ISKANDAR PUTERI – Johor has announced a 30% rebate on assessment rate for five local authorities affected by the upcoming tax increase next year, the state assembly sitting was told today.
Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the rebate aims to alleviate the tax burden of property owners in the five localities involved.
“As a government that consistently listens to the concerns of the people facing economic uncertainties, I am pleased to inform that for next year, the government has agreed that the five local authorities will provide a 30% rebate or discount from the new assessment tax adjustment.
“Hopefully the rebate and discounts can ease the burden on taxpayers,” he said at the winding-up session on the last day of the state assembly sitting.
Onn Hafiz (Machap-Umno) said that out of a total of 807,441 holdings in the five areas, 326,720 holdings or 40.46% are not subject to the new tax increase.
He said with the increased revenue for the local authorities, services to the people need to be enhanced for their comfort and well-being in those areas.
Meanwhile, the state’s housing and local government executive councillor, Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor, said out of the total number of holdings involved, only about 19,000 holders or 2.4% raised objections regarding the new tax adjustment.
Speaking to reporters after the state assembly sitting today, he said the rebate would see a reduced tax collection of RM66 million compared to the estimated total collection of RM162 million.
“For now, the rebate is for 2024, however, the state government is willing to consider implementing this in the following years,” Jafni said.
The five local authorities involved are the city councils for Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri and Pasir Gudang, and the municipal councils for Kluang and Pengerang.
The state assembly sitting was adjourned sine die. – December 3, 2023