MALAYSIA TAX 2017

Look at P.6 - it explains https://www.pwc.com/my/en/assets/public … ooklet.pdf

The absence is only relevant to first qualify to be tax resident. You have already done that in 2015.

Hi Gravitas,

As per the point on page 6:

In year 2017 even if I stay less than 182 consecutive days (it can be linked with 2016, as I was on social visit less than 14 days) and was resident in 2015 and 2016. Now I am automatically resident for 2017 (even if I stay less than 182 days this year)

Please confirm my understanding is correct.

Regards,
Gaurav Joshi

I would say bullet point 1 applies: you spent more than 182 days in Malaysia in each year of assessment (tax year). You qualified as tax resident in 2015 because at the beginning of working here, you did not have absences of over 14 days during the initial 182 day period. If you had, then the "clock" would have been zeroed and you would have started counting to182 again from  the day you returned to Malaysia. A person only has to qualify as tax resident once, and then be in Malaysia 182 days in a tax year, for tax residency to continue.