“All taxpayers are requested to come to the IRB to voluntarily declare their taxes and we will accept it openly and without prejudice,” said its director, Hajam Lajah Alam, after a meeting with Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal at the Sabah administrative centre today.

Hajam said the SVDP programme was offered to five taxpayer categories, including individuals, companies and organisations that have not registered with the IRB.

Those who have registered but not submitted their income tax return forms, petroleum return forms or real property gains tax return forms can also benefit from the programme, he added.

“Additionally, the programme is also open to individual taxpayers, companies and organisations which have not disclosed their profits from disposal of assets,” he said.

The programme, which ends on June 30 this year, offers volunteer taxpayers low penalty rates of between 10% and 15%.

The penalty rates will return to the original rates of between 80% and 300%, starting July 1.