REGISTRATION of foreign digital service providers with the Customs Department begins today ahead of next year’s implementation of the digital service tax, said Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin Hamzah.

He said the Finance Ministry was confident that foreign companies would cooperate and register to safeguard their reputation.

“Many are asking whether foreign digital service provider companies will voluntarily register with us and pay the tax as required.

“Big names, without having to say who they are, will face bad publicity if they are not registered,” he told reporters after opening Tax Awareness Camp in Bangi today.

Present were Inland Revenue Board chief executive officer Sabin Sabitah and Education Ministry School Management Division director Mohd Jamil Mohamed.

The Finance Ministry had said the digital tax to be imposed on January 1 aims to create a level playing field in the digital sector.

Amiruddin said it was vital for foreign digital service providers to register so that they could continue serving Malaysian consumers.

He also said the ministry was confident that IRB would achieve the RM150 billion tax collection target this year based on the board’s current collection.

“Although the target may change slightly under certain circumstances, IRB is currently on the right track as the collection is slightly higher than the RM137 billion tax collected last year,” he said.

On the Tax Awareness Camp, the deputy minister said it was a great platform for the young generation to become tax literate and understand their tax needs as well as fulfil their responsibility when they join the workforce.

Jointly-organised by IRB and the Education Ministry, the five-day camp at Malaysian Tax Academy here involved the participation of 92 Form Six students and 30 teachers from all over the country. – Bernama, October 1, 2019.