Cost of hiring to employer = RM10,000 + RM1,200 = RM11,200


The employee can ask his/her employer to consider paying less basic salary but increase the employer's contribution to EPF as follows :-


Adjusted salary RM9,412 a month, Employer’s EPF (19%) RM1,788
Cost of hiring to employer = RM9,412 + RM1,788 = RM11,200

So there is no difference to the employer, but for the employee, his/her taxable income is RM588 (RM10,000 – RM9,412) less a month, which is RM7,056 a year. If his/her tax bracket is at 27%, the tax saving would be RM1,905.12 a year !

Of course, the employee’s take home pay at the end will be less as well but the difference is credited into the employee's EPF account, which belongs to the employee anyway. The additional contribution to the EPF can be withdrawn for purchasing a house when needed, or as additional retirement fund when he/she retires.

For foreigners, they will be able to withdraw all the money they have in the EPF when they leave Malaysia, together with all earned dividends, tax-free.

2 comments:

  1. "If an employer contributes more than 7% above the statutory rate, the excess is not allowed as a deduction when calculating the employers' income tax."

    Employer or employee's income tax? Where did you get this information from? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  2. Employers’ income tax. That is why it is not beneficial for employers to contribute more than 7% of the statutory EPF rate. Section 34(4)(a) of the ITA.

    ReplyDelete