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MM2H Benefits & Requirements

FSI Tax Exemption Extended to 2036: What It Means for MM2H

A plain-language breakdown of the 2036 extension of the fsi tax exemption for MM2H holders — not tax advice, but a starting point before speaking to a tax professional.

Quick summary

Quick answer

Best for

Prospective MM2H applicants and their families trying to understand the program's real requirements and trade-offs before committing capital.

Risk level

Low

Buyer action

MM2H's property purchase requirement means qualifying is also a real estate decision — ask Lewis which current Penang projects clear your tier's minimum value and make sense as a long-term hold.

The 2036 Extension of the FSI Tax Exemption: The Core Rule

Under Budget 2026, Malaysia extended the tax exemption on foreign-sourced income remitted by resident individuals through 31 December 2036, and the parallel exemption for companies, LLPs, cooperatives and trusts through 31 December 2030 — a multi-year runway that gives MM2H holders long-term planning certainty, though the conditional documentation requirements still apply. This is the baseline every MM2H holder should understand before assuming overseas income is automatically untouched by Malaysian tax.

Two Different Expiry Dates, Not One

Budget 2026 extended the individual exemption through 31 December 2036 and the corporate exemption (companies, LLPs, cooperatives, trusts) through 31 December 2030 — six years apart, so an MM2H holder with a company structure needs to track both dates separately.

Two Different Expiry Dates, Not One

Chargeable Income Band (YA2025)

RM 0 – RM 5,000

Tax Rate

0%

Chargeable Income Band (YA2025)

RM 20,001 – RM 35,000

Tax Rate

3%

Chargeable Income Band (YA2025)

RM 50,001 – RM 70,000

Tax Rate

14%

Chargeable Income Band (YA2025)

RM 100,001 – RM 250,000

Tax Rate

24%

Chargeable Income Band (YA2025)

RM 600,001 – RM 1,000,000

Tax Rate

26%

Chargeable Income Band (YA2025)

Above RM 2,000,000

Tax Rate

30%

Chargeable Income Band (YA2025)

Non-resident (<182 days)

Tax Rate

Flat 30%

What I'd Confirm With a Tax Professional

Confirm which of the two Budget 2026 expiry dates applies to your specific income structure, and whether any future budget has since amended either the 31 December 2036 or 31 December 2030 date.

Buyer checklist

MM2H's tax treatment is more favourable than it looks at first glance, but it's conditional, not automatic — the details decide whether an exemption actually applies to you.

1

Count actual days spent in Malaysia this calendar year

2

Check whether income was already taxed at source

3

Keep documentation of foreign tax paid

4

Confirm current exemption expiry date

5

Get this confirmed by a licensed tax professional

Common questions

Does MM2H automatically mean I don't pay Malaysian tax?

No — MM2H is an immigration status, tax residency is a separate test based on days spent in Malaysia. The two can align or diverge depending on your situation.

Is this article tax advice?

No. This is general information to help you ask the right questions — always confirm your specific situation with a licensed Malaysian tax professional.

Lewis Chong REN 69566

Lewis Chong

REN 69566 · IQI Global

Property advisor helping KL, JB, and Penang buyers make data-backed property decisions.

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Count actual days spent in Malaysia this calendar year

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Check whether income was already taxed at source

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Keep documentation of foreign tax paid

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Confirm current exemption expiry date

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