Boss, let me tell you a story.

You found a “tax agent” on Facebook.

Cheap.
Fast.
WhatsApp replied within minutes.

He promised to help you save tax.
You paid him.
Everything looked fine.

Three years later,
LHDN opened your company’s tax file.

Something wasn’t right.
You called your “tax agent”.

Phone switched off.
Facebook page disappeared.
WhatsApp unread.

A few days later, an email from
the “tax agent” finally arrived.
“It is the director’s duty to ensure the company’s tax affairs are in order.”

That was the last time you heard from “tax agent”.

Now guess who has to answer LHDN?
You.
Not your “tax agent”.

The additional tax.
The penalties.
The supporting documents.
All yours.

This is what many SME bosses do not realise.

A tax agent is not just someone who knows how to prepare a tax computation.

Under Malaysian law, a person acting as a tax agent must hold a licence issued under Section 153(3) of the Income Tax Act 1967.

A nice Facebook page is not a licence.
A viral TikTok video is not a licence.
Thousands of followers are not a licence.

Today, almost anyone can call themselves a “tax consultant”, “tax guru”, or “tax agent”.

I have been in this profession since the 1990s.

Over the years, I have seen too many business owners save a few hundred ringgit in professional fees, only to pay tens of thousands later in additional tax and penalties.

Before you appoint a tax agent, ask one simple question.
“What is your tax agent licence number?”

A genuine licensed tax agent will answer without hesitation.

Before trusting anyone with your company’s tax matters, spend one minute checking.

The official public search is available on LHDN’s website.

⁠LHDN Public Search Portal
https://lnkd.in/gnWmCKmV

It may be the most valuable one-minute tax check you ever make.

PS: On 30 June 2026, the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) publicly named four firms in The Star and Sin Chew Daily for offering audit, accounting, and tax services without the required registration. Those were only the firms that were identified and publicly announced.