Approximately 130,000 foreigners who own properties in Johor will have to pay a new tax rate which varies from that for locals, reported Bernama.
It is believed that more than 90 percent of these owners are from Singapore.
The move aims to boost the earnings of local authorities and improve the services to residents, said Johor Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
“The time has come for the state government to look at foreign ownership in the state because our people in other countries are also imposed a different tax rate.”
“So, we are initially starting with the property tax rate.” He is also optimistic that local residents will support the state government’s decision.
In the meantime, local councils would need to re-asses the property values within their respective jurisdictions to determine the amount of tax imposed. Reason being that the last assessment was conducted in the 1980s and property values are now higher.
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
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