From Potong To Satay: Customs Department Reveals List Of Proposed SST Rates On Goods

If you've somehow missed the news: SST will be replacing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which was zero-rated on 1 June. 

Under SST, tax rates will be at 10% for sales and 6% for services.

The five bills that were passed are the Sales Tax Bill 2018, Service Tax Bill 2018, Goods and Services Tax (Repeal) Bill 2018, Customs (Amendment) Bill 2018 and Free Zones (Amendment) Bill 2018.

During the debate of the Sales Tax Bill 2018, Lim reiterated that:
- Only 43.5% of services would be subjected to SST, compared to 65% of services with GST
- 5,443 goods are exempted from SST, compared to 545 goods under GST

On 28 August, Customs Department director-general Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy said the finalised list of businesses and items affected by SST will be released within two days.

According to New Straits Times, the list should not have any significant changes and should "more or less" remain the same. 

The list of proposed items can be viewed here.

The only exceptions are camel meat, dried pork skin, freeze dried chicken dice, frog's legs, and rabbit meat which are taxed at 5%.

Fillet or cut fish, whether fresh, chilled, or frozen, also fall under the "exempted" category. 

Fried chicken, burgers, nuggets, pies, sushi, even satay! These favourites will be taxed at 5%.

Thank goodness otak-otak and meatballs are safe. 

Might need to think twice before going hard on kerang and lala the next time you're at the hawker centre. 

Under SST, potong and other forms of ice-cream will be taxed at 5%.

That's not all: there's also a 10% tax on popular toppings for ice-cream sundaes such as chocolate chips and chocolate rice.

In addition to the well-loved boxed drinks, apple juice, mineral water, carbonated drinks, beers, ciders, and flavoured energy drinks will also be taxed at the same value. 

First aid kits, bandages, heat patches, and plasters are also exempted under the same category. 

Under GST and the first version of SST, sanitary pads were counted as taxable items. 

Basic necessities, such as bath foam and toothpaste, fall under the "cosmetic products and perfume" category which will be taxed at 10%.

It also affects all forms of make-up, skincare products, and clothing. 

When SST rolls around, handphones, laptops, computers, and portable storage devices will be taxed at 5%. 

That's the better end of the deal though, as most electrical household appliances are taxed at 10%. 

Whether it's comics, novels, non-fiction, reference materials, or children's books - all will continue to be exempted from tax under SST.

Sedans, SUVs, buses, motorcycles, sport cars, and even garbage collection trucks will be taxed.

Wheelchairs and baby strollers, which fall under the "vehicles" category, are exempted.