Thinking of starting a full-time or part-time hustle as a gig worker? Whether you’re driving for Grab, Lalamove, Foodpanda, Bolt, or ShopeeFood, we welcome you to the big family!
Many people think, “I just register with the platform and start jalan la… quick action, find money, good move!”
Yes, taking action is great, but skipping one crucial step is typically the wrong move. Reason?
Because all that gross revenue will become your taxable income! Even worse, you are basically throwing your hard-earned money away. You work like hell all day, but end up with peanuts. Really, but why?
No SSM = Paying Tax on Everything!
Under Malaysian law, if you do not register yourself with SSM (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia) as a sole proprietor, you cannot officially deduct your business expenses. This means you need to pay tax on every single cent that comes in. Stupid kan?
If you have an SSM, you can deduct your business expenses from your income. What counts as a business expense for gig workers?
- Petrol & Toll Fees (during business hours)
- Vehicle Depreciation / Capital Allowance (Jangan main-main ni, this can save you thousands!)
- New Handphone & 5G Internet Bill
- Car Service, Maintenance & Tyre Changes
- Car Rental Fees
- Bank Interest on your Vehicle Hire Purchase (Betul, you can claim this!)
- PSV License & Medical Check-ups
- Even your Car Wash receipts!
See how much money you are throwing away if you don’t claim these?
The “Leceh” Catch: Keeping Records for 7 Years
But of course, there is a caveat. LHDN requires you to save all your receipts and income statements from your gig platforms for 7 years. Then, when tax season comes, you need to prepare a proper Profit and Loss (P&L) statement for your business.
Aiya… some people say, “Sangat leceh la bro, I just don’t care…”
But if you carefully calculate and compare it to that big chunk of expenses you could be claiming, you are losing out on thousands of Ringgit!
The Solution: Don’t Let the “Leceh” Stop You
I know it’s leceh. I used to be a Lalamove driver myself. When I actually sat down to calculate my income versus expenses, I realized saya sangat rugi.
That is exactly why I designed Gig Log App. It’s a simple, offline-first gig log app that helps you store receipts, record mileage, and log your income. Because it doesn’t use live auto-GPS tracking, it won’t drain your phone battery and your privacy is 100% secure.
You just log your details, and with 1 click, the app generates a proper P&L statement for your business. When tax season arrives, just salin je the numbers into your e-Filing. Settle!
The Reality Check: The E-Invoice Era is Here
Some people still think, “Ala, I earn small money only, the government will not know.”
Wrong! We are now in the e-Invoice era. Go and check your Grab or Lalamove statements—they generate self-billed e-Invoices when they pay you. This means LHDN already has your record.
If you don’t report your income and that “surat cinta” (audit letter) from LHDN arrives, you’re going to regret it. The choice is yours. Even if your earnings fall below the taxable income threshold, you are still required to do your e-Filing. You cannot just hope the government closes one or both eyes.
The country needs revenue, so kita jaga kita. Be a good citizen, pay what you legally owe, and for the things you shouldn’t be paying taxes on? Track them and save your money. Sikit-sikit, lama-lama jadi bukit!
Whether you are doing this full-time or part-time, do yourself a favor: go register yourself with SSM as a sole prop. It only costs RM30, but it will save you thousands. No joke, jamin!
Find out more Gig Log App here