Govt Extends Tax Relief For Phones & Computers, Includes Covid-19 Tests For Medical Tax Relief
Jacie Tan
18th January 2021 - 2 min read
In the new Permai stimulus package announced today, the government has extended the special tax relief of RM2,500 on purchases of phones, computers, and tablets to 31 December 2021.
The special tax relief was introduced in the middle of last year as a way to boost work-from-home arrangements. Individual taxpayers could claim tax relief of up to RM2,500 for purchases of these particular electronic devices between 1 June and 31 December 2020.
This was on top of the existing tax relief that allowed taxpayers to claim up to RM2,500 under the lifestyle category, which includes expenditure on sports equipment, reading materials, Internet bills, and the same personal electronic devices.
(Image: Miera Zulyana/Malay Mail)
Besides that, the government has also announced that Covid-19 tests will be eligible for tax relief from YA2021 as part of the sub-category allocated for full medical check-ups. Therefore, you can claim up to RM1,000 in tax relief for full medical check-ups and Covid-19 tests when filing your income tax next year.
For those who are unaware, Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) allows you to claim tax relief for medical expenses for yourself, spouse, and child, with a sub-limit specifically for medical check-ups. In Budget 2021, the tax relief limit was raised from RM6,000 to RM8,000 and the sub-limit was doubled from RM500 to RM1,000.
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Jacie Tan
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Comments (32)
What does extend means? If a person already bought a PC in 2020 amounting to RM 2500 and will claim for 2020 tax relief , is he eligible to buy another PC amounting to rm2500 in 2021 and claim that for 2021 tax relief?
That’s correct.
nope…for pc, i think 3 years claim once…u may check T&C in LHDN official website…extend means for those havent purchase…not for those been purchase in 2020…
This 3 years claim once (relief) for computer seems to be for Year of Assessment 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. No longer applicable for YA 2017 onwards. Can the author confirm?
Source: http://www.hasil.gov.my/bt_goindex.php?bt_kump=5&bt_skum=1&bt_posi=3&bt_unit=1&bt_sequ=1&bt_lgv=2
Don’t be confused with the old tax reliefs, the “3 years claim once” relief has not been around for some years now. It’s replaced with the Lifestyle tax relief, which combines purchases of smartphones, computers, internet etc into a single claim of up to RM2,500/year.
Meanwhile, this article refers to a special tax relief due to the pandemic. It allows an additional RM2,500 tax relief for the purchase of phones and computers because more working adults are working from home and may not have the equipment.
Don’t be confused with the old tax reliefs, the “3 years claim once” relief has not been around for some years now. It’s replaced with the Lifestyle tax relief, which combines purchases of smartphones, computers, internet etc into a single claim of up to RM2,500/year.
Meanwhile, this article refers to a special tax relief due to the pandemic. It allows an additional RM2,500 tax relief for the purchase of phones and computers because more working adults are working from home and may not have the equipment.
Hi,
May i know if I purchase a laptop for RM5,000 – does that mean I can claim it under the Lifestyle tax + special tax relief in one single receipt?
This is also my question. If pc worth 6k can I claim 2500 and another 2500 in the lifestyle relief?
Does this include accessories such as IPad keyboard?
If I buy 2500 of tablet in 2021, I can claim tax relief under this category which actually ended last year 2020, right? Or I can only claim under the lifestyle 1st category together with books, Internet fees and others?
What is the due date to buy new PC in 2021?
I had bought for my daughter a new PC in 2020 and want to buy another PC for another daughter in 2021. Just to reconfirm can the 2021 PC bought claim for tax relief ? Tq
If i have maxed out both tax relief in 2020 (5000 total), can i still claim the additional 2500 special relief for phone in 2021? I have used up the lifestyle relief 2.5k for this year 2021.
Can Foreign receipt on the purchase of handphone be used to claim 2021 tax relief of RM 2,500?
Yes you can as long as you keep all the receipts. Just convert the amount to ringgit. I asked this personally in LHDN personnel.
Can we combine the price of PC purchased to be not more than RM5,000, being RM2,500 (for the usual yearly tax relief and the additional RM2,500?
If my laptop needs replacement of parts such as battery or screen, can I claim for income tax relief under the “purchase of computer” category ?
Unfortunately you can’t.
Can claim mobile phone bill under the lifestyle tax relief program?
you are able to claim for the mobile internet bill under lifestyle tax relief.
Hi what does it mean mobile internet bill?
For instance, my monthly Digi bill is RM50 (postpaid), can I claim fully RM600 (RM50 x12 months) ?
For home internet I know can, but for phone I am not sure.
Look forward for answer ya, thanks in advance.
Yes, refer here
https://mytax.hasil.gov.my/#!
Adakah langganan internet dibawah telco layak menuntut pelepasan gaya hidup bagi bayaran bil internet bulanan?
Ya, potongan yang dibenarkan ialah bagi langganan internet di rumah dan juga bagi tetefon pintar individu. Amaun dibenarkan adalah bagi langganan internet tidak termasuk caj panggilan, SMS dan SST terhad kepada RM2,500 setiap tahun taksiran di bawah pelepasan gaya hidup.
Is the mobile internet bill applicable to postpaid only? Can prepaid users claim?
Based on Xavier’s comment, if the bill does not segregate the amount for calls, SMS & internet, but charges me a lump sum of RM50/month (a package with call, SMS & internet). Is it still considered tax relief?
If purchase monitor for my existing pc due to I need another screen can I claim this monitor?
sadly not – the special relief covers smartphones, tablets, and notebook computers only.
Hi, Pang, I have few questions:
1) Internet subscription – can I include celcom xpax billing ?
2) for the sport equipment- can I claim for indoor bike?
3) I purchased a laptop rm3000. Can I claim rm2500 for additonal lifestyle and rm500 for the original lifestyle together with books , and Internet subscription?
1) i dont know
2) yes
3) yes
Hi, I purchased a smartphone and charger under single receipt, may I know if charger is eligible?
not allowed. if there is itemization charge for phone and charger.
allowed if bundled (if can be presented as free charger for phone purchase).
If i have purchase a laptop which cost me RM4600, can i claim RM2500 as the 1st lifestyle relief and the balance of RM2100 as the extended special tax relief?
Can i claim tax deduction for purchasing 2nd hand smartphone?
i’m planning to buy customized PC from a Local Customized vendor. but to be exact without monitor and speaker. Can i do claim for 2022 tax relief on Personal computer? The receipt might listed all the components of the PC in one list.