The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) would like to notify all employers that for the quarter ending 30th June 2021, the applicable commercial rate for calculating Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) on concessional loans provided by the employer to an employee is 23%.
Paragraph 5(e) of the Fringe Benefits Tax Regulations stipulates that where an employer provides a loan to an employee at an interest rate lower than the applicable commercial rate, the resulting interest difference (saving) be recognized as a fringe benefit.
For purposes of determining the fringe benefit under the said regulation, the prevalent rate on the formal market for loans in the middle of each quarter (15th day of the second month of each quarter) is deemed to be the commercial rate. The prevalent rate on the 15th May, 2021 was 23%.
All employers should, therefore, use this rate to compute the taxable value of the fringe benefit on concessional loans for the quarter ending 30th June, 2021.