27th February 2026 - 7 min read
Ramadan is here, Hari Raya is less than a month away, and if you haven’t sorted your zakat fitrah yet, now’s the time. Rates have changed for 2026, the rules around who pays can be confusing, and there are more digital payment options than ever.
We cross-checked official sources and actually tested the digital payment methods ourselves. Whether you’re a single professional paying for the first time or a parent sorting it out for the whole family, this is your verified guide to getting zakat fitrah done right this year.
Zakat fitrah is the obligatory tithe that every Muslim must pay during Ramadan, before the Aidilfitri prayers. It cleanses the soul from any shortcomings during fasting and ensures that those in need can also celebrate Hari Raya. The amount is based on the price of one gantang Baghdad (approximately 2.6kg) of rice, which is why the rate varies depending on what type of rice your household actually eats.
In practice, the cheapest tier is always available as the default option on most payment channels. You’re not required to pay according to the rice your household eats, but it is advisable and encouraged to do so as a matter of good faith.
One of the most common questions from working adults in their 20s is whether their father still covers their zakat fitrah. It depends on whether you earn your own income.
If you are a working adult with your own income, you should be paying zakat fitrah for yourself. In Mazhab Syafie (which Malaysia follows), once you have your own income, you are no longer under your father’s financial obligation for zakat fitrah. This applies regardless of whether you’re single, female, or still living at home.
That said, heads of households (fathers and husbands) are obligated to pay for their dependents: wives, children who are not yet financially independent, and in some cases, elderly parents under their care. This works the other way too. Adult Muslim men may also pay zakat fitrah for their fathers if their fathers are retired and have no income of their own. A father paying for his adult, working child is performing a charitable act on their behalf, but the child isn’t fulfilling their own obligation unless they pay it themselves.
What about wives who earn their own income? Under Mazhab Syafie, a husband is still obligated to pay zakat fitrah for his wife, even if she works. If a wife chooses to pay for herself, it’s valid, but the default obligation falls on the husband as the head of household.
Quick check: Are you a working adult who isn’t someone’s spouse? Pay your own zakat fitrah. Are you a married woman with your own income? Your husband is obligated to pay for you, but you can choose to pay for yourself if you prefer.
Zakat fitrah rates are set individually by each state’s religious authority, and most states now have tiered rates based on the type of rice your household eats daily. For 2026, rates have also shifted from previous years. The base rate in both Selangor and the Federal Territories went up by RM1, for example.
We’ve verified these rates directly from official sources for Selangor and the Federal Territories.
Selangor (Lembaga Zakat Selangor)
| Rice Type | Rate Per Person |
| Local super special / imported white rice | RM8 |
| Fragrant, glutinous, parboiled, or brown rice | RM16 |
| Basmathi, herba ponni, Japanese/Calrose, red, or black rice | RM25 |
Source: Lembaga Zakat Selangor, announced 13 February 2026.
KL, Putrajaya and Labuan (PPZ-MAIWP)
| Rice Type | Rate Per Person |
| Local super special / regular imported white rice (mandatory base rate) | RM8 |
| Imported premium rice, brown rice, glutinous, herba ponni, fragrant rice | RM15 |
| Basmathi, Japanese rice, red rice | RM25 |
Source: PPZ-MAIWP, February 2026. The base rate increased RM1 from last year’s RM7, and the top tier increased RM3 from RM22, reflecting higher rice prices.
How to pick your tier: Most payment channels will default to the lowest tier, and that’s perfectly valid. If you’d like to pay based on the rice your household actually buys, jasmine fragrant rice would fall under the middle tier, regular white rice is the base rate, and basmathi is the top tier. Paying a higher tier is encouraged as a matter of good faith, but it’s not mandatory.
For a family of five in Selangor choosing the middle tier, that works out to RM16 × 5 = RM80 for the whole household.
Traditionally, most Malaysians pay their zakat fitrah in person, either at their local mosque, at zakat booths set up in shopping malls, or at Bazaar Ramadan stalls operated by appointed amil.
But for those who’d rather pay digitally, a persistent belief that comes up every Ramadan is that paying zakat digitally somehow makes the niat (intention) or akad (declaration) invalid because you’re not physically handing cash to an amil.
The Federal Territories Mufti Office has ruled that online zakat payment is valid, provided you make the niat yourself before completing the transaction. The two conditions for valid zakat: you must have the intention, and there must be a transfer of wealth. Reading the niat on screen counts. No physical handshake or verbal exchange with an amil is required.
We tested the main digital payment options ourselves to see which ones actually work smoothly.
Banking Apps
Fastest option, hands down. Most banking apps now have a dedicated zakat section during Ramadan that auto-detects your state based on your registered address, presents the correct rate tiers, and lets you complete payment in under two minutes. If you’re paying only for yourself, this is the most painless route.
Official State Portals (EZakatPay for Selangor / PPZ Portal for KL)
Paying for the whole family? The state portals are the better option here. Selangor’s ezakatpay.zakatselangor.com.my and KL’s fitrah.zakat.com.my both let you add dependents one by one and pay in a single transaction. Zakat Selangor also has its own ZakatSelangor app for 2026. These portals accept FPX, credit/debit cards, and DuitNow QR.
E-Wallets (Touch ‘n Go eWallet, Boost, Shopee)
Convenient if you already have a balance sitting in your e-wallet, but do note that coverage varies by state. In Touch ‘n Go, navigate to My Favourite > More > Speciality Services > Zakat. Boost currently supports KL payments through Home > More > Community Services > Zakat Collection. Check whether your state is supported before you start.
Third-Party Platforms (MyEG, TheNoor, Tulus/SnapNPay)
These aggregate multiple states into one platform, which is particularly handy if you’re paying for family members across different states. MyEG lets you pay without even creating an account.
Whichever method you use, remember to read the lafaz niat yourself before confirming payment. Most platforms now display the niat text on screen for you to read before the final confirmation step.
Zakat fitrah payments qualify as a tax rebate on your annual income tax under Seksyen 6A(3) of the Income Tax Act 1967. That’s a rebate, not a relief — meaning the amount is deducted directly from your tax payable, not just from your chargeable income. Keep your digital payment receipts or confirmation slips for when you file your taxes with LHDN. Every ringgit counts.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2026 tentatively falls on Saturday, 21 March. Your zakat fitrah needs to be paid before the morning Eid prayers. The ideal time (waktu afdal) is on Raya morning before prayers, but paying earlier during Ramadan is perfectly fine and actually helps zakat bodies get funds in time for the celebrations.
With so many digital options available now, it only takes a couple of minutes to get it sorted. One less thing to worry about as you prep for Raya.
Send this guide to the family WhatsApp group and save everyone the last-minute googling!
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