New guideline on stamp duty for movable property transactions

LHDN has released a new guideline detailing how stamp duty should be imposed on documents involving the sale or transfer of movable property, including equipment, machinery, vehicles, jewellery, and other transferable assets.

Key points covered in the guideline include:
✅ Ad valorem stamp duty is now clearly applicable to transactions involving movable business assets, rather than items classified as trading inventory.
✅ Trading goods remain fully exempt from stamp duty when sold through written agreements.
✅ The stamp duty rate structure varies based on the asset value and whether the buyer is a Malaysian citizen or a non-citizen.
✅ The guideline also clarifies the position following the 2024 Federal Court ruling in the Havi Logistics case, which narrowed the meaning of “goods, wares or merchandise” to trading stock only.

Although concise, the document provides much-needed clarity for businesses involved in asset disposal, equipment sales, and restructuring exercises.

You may refer to the official guideline via the link below:
https://www.hasil.gov.my/media/datlw4dh/20251106-garis-panduan-pengenaan-duti-setem-ke-atas-surat-cara-jual-beli-dan-surat-cara-pindah-milik-bagi-harta-alih.pdf