Private school parents jittery over service tax impact
By JAAYNE JEEVITA
Nation
Thursday, 12 Jun 2025


PETALING JAYA: Parents with kids in private and international schools are anxious about the financial implications, despite assurances that local students remain exempt from the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST).

Many parents believe the increased operational costs may be passed on to them through higher fees or hidden charges when the expanded tax comes into effect on July 1.

Under the new policy, a 6% service tax will be imposed on private preschool, primary and secondary education providers that charge more than RM60,000 in annual tuition fees.

Sandra Lee, a mother of two who enrolled her children in an international school in Kuala Lumpur, said the new tax policy is worrying as it adds to the broader financial strain on families.

“The impact of additional taxes may accumulate, as there are also other areas that were not taxed before,” she said, adding that families will have less disposable income as a result.

“Education is essential, and any additional strain on affordability could force families to make tough decisions about their children’s schooling,” she said.

Lee added that transparency and accountability mechanisms such as the e-invoicing system should be used to monitor how schools apply the tax, rather than placing the burden directly on consumers.

Aimi Shazwany Mat Noh, a mother of a student at a private institution in Kuala Lumpur, said the move raises practical concerns about how the policy will be implemented across the board.

“The government needs to understand that businesses don’t usually price their services differently just because some customers are exempted.

“To stay sustainable, they’ll likely apply a uniform approach,” she said.

She added that even with exemptions for Malaysian students, families may still feel the effects of the SST, though to a lesser degree.

“Many parents who opt for private education are not necessarily wealthy. There are working-­class families who save up to send their children to private schools.

“What policymakers should consider are incentives or income tax reliefs that can help such households minimise the financial impact and not make them a target for tax revenue,” she said.

Avinash Zhi Yong Suriar, 15, who studies at a private international school, said he is worried that the new tax may increase the school fees paid by his parents, calling it “an unfair change”.

“Since many private schools increase fees as students progress to higher levels, I believe that if schools transfer the tax burden to parents, it should only be placed on students from Primary to Form Three (or equivalent) to avoid over-straining parents financially,” he said.

fuiyo finally they make noise

Private 1on1 tuition jer
No declare no tax

Most international school more than 60k/year? Kayaaaaaa

that just mean u wearing a hat bigger than ur head

Preschool also kena. Assuming 1k per student, got 5 students already kena SST
1 x 5 x 12 = 60
Edit, my maths failed
Failed comprehension

This post has been edited by Rusty Nail: Jun 12 2025, 08:27 AM

Many parents who opt for private education are not necessarily wealthy. There are working-­class families who save up to send their children to private schools

then u should know already sending kid to these school will make a black hole to your wallet, why sudden complain ?

sk, smk kan ada :X

Gomen schooling kan ado? Education is essential but it's not like the choice is private schooling or no education whatsoever.

those lebai schools ?

Hahahaha finally they are taxed.

yahoo..

puas don't have their means to spread their wings

Sending Msian back to the stone age!

Stupid people easier to control

+1
paying rm5K per month for school education, consider kaya already to me

Under the new policy, a 6% service tax will be imposed on private preschool, primary and secondary education providers that charge more than RM60,000 in annual tuition fees.

This post has been edited by JimbeamofNRT: Jun 12 2025, 08:25 AM

‘Stupid and uneducated’ people preferred, Tunku Ismail told
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...ku-ismail-told/
In an excerpt of an exclusive interview posted on the Southern Tigers Facebook page today, Tunku Ismail, who is the Crown Prince of Johor, revealed this shocking answer when he said, “I have questioned a certain important individual, why can’t we improve the education levels?

“The individual answered that it was for two simple reasons, the first is to obtain votes.

“And the second is to make it easy to control the minds of the stupid and uneducated.”

60k annual fees/student only kena

maybe university level only charge this much?

Home school je lah

sst is paid by the parents rite?
one kid annual fees 60k then kena sst

u go makan...restaurant pay sst? or you pay sst?

kecian earn more ditindas

those utar, tarumt, private uni usually charge 5-8k per semester so yes , if taylor and sunway, super expensive

This post has been edited by nelson969: Jun 12 2025, 08:31 AM

fuh..that can fund whole 3-year degree in local private U back in my day.