Malaysia SST 2025 Made Easy for Businesses 

Malaysia’s indirect tax system continues to evolve, especially with the updates to SST (Sales & Service Tax) in 2025. Whether you are running a local business or planning to expand into Malaysia, understanding SST is important for staying compliant and avoiding penalties. 

What is SST? 

Malaysia replaced GST with SST in September 2018. SST is made up of two taxes 

• Sales Tax: Charged on goods that are manufactured in Malaysia or imported into the country. 
• Service Tax: Charged on specific taxable services provided within Malaysia. 

SST is managed by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD). 

Key SST Updates for 2025 

Malaysia has introduced important changes to strengthen the tax system. 

New Benefits 
Imported fruits such as apples, oranges, mandarins, and dates are now exempt from sales tax. 
 

Updated Registration Thresholds  
For some services like leasing, rental, and financial services, the government has increased the SST registration limit. 
Earlier, businesses had to register for SST when their yearly income crossed RM500,000. 
But now, starting in July 2025, these businesses only need to register for SST when their yearly income crosses RM1 million. 
 

SST Registration Requirements 

1. Your business must need to register fi your yearly turnover crosses the required limit (threshold). 
    
   Sales Tax Registration 
   You must have to register for Sales Tax if your business earns more than RM500,000 (Approx USD 105,000) in one year 
   and if you are: 
2. manufacturer (making goods) 
3. importer (bringing goods into Malaysia) 
4. Subcontract manufacturer (doing work on goods for another company) 

If your turnover is below RM500,000 (Approx USD 120,000), you do not need to register. 
 
Service Tax Registration 
General Services 
If you provide services like restaurants, telecom, parking, etc. you must register when your yearly turnover reaches RM500,000 (Approx USD 120,000). 

Special Services 
Like leasing, Rental & Financial Services For these services, the limit is higher by RM1 million. 

This means: 
If you do business in these services and earn less than RM1 million No SST registration needed 
If you do business in these services and earn RM1 million or more per yearYou must register for Service Tax 

SST Filing & Payment Deadlines 

Businesses must file their SST returns every two months. 

• When to file SST: Returns are due by the last day of the month after the two-month period. 

Example: For January and February, the return must be submitted by 31 March. 

• Record Keeping: Businesses must keep records for 7 years, in either English or Bahasa Malaysia. 

What to keep: 

• Sales and purchase (records of what you sold and bought) 
• Invoices and receipts (bills and payment proof) 
• Financial statements (profit/loss, balance sheets) 
• Digital records (online records, software data) 
• Business correspondence (emails, letters related to business) 

File your SST every 2 months on time, and keep all sales, purchase, and financial documents for 7 years. 
And if the business is newly established and hasn’t been operating for 7 years, you only need to keep records from the date the business started. 

Penalties for Not Following SST Rules 
Malaysia is strict for Businesses that don’t follow SST rules can face penalties. 

Late Payment Penalties: 

• First, late for 30 days: Pay 10% extra of the SST amount. 
• Next Late 30 days later: Pay an additional 15%. 
• Next Late 30 days after that: Pay another 15%. 
  (So, the longer you delay, the more you have to pay.) 

You can also get penalties if you: 

• Don’t register for SST when your business should 
• File SST returns incorrectly 
• Don’t submit SST returns at all 

Pay your SST on time, register correctly, and file returns properly to avoid extra fines. 

SST Audits in Malaysia 

Purpose of Audits? Customs may check your business to make sure you follow SST rules. 
Types of audits: 

• Field audit: Officers come to your office to check your records. 
• Desk audit: You send your documents to the customs office for checking. 

During an audit, you must have to: 

• Show your records and documents 
• Explain how your accounting system works 
• Share any digital or online records 
• Cooperate fully with the officers 

Customs can check your business, either at your office or remotely, and you need to show documents and cooperate. 

How to Stay Compliant 

1. Register for SST if your business meets the threshold. 
2. Charge and collect SST correctly on sales and services. 
3. File SST returns on time every 2 months. 
4. Keep proper records of all transactions (7 years or from business start). 
5. Respond promptly to any audits or RMCD inquiries. 

How CSG Advisory Can Assist You 

At CSG Advisory, we support businesses in establishing a smooth and hassle-free entry into Malaysia managing everything from company registration to complete SST compliance with precision and expertise. Our services include:

• We manage the full registration process, ensuring your business enters Malaysia smoothly and legally. All paperwork, compliance checks, and approvals are handled end-to-end so you can start operations without delays.
• We provide professional nominee directors to help your company meet legal and regulatory needs. This director will not participate in, nor will they have any authority over, the operations, management, decision-making, or financial activities of the business. Their role is purely administrative and limited to statutory compliance;
• We assist you with all filings and required documentation to ensure your company remains fully compliant with local laws and regulations.
• We assist in preparing documents and fulfilling all bank requirements for a secure business account.
• We will complete your Malaysia SST registration in accordance with the updated 2025 thresholds.
• Customized advice for new or growing businesses who wants to enter in Malaysia.Smooth operations process to ensure you get no penalties. 

 
Conclusion 

SST is important for every business in Malaysia. With the new 2025 changes, companies need to keep track of the tax limits, rates, filing dates, and proper records. If businesses stay updated and use the right tools, they can avoid fines and run their operations without any problems and operate smoothly.