ROYAL MALAYSIAN CUSTOMS

GOODS AND SERVICES TAX

GUIDE
ON

APPROVED TRADER
SCHEME

GUIDE ON APPROVED TRADER SCHEME

As at 6 MAY 2015

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1
Overview of Goods and Services Tax.................................................................... 1
GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE INDUSTRY ....................................................... 1
Approved Trader Scheme...................................................................................... 1
PARTIES QUALIFYING FOR ATS CONSIDERATION ............................................ 2
CONDITIONS FOR ATS APPROVAL ...................................................................... 3
IMPORTATION OF GOODS UNDER ATS ............................................................... 5
IMPORTED SERVICES ............................................................................................ 5
TREATMENT ON GOODS LOCALLY SOURCED BY ATS APPROVED PERSON 5
SUPPLY OF GOODS TO THE LOCAL MARKET BY ATS APPROVED PERSON . 6
FARMING OUT TO SUB-CONTRACTORS BY ATS APPROVED PERSON .......... 6
GOOD ACCOUNTING SYSTEM .............................................................................. 7
RESPONSIBILITES OF AN ATS APPROVED PERSON......................................... 8
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION ......................................................................... 9
FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS .............................................................................. 11
FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION .................................................... 11
APPENDIX 1 .............................................................................................................. i
APPENDIX 2 ............................................................................................................. ii
APPENDIX 3 ............................................................................................................ iii

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As at 6 MAY 2015

INTRODUCTION
1.

This industry guide is prepared to assist businesses in understanding matters

with regards to GST treatment on Approved Trader Scheme (ATS).

Overview of Goods and Services Tax
2.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a multi-stage tax on domestic consumption.

GST is charged on all taxable supplies of goods and services in Malaysia except
those specifically exempted. GST is also charged on importation of goods and
services into Malaysia.
3.

Payment of tax is made in stages by the intermediaries in the production and

distribution process. Although the tax would be paid throughout the production and
distribution chain, only the value added at each stage is taxed thus avoiding double
taxation.
4.

In Malaysia, a person who is registered under the Goods and Services Tax

Act 2014 is known as a registered person. A registered person is required to

charge GST (output tax) on his taxable supply of goods and services made to his
customers. He is allowed to claim back any GST incurred on his purchases (input
tax) which are inputs to his business. Therefore, the tax itself is not a cost to the
intermediaries and does not appear as an expense item in their financial statements.
GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE INDUSTRY
Approved Trader Scheme
5.

Basically, all exports are zero-rated, meaning exporters do not collect output

tax on their supplies. All major re-exporters will have positive input tax refund as they
do not have collection or have only minimum collection of output tax to help them
offset against the GST paid on their imports. This would create a cash flow problem
for them because they would have to pay GST upfront. Hence, a suspended GST
under the Approved Trader Scheme (ATS) was introduced to alleviate the cash flow
problem faced by importers who mainly re-export their supplies.

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6.

Any taxable person approved under the ATS (refer as ATS approved

person after this) will be allowed to suspend GST payable on imported goods at
the point of importation. The GST due on all goods imported in a particular taxable
period would be summed up and accounted for in the taxable period where the
importation takes place in a specific column in GST return. ATS approved person
must be on a monthly taxable period.
7.

Suspension of GST only applies to goods that are imported and not for locally

acquired supplies. Normally, an ATS approved person would be able to acquire

supplies from the local market on credit term. On the other hand, he may be able to
collect output tax on supplies made to the local market to offset his input tax
payments. Concept of ATS can be illustrated as in Appendix 1.
PARTIES QUALIFYING FOR ATS CONSIDERATION
8.

The following taxable persons who registered under section 20 of the act are

eligible to apply for ATS subject to approval given by RMC.

(a)

All companies operating in a Free Industrial Zones (FIZ) under

paragraph 10(1) (b) of the Free Zones Act 1990.

(b)

All Licensed Manufacturing Warehouse (LMW) operators licensed

under Section 65A of the Customs Act 1967.

(c)

International Procurement Centres (IPCs) and Regional Distribution

Centres (RDCs) approved by the Director General of Malaysian
Investment Development Authority (MIDA).

(d)

Toll manufacturers approved under the Approved Toll Manufacturer

Scheme (ATMS).

(e)

Jewellery manufacturers approved under the Approved Jeweller

Scheme.

(f)

Companies with turnover above RM25 million and making at least 80%
zero rated supplies.

(g)

Any person or class of persons as determined by the Minister.

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CONDITIONS FOR ATS APPROVAL

9.

Like any other special schemes, there are conditions imposed under the ATS

in which an ATS approved person must strictly adhere to. The conditions imposed
under the ATS include the following:
(a)

An ATS participant must make wholly taxable supplies;

A registered person who makes exempt supplies or partial-exempt
supplies does not qualify for the ATS unless the exempt supplies are
incidental to his main business. (See Example 1 below).
Example 1 Exempt supply incidental to main business.

ABC Sdn. Bhd.

(parent company)

Export (80%)

Group

Provide internal

registration

loan

Overseas
market

Local sales (20%)

(exempt
XYZ Sdn.
Bhd. supply)
(subsidiary of ABC
Sdn. Bhd.

Local
market

Certain exempt supplies such as provision of any loans, advance or

credit between connected persons, deposit of money, issuance of debt
security, etc, are treated as incidental to the taxable persons business
activities if the person makes no other exempt supplies as stipulated
under Regulation 40 of the GST Regulations 2014. (For further
details, see incidental exempt supplies).
(b)

An ATS approved person must account for tax on a monthly taxable

period;
An ATS approved person must only file monthly GST return. Any
registered person who files other than monthly GST return is not
eligible for ATS.

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(c)

Electronic submission of GST return;

An ATS approved person must submit his monthly GST return through
electronic filing (E-filing).

(d)

Importation of goods must be declared electronically;

All imports must be declared electronically and in the name of the ATS
approved person. However, authorized forwarding agents duly
appointed can clear the goods on behalf of the ATS approved person,
but the ATS approved person must sign the import/ export forms and
remain liable for any tax and duties due or accountable by him.

(e)

An ATS approved person must have good compliance as a GST payer;

An ATS approved person must have performed and complied with all
duties and obligation relating to his liabilities to account and pay tax as
prescribed under the Act. A registered person blacklisted under any
laws administered by the RMC would not be considered for ATS status.

(f)

An ATS approved person must have good accounting system;

Good accounting expected of an ATS approved person is explained in
paragraph 16 below.

(g)

Security to be furnished;
Under certain circumstances, an ATS participant may be required by
the Director General (DG) of the RMC to furnish security, in the form of
bank guarantee or bond or both, to protect revenue.

(h)

Other conditions.
The DG of the RMC may impose additional or revise any condition(s)
from time to time as he deems fit. The conditions set here do not
preclude or override any other conditions imposed on an ATS approved
person under LMW, FIZ, RDC and IPC scheme respectively. The DG of
the RMC also reserved the rights to reject any application, to review or
revoke any approval granted to an ATS approved person at any time
without prior notice to protect revenue.

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IMPORTATION OF GOODS UNDER ATS

10.

Generally all goods imported would be subjected to GST. Under ATS,

approved persons are allowed to suspend the payment of GST on the importation of
goods. In this case, an importer only needs to declare the goods at the place of
import before it is taken out from customs control.
11.

The amount of GST suspension for all goods imported in a particular month

need to be declared by the importer under this scheme by declaring the amount in a
specific column in the GST return for that month (the month where the suspension
relates). The return needs to be furnished not later than the last day of the
subsequent month (Please see Example 2 below).
Example 2
ABC Sdn Bhd is a manufacturing company which approved under ATS. In the
month of January 2016 he has imported raw materials with the amount CIF
RM100,000. The total amount of GST suspended is RM6,000. (RM100,000 X
6%). As an approved person under ATS, ABC needs to declare the amount of
GST suspended i.e. RM6,000 in his GST return for the month of January
2016.
IMPORTED SERVICES
12.

Since all ATS participants are taxable persons and making wholly taxable

supplies, GST on imported services can be net off with the deemed input tax credit.
TREATMENT ON GOODS LOCALLY SOURCED BY ATS APPROVED PERSON
13.

Any goods sourced locally do not come within the scope of ATS whereby the

normal rules of GST would apply. This means that GST has to be paid upfront and
claim as input tax credit. Similar treatment applies even if goods or raw materials
purchased from another ATS approved person such as a company operating in a
free industrial zone. However, if an ATS approved person purchased goods from a
licensed warehouse, payment of GST on the imported goods is suspended.

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SUPPLY OF GOODS TO THE LOCAL MARKET BY ATS APPROVED PERSON

14.

Any goods, whether in the form of raw materials or finished goods, supplied or

disposed of in any manner to the local market are taxable supplies. An ATS
approved person must account for GST on local supplies made by issuing tax
invoices. For those who is licensed under Licensed Manufacturing Warehouse
(LMW) or who is operating in Free Industrial Zone (FIZ), please refer to Guide
on LMW/FIZ.
FARMING OUT TO SUB-CONTRACTORS BY ATS APPROVED PERSON
15.

Farming out does not transfer the ownership of the goods to the sub-

contractor. As such, it is not a supply of goods and an ATS approved person does
not have to account for GST output tax on the raw materials. However, if the subcontractor is a GST registered person, he has to account for GST output tax on the
value of services supplied to the ATS approved person (Please see Example 3
below).
Example 3

ABC SDN. BHD.

(a GST registered with
ATS status)

Farmed out
(raw materials valued
at RM100,000)

Returned
(finished goods) and
RM15,000 for workmanship

XYZ SDN. BHD.

(a GST registered)

Accounting for GST will be as follows:

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(i)

ABC Sdn. Bhd. will issue a normal invoice or delivery order to XYZ
Sdn. Bhd. and no GST is chargeable.

(ii)

XYZ Sdn. Bhd. will issue a tax invoice to ABC Sdn. Bhd. when the
finished goods are returned to ABC Sdn. Bhd., and XYZ Sdn. Bhd. has
to account for output tax of RM900 (RM15,000 x 6%) on the
workmanship charge.

(iii)

ABC Sdn. Bhd. can claim the RM900 (GST) paid to XYZ Sdn. Bhd. as
his input tax credit.

(iv)

If XYZ Sdn. Bhd. is not a GST registered, no GST is due on the

workmanship charged.

GOOD ACCOUNTING SYSTEM

16.

An ATS approved person has to maintain a good accounting system which

includes the following requirements:

(a)

At the time of application

(i)

Accounting records must be kept in accordance with the

principles of Standard Accounting Practices adopted in Malaysia.
There must be sufficient original documents and proper records
of the value of imports, exports and local sales kept for at least
the 2 immediate past financial years from the date of application.
(See Example 4 below). Exemption to this condition may be
given to newly set up companies at the discretion of the DG
before approval. But, for new businesses a projection on the
supplies for the next 24 months from the date of application must
be given and the basis for the projection is clearly stated;
Example 4
-

Financial year ending 31st March 2016

Date of application is on 20th February 2016

The 2 relevant periods of records kept would be financial

years ending 31st March 2014 and 31st March 2015.

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(ii)

There must be a good audit trail on the accounts prepared by the

applicant. The DG may examine the accounts before an
approval is granted under the ATS.

(b)

During The Validity Period of the ATS Approval

(i)

ATS Approved person must maintain proper records on the

value of imports, exports and local sales as well as an inventory
of raw materials, quantities of work-in-progress and total
supplies made at all time. All documents related to imports,
exports, production of goods and local sales, like import and
export forms, invoices, delivery orders, credit and debit notes
and receipts must be kept and properly filed for a period of not
less than 7 years as provided for under the GST law;

(ii)

An ATS approved person must submit monthly report on details

of importation including amount of GST suspended to the RMC;

(iii)

There must be good audit trail and the external auditor is able to
issue a positive assurance report on the annual accounts and
that all trading figures declared are fair and accurate. The
external auditor report and opinion must be unqualified; and

(iv)

An ATS approved person must produce statements of account,

reports and any other related documents upon request from
RMC.

RESPONSIBILITES OF AN ATS APPROVED PERSON

17.

The responsibility of ATS approved persons are as follows:

(a)

ATS approved person must have good compliance record on any

business dealing with the RMC. Good compliance must be maintained
at all time. If he flout any law administered by the RMC he risk being
disqualified from the ATS. Any breach of conditions may result in
suspension or revocation of approval under regulation 90 of the GST
Regulations 2014 by the Director General;

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(b)

ATS approved person must maintain a good accounting system;

(c)

ATS approved person must not be making exempt supplies unless the
exempt supplies are incidental to his main business;

(d)

If his goods are cleared by authorized agent(s), all import and export
forms must still be signed by the ATS approved person;

(e)

ATS approved person cannot use his ATS status to import goods on
behalf of other importers.

(f)

ATS approved person is responsible and accountable for GST

suspended on the goods imported by him, including those cleared for
him by his forwarding agent(s);

(g)

ATS approved person must issue authorized letter to forwarding

agent(s) appointed by you and keep a record of them; and

(h)

ATS approved person should immediately notify the RMC on any

change in particulars submitted to RMC under the ATS.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

Supply of goods to the local market by ATS approved person
Q1.

If I supply raw materials or finished goods to another ATS approved

person, do I still have to account for GST output tax?

A1.

Yes, a supply made to another ATS approved person, irrespective whether

the buyer is an operator in a free industrial zone, IPC or RDC operator is a
taxable supply. You have to account for GST output tax chargeable on the
supply by issuing a tax invoice.

Q2.

I am an operator in a free industrial zone under the ATS and if I loan

some raw materials to another operator in the free industrial zone for his
urgent use, do I have to account for GST output tax?

A2.

Yes, because you are treated as making a supply of goods since the raw
materials which the other operator in a free industrial zone replaces you later
on would not be the same as the raw materials you loan to him. As such, it is
a taxable supply.
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Q3.

If I am a member under group registration, do I need to apply for

separate ATS approval for each constituent member?

A3.

Yes, each constituent member has to apply for ATS separately and it must
fulfill the required conditions.

Q4.

If I supply goods to a group member, do I have to account for GST

output tax on the supplies?

A4.

No, supply made between members registered as a group under the GST is
disregarded. However, goods imported under ATS are not allowed to be
supplied to any member of the group unless the ATS approved person has
IPC or RDC status. For further details, please refer Guide on Registration.

Responsibilities of an ATS approved person

Q5.

When I ceased to be a GST registered person or as an ATS approved

person, do I have to account for output tax on capital assets/stocks on
hand?

A5.

In both the above instances all goods imported, including capital assets and
stocks, on hand at the effective date of cessation are deemed to be taxable
supplies and you must account for output tax on the goods.

Q6.

Can I transfer my ATS status to another person if I decide to dispose of

my business to him?

A6.

Approval granted under the ATS is not transferable in any manner. The buyer
must apply for his own ATS status if he can fulfill all the conditions stipulated
under the ATS.

Q7.

What is the duration of an ATS approval and when should I renew it?

A7.

Approval for ATS status is on a two-yearly basis or for a shorter period, as the
case may be, and any application for renewal must be made within six months
before the last day of each approval period.

Q8.

What would happen to goods on hand if my ATS status is revoked?

A8.

If you are still registered for GST, normal rule would apply to your goods on
hand, i.e. account for output tax if supply takes place.

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Q9.

As an approved person under ATS, do I have to submit any report to

GST office?

A9.

Yes, you have to prepare monthly report known as Lampiran B 0 P.T. GST
Bil 2B (refer to Appendix 2) and submit it to the GST office (controlling station)
not later than the 10th day of the following month. If you are under a category
of any person whose annual turnover is more than 25 million and at least
80% supplies made are zero rated, there is another report to be prepared
known as Lampiran A1 (refer to Appendix 3). This report is not required to be
submitted but must be prepared for audit by any GST officer, at any time as
requested. The template of Lampiran B 0 P.T. GST Bil 2B and Lampiran A1
can be downloaded from GST portal.

FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS

18.

Any feedback or comments will be greatly appreciated. Please email your

feedback or comments to [email protected].

FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION
19.

Further information can be obtained from:

(a)

GST Website: www.gst.customs.gov.my

(b)

GST Hotline: 03-88822111

(c)

Customs Call Centre:

Tel

: 03-78067200/ 1-300-888-500

Fax

: 03-78067599

E-mail

: [email protected]

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APPENDIX 1

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LAMPIRAN B
LAMPIRAN B 0
P.T. GST BIL.2B

APPENDIX 2
PENYATA BULANAN BAGI PERGERAKAN BARANG YANG DIIMPORT
DI BAWAH SKIM PEDAGANG DILULUSKAN (SPL)
Nama Syarikat:
Alamat Syarikat:
No. GST:
No.SPL:

Bil.

Tarikh
Pengimportan

No. Borang Kastam 1

Kuantiti Diimport

Nilai Barang Diimport

Amaun GST digantung

Catatan

JUMLAH
Saya mengaku bahawa maklumat-maklumat yang diberi di atas adalah benar dan betul
Tandatangan:
Nama:
No.Kad Pengenalan:
Jawatan:
Cop Syarikat:
ni/SPL_ Import_syarikat/19.3.14

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LAMPIRAN A1

APPENDIX 3
PENYATA BULANAN BAGI PEMBEKALAN BARANG SIAP BAGI SYARIKAT
SELAIN GPB/FIZ/IPC/RDC/AJS/ATMS
Nama Syarikat:
Alamat Syarikat:
No. GST:
No.SPL:

Pengeluaran
Nama
Barang
siap

(a)

Jumlah stok
permulaan
barang siap

Jumlah
Keluaran
Semasa

(b)

(c)

Eksport

Jumlah
barang
Siap

(d)

No.
Borang
Kastam 2

(e)

Kuantiti

(f)

Pembekalan tempatan
bagi barang
berkadar sifar

Nilai
(RM)

Peratus
eksport

(g)

(h)= f)/(d)
X 100%

Tarikh
Jualan/
No.Invois
Jualan
(i)

Kuantiti

(j)

Nilai
Jualan
(RM)

(k)

Peratus
Jualan

(l) = (j)/(d)
X100%

Baki
stok
barang
siap

(m )=
(d) (f)
(j)

Jumlah
Saya mengaku bahawa maklumat-maklumat yang diberi di atas adalah benar dan betul
Tandatangan:
Nama:
No.Kad Pengenalan:
Jawatan:
Cop Syarikat:

Penyata ini hanya untuk tujuan audit dan perlu dikemukakan apabila dikehendaki

ni/25_80/19.3.14

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