Ignorance is not an excuse during audit. Risky move if the change really goes through.

In fact I believe SSPN system track our IC not child IC so the question of matching parents will be based on parent's details rather than children's details. If you recall, whenever submit your income tax declaration your spouse IC is included in the declaration.

When you submit your LHDN declaration every year, you (assume husband) also submit your wife NRIC in the same form. Page 4 (if you use BE form).

This is not different from any other claim-for-child (currently can choose 100% or 50% or 0% for any child below or above 18) - LHDN don't even ask the IC of the child. They base on who your declared spouse is.

This post has been edited by LostAndFound: Jan 2 2025, 11:08 AM

If you withdraw in January 2025, you get no dividend on that amount in 2025 (2024 dividend unaffected).

If you withdraw in February 2025, you get dividend on minimum monthly balance for Jan 2025.


Yes, assuming EPF returns > SSPN dividend (this I think is very safe). But you will lose 2 months of interest (January month end means you don't get any interest from January in SSPN, and December month end means you don't get any interest for December either, from EPF or SSPN).

A bit more optimised, January move to high interest savings account and deposit to EPF before month end. December transfer before 5th December to SSPN then can get SSPN December dividend.

Yeah should be doable. Be careful on the EPF deposit, there's some chatter in the EPF thread about possible earlier cut off due to CNY.

What's the complaint you want to make? That this non-bank entity which is taking deposits for long term savings for children's education isn't as convenient as your regular bank savings account for a couple of weeks while they close accounts?

Cannot online, must open over the counter. Also make sure you activate the SSPN link at the Bank Islam ATM while you're there (tell the staff that's what you want to do they will assist).

It changed to 25k some months back IIRC (I haven't done yet).

Start of the year definitely some delays cos of manual processing. Stay tenang, keep records,and just wait.

Haven't checked the specifics but should be possible. Why would you want to do that though, even if your incomes are identical it always makes sense to 'pack' all deductibles to a single spouse so you can drop bracket. Even more so if one income is higher than the other, all the deductibles should go to that spouse. If its a matter of 'equal sharing' then just calculate the value of the deductible and transfer it between yourselves. Both of you come out ahead.

E.g. if one spouse is taxed at 25% and the other at 19%, putting all deductibles on the higher-earning spouse will net you RM2000. Splitting half would net you RM1760, loss of RM240.

If they are both taxed on the same rate, then no difference. Unless one will drop rate when including this rebate (in which case the rebate should be applied to the other preferentially).

Some couples joint account so can optimise a bit more. Obviously if not joint account then got other considerations besides maxing refund.

No reason not to open one account per child and per spouse. So two children total 4 account, 3 children total 6 account.

If want to be fair la. In my opinion not really needed unless you really see the account as 'belonging' to the child. I have two children but I use their account alternate years based on whatever SSPN promos they have. When it comes time to pay for their studies, I think won't need to touch SSPN amount, but if needed also can just withdraw what is needed, no need to kira which one 'belong' to which kid.

Insurance... if the child passes away. Most of the takaful benefits are for SSPN plus not prime (previous sspn-i)

https://www.sspn.com.my/sspn-i/perbezaan-ak...n-akaun-sspn-i/ for reference

Have you ever filled income tax declaration form before? Considered that there's a reason page 1 itself of the online form asks not just for your IC number but for your spouse IC number as well (together with the 'joint or separate declaration' quesiton)?

Maybe SSPN's computer system may 'let go' and show 8k each. Good luck with LHDN side then. IMO not worth the risk.

Unlikely. 25% up front will take a long time for attrition of interest rate (if compared fairly against similar funds like EPF/ASM rather than against equity/crypto) to lose more. Especially since the amount is relatively small, only 8k a year.

To be fair, because the amount must be higher than previous year, you only earn 25% one shot at the start (and then roughly ~4% per year).

Hypothetically if you put in EPF at ~6%, there is a length of time after which EPF on the 100% amount at ~6% is higher than SSPN interest of ~4% on the 100% amount + ~6% on the 25% amount.

Yes, go to https://myptptn.ptptn.gov.my

You probably need to create new account.

Kena audit? Fastest way would be to go to PTPTN branch I guess.

Also you can choose to 'skip' a year.

For example, if in 2025 you withdraw everything except RM20 in each account, you cannot claim for 2025 tax (submitted 2026).

But in 2026 you can just add RM8k total (4k each account also can, 8k one account, however you wish) and will be eligible for 2026 tax (submitted 2027).

If between you and wife can play this game every year, one year you claim, one year wife claim. Most suitable for spouse with similar income level/tax bracket. For those where one spouse outearn the other significantly, better to just continuous build up in the higher earning spouse's name. Its not like the accumulated amount doesn't earn interest, in fact the interest is sorta competitive with FD mostly.

I guess if you have two children and you legally divorce your wife, each of you get legal guardianship of one child, then you can still claim RM8000 each.....

This applies specifically to the child tax relief, not SSPN.


LHDN doesn't have the idea of a 'household' in that way, even when I was single I pay income tax there's no 'joint household' with my parents, and my parents don't get to claim for me once I left the age of childhood also. So if you're a working single then your parents are not relevant at all. If you have children you can claim.

The idea of 'balik to parents rumah' is a cultural thing, nothing to do with tax eligibility or not. LHDN only recognize one relationship, marriage.

Marriage is literally the only important relationship for LHDN, so divorced will make the 'loophole' if you have more than one child and split custody. Because you are no longer married. Don't know why you assume it 'doesn't make sense'.