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Compliant with Malaysian law

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Work on without any hassle

Compliant with Malaysian law

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Learn more about Invoice in Malaysia

Every transaction must be documented for small company owners and entrepreneurs. It is hard to maintain your finances in order, take care of your business’s taxes, or analyze your company’s success without a record of purchases, refunds, or swaps. It’s also critical for your consumers to have evidence of the transaction for their own financial records and in case there’s a problem with their order. Most businesses use a combination of receipts and invoices to record transactions for themselves and their customers, and you should do the same. Use our Themis Partner template to issue invoices in full compliance.

Table of contents


What is an Invoice?

An invoice is a document that the seller sends to the client to seek payment for goods or services. It is similar to a bill in that it states what items or services were supplied, how much they cost, and which payment methods the supplier accepts. Invoices are often provided to customers after they have received their products or services but prior to payment. As a result, they’re especially frequent among businesses that sell in bulk, such as manufacturers or wholesalers, and among freelancers who supply services rather than commodities, such as writers or graphic designers. Invoices, on the other hand, may be used by any firm, regardless of what they offer, when they need to bill clients after the transaction.

How to draft an Invoice?

Writing an invoice is actually rather straightforward, but there are a few key aspects that must be included with each and every invoice. One of the most significant distinctions between an invoice and a receipt is that invoices often contain more information about the transaction and its conditions than receipts. These are some examples:

➤ Name, logo, and contact information for your company
➤ A distinct invoice number
➤ The invoice's creation date
➤ The payment deadline and any additional payment requirements
➤ All allowed payment methods
➤ A thorough description of the items and services acquired, including price and quantity
➤ The entire amount owing, including any applicable taxes and fees

Can a receipt be issued in electric format?

Invoices are traditionally printed and mailed or faxed to customers, although they can also be provided electronically. Because practically all of your business is currently done online, electronic invoices (also known as e-invoices) are almost undoubtedly the best solution for e-commerce enterprises. For both e-commerce and conventional enterprises, a good online invoice management software may simplify and accelerate the whole invoicing process. You must pay special attention to your invoices, whether they are paper or electronic, because they guarantee that you get paid promptly and accurately for your services.

When to make an Invoice?

An invoice can be created after a supply of goods or service is made or an advance for delivery of goods or service is received. In the case of continuing provision of goods or services, an invoice may be raised during a predetermined time frame following the completion of a milestone or as agreed upon. It is best to create an invoice as soon as possible to ensure that the consumer pays on time. However, it is critical to recognize that when an invoice is generated, a tax liability is also generated. As a result, invoices should only be created for products or services for which payment is expected or has already been made.

Who can issue an invoice in Malaysia?

In general, each registered person who makes a taxable supply of goods or services must provide a tax invoice. Tax invoices must be issued within 21 days of the supply date. The provider must maintain a copy of the tax invoice, while the recipient must keep the original. Only GST-registered individuals can issue tax invoices in either electronic or paper form. To claim input tax credit as a registered person, you must have a tax invoice. A GST registered person and his clients who are also registered individuals cannot claim GST incurred on purchases of taxable goods or services unless they have a suitable tax invoice.

What is the VAT in Malaysia?

10%: SST on goods is levied throughout the B2B chain to the ultimate customer and is not tax deductible. This includes a responsibility for imported items, however a low-value exemption may be available.

6%: SST on services is only levied when they are provided to a non-tax registered ultimate customer. Restaurants, hotels, and lodging; automobile rental, rental, and maintenance; domestic flights; insurance; credit cards; legal and accountancy; business consultancy; electricity; telecommunications; pay-TV; digital supplies; Services that are imported and exported are excluded.

5%: Basic foodstuffs; petroleum oils; building materials; information technology, telecommunications, and printing hardware and materials; and watches Quantity-based pricing apply to oil and petroleum.

How to register for VAT in Malaysia?

➤ Determine if the business is taxed: the first step is to determine whether the business is a manufacturing one that is subject to this tax
➤ Determine the threshold: this is critical since it will determine whether registration is required or voluntary
➤ Fill up and submit the Registration Application for Sales Tax or Service Tax to the appropriate authorities
➤ Verification: The application will be reviewed by a Customs Officer, who may seek further supporting documentation
➤ Approval: Once the verification is complete, the report is sent to the Approval Officer, who will assign the status "registered" or "rejected"
➤ Receive the outcome: the outcome, whether authorized or refused, is sent through email or via the web portal
➤ Following that, if a firm obtains its registration, it will also receive the login details for the MySST site, where the company representative will update the company information

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