On 6 November 2025, the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (“IRB”) issued the Garis Panduan Pengenaan Duti Setem Ke Atas Surat Cara Jual Beli Dan Surat Cara Pindah Milik Bagi Harta Alih (“Guideline”), which explains how stamp duty applies to sale agreements and transfer instruments involving movable properties. Movable properties are properties that can be moved or transferred such as plants, machines, vehicles, machinery, weapons, jewellery etc.
Under the Guideline, ad valorem stamp duty applies to the sale of any estate or interest in any property whatsoever (including equitable interest in such property), except for specific categories such as properties located outside Malaysia, ships and vessels, trade goods, etc.
It is thus imperative that businesses identify whether the movable properties to be transferred are business assets (which would attract ad valorem stamp duty) or are trade goods (which are exempted from ad valorem stamp duty and would be subject to a nominal RM10 stamp duty). The applicable stamp duty rate ranges from 1% to 4% of the purchase price or market value, depending on whether the buyer is local or foreign.
The Guideline also clarifies how stamp duty applies when a transaction involves more than one document. If both a sale agreement and a transfer instrument are executed, if the sale agreement has been charged ad valorem stamp duty, the subsequent transfer instrument will attract a nominal RM10 only.
The Guideline can be accessed here.
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