Checking your payslip usually means finding out how much money you’ll be taking home. But for one Malaysian woman, it left her wondering why a sizeable chunk of her earnings had been deducted as income tax.
Taking to Threads, @itszwinters shared a screenshot of her payslip and asked whether the deduction made sense given her basic salary.
While she referred to her salary as RM1,700 in her post, the payslip listed her monthly basic pay as RM1,750.
RM226.50 deducted from RM754.84 in earnings
According to the payslip, her salary was prorated for the period from October 8 to October 19, 2026, with October 19 listed as her resignation date.
Her basic pay for that period came to RM677.42. Together with prorated shift and transport allowances of RM38.71 each, her total earnings amounted to RM754.84.
However, the payslip also listed the following deductions:
- EPF: RM84
- SOCSO: RM9.40
- EIS: RM1.50
- Income tax: RM226.50
The deductions totalled RM321.40, leaving a balance of RM433.44.
The amount labelled “income tax” alone made up roughly 30% of her earnings for that period.
Left after receiving an SPP offer
In the replies, the woman explained that she had only worked briefly at the factory before receiving an offer through SPP.
She said she had been doing part-time work since the previous year while waiting for the offer. Her monthly earnings varied but were below RM1,500.
After trying out the factory job for about a week, she received the offer and submitted her resignation letter.
When a commenter questioned why her EPF deduction was only RM84, she clarified that she had worked there for less than a month.
Claimed salary had yet to reach her account
Beyond the deductions, she said there was another issue: the money had allegedly not reached her bank account.
The worst part is that my salary hasn’t entered my account even though they said they had already transferred it,” she wrote.
She also said she could no longer access the company’s payroll system because she had resigned.
Netizens questioned the deduction
The payslip drew plenty of reactions, with several commenters questioning why someone on her stated salary would have such a large income tax deduction.
Others suggested possible explanations.
One commenter who said they used the same payroll software suggested checking whether her tax residency status had been entered incorrectly.
Another speculated that the money might have been withheld pending tax clearance following her resignation.
However, neither explanation was confirmed in the screenshots shared.
Several users also encouraged her to seek clarification from LHDN or approach the Labour Department if the company did not cooperate.
Plans to pursue the matter
Responding to the advice, the woman thanked commenters and said she intended to challenge the deduction.
Thank you. I’ll fight this. I’ve learnt a lot of new information from the comments on Threads,” she wrote.
The screenshots do not include an explanation from the employer or confirmation that the salary payment and disputed deduction have since been resolved.
