News on EPF monthly circulation rate

Members of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) will be able to benefit from the reduction of the employees’ monthly statutory contribution rate by three per cent, from 11 per cent to 8 per cent, effective from January 2009 wage for a period of two years.

However if members wish to maintain the contribution rate at 11 per cent may choose to do so by filling up Form KWSP 17A (AHL). Once completed, the forms can be submitted to the members’ respective employers for submission to the EPF.

In the meantime, the EPF will be issuing a new monthly contributions schedule accordingly. Members and employers may obtain the new schedule and Form KWSP 17A (AHL) from all EPF branches or download them from our website, myEPF, at www.kwsp.gov.my from 1 December 2008 onwards.

For full article - EPF - Lower EPF Employees’ Contribution Rate Starting January 2009 Wage.

This doesn’t affect employer’s contribution to the employee.

In an email circulation:

Assume monthly basic salary is RM4000.
- If your monthly EPF contribution is 11% ( RM440 ), taxable income = RM3560, income tax payable = RM77.
- If your monthly EPF contribution is 8% ( RM320 ), taxable income = RM3680, income tax payable = RM109.

Conclusion: If you choose to contribute 8%, you will end up paying more income tax to the government, which will make the government richer. Finance Minister Najib said this measure is meant to boost up the slow-down market, but from this example wee see that the money does not go into the market. Instead the money goes direct into the government’s pocket through the greater amount of income tax that we will have to pay.

How we benefit the additional 3% (not counting tax, if needed) would depend on if/when we can get back more than 3%.

You can calculate the salary in http://payroll.my

source: http://pasim.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/epf-cut-3-from-11-to-8/