Many still remain unaware of the benefits and opportunity to do leasing business through Labuan IBFC. The leasing business in Labuan IBFC offers competitive tax regime and benefits, and at the same time provides the opportunity to company to conduct their business operations cost effectively.
Labuan leasing means the business of letting or sub-letting property on hire for the purpose of the use of such property by the hirer, regardless whether the letting is with or without an option to purchase the property. Property includes any plant, machinery, equipment or other chattel attached or to be attached to the earth.
With the exception to the transportation of passengers or cargo by sea or the letting out on charter of ships on a voyage or time charter basis. Labuan leasing companies are allowed to carry on leasing of ships on a “bare boat basis”.
The submission should include, but is not restricted to the following:
Lease to Malaysian Resident | Lease to non-Malaysian resident | |
Annual Fee | RM60,000/- | Nil |
Each Subsequent leasing transaction | RM20,000/- one off | Nil |
The Labuan leasing company must comply with the following operational requirements as required by Labuan FSA:
By conducting the leasing business through Labuan IBFC, the entity can enjoy the significant tax benefit. The Labuan leasing company is deemed as a Labuan trading company under Section 2 of Labuan Business Activity Tax Act (“LBATA”) 2010, and therefore has the option either to pay a flat tax rate of RM 20,000 or 3% of audited net profit. Besides that, there is no withholding tax for any dividends paid by a Labuan leasing company out of its profits. These tax benefits are applicable to Labuan leasing company which conducts the leasing business either with Malaysian resident or non-resident.
Labuan was declared as an International Offshore Financial Centre on 1 October 1990 to complement Kuala Lumpur as a regional financial centre.