THAYALAN S/O KUNARATANAM
Kuala lumpur
Summary
Strategic Head of Tax - Regional managing comprehensive Tax Compliance and Advisory initiatives. Delivered impactful tax solutions for Mergers & Acquisitions and Business Restructuring through effective stakeholder engagement and project management. Focused on enhancing regulatory compliance and driving automation initiatives to improve operational efficiency.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Tax - Regional
Air Asia Move Sdn Bhd
02.2025 - Current
- Managed regional tax compliance for corporate tax, value added tax, goods & service tax, sales & service tax, and withholding tax, ensuring adherence to local regulations.
- Provided tax advisory on mergers & acquisitions, business restructuring, and incentive applications to optimise tax positions.
- Oversaw tax audits and investigations, coordinating with stakeholders to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.
- Management of automation initiatives (e.g. implementation of e-invoicing, tax dashboard).
- Managed operations for online travel agency, focusing on e-commerce strategies.
Associate Director -Head of Tax
Touch ‘N Go Sdn Bhd
02.2024 - 02.2025
- Managed corporate tax filing processes by coordinating data extraction from ERP system and ensuring compliance with tax regulations.
- Review of tax returns for the relevant years of assessment which includes extraction of data from ERP system and perform analysis including verifying source documents.
- Preparation and submission of tax estimates for the relevant years of assessment.
- Oversaw withholding tax filing by reviewing monthly transactions and verifying compliance with relevant tax treaties.
- Review and submission of withholding tax returns monthly.
- Review and provide input on withholding tax exposure on transactions involving entities within Malaysia monthly which includes assessing the applicability of withholding tax obligations, tax treaty and requirements.
- Executed ad-hoc tax advisory projects, optimising tax structures and enhancing compliance strategies.
- Assisted in analysing benchmarking exercises for Transfer Pricing documentation preparation.
- Undertook specific projects to improve tax structure efficiency and effectiveness, including implementation of e-invoicing initiative and SST assessment.
- Implementation of E-invoicing initiative.
- Undertake SST assessment and identify potential gaps / exposure and implement remediation action plan.
- Financial Institution (Fin Tech)
Head of Tax - Malaysia
Ecart Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd
03.2020 - 01.2024
- Provided tax compliance and advisory services for e-commerce and logistics sectors, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Tax Compliance for E-commerce Platform and Logistics Arm
- Corporate Tax Filing
- Review of tax returns for the relevant years of assessment which includes extraction of data from ERP system and perform analysis including verifying source documents.
- Preparation and submission of tax estimates for the relevant years of assessment.
- Assist in the analysis of benchmarking exercise undertaken for the preparation of Transfer Pricing documentations.
- Facilitated bi-monthly SST return preparation for Malaysian entities, ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Review and provide input on preparation of bi-monthly SST returns within the Malaysian entities.
- Perform assessment on the SST treatment on each of the transactions and ensure compliance in accordance with SST Regulations.
- Reviewed and evaluated withholding tax obligations on transactions for Malaysian entities, ensuring compliance with tax treaties.
- Review and provide input on withholding tax exposure on transactions involving entities within Malaysia on a monthly basis which includes assessing the applicability of withholding tax obligations, tax treaties and requirements.
- Review and submission of withholding tax returns on a monthly basis.
- Perform tax planning initiatives across both online platform operator and logistics arm by exploring tax incentives suitable for the business value chain.
- Identify initiatives on potential SST savings by exploring B2B exemption / Group relief on business initiatives undertaken by various stakeholders, e.g marketing/ commercial initiative.
- Undertake specific projects in collaboration with Regional office to ensure a more efficient and effective tax structure. Example of projects are as follows:-
- SST report automation process.
- Rationalisation of inter-company charges across each country entities which includes determining the nature of services, the basis to determine the chargeback and creation/ tagging of relevant cost center to ensure ease tracking and monitoring.
- Business Partnering Support
- Continuous liaison with stakeholders to identify initiatives / cost saving measures in managing the day to day operations.
- Build and sustain good relationship with Government agencies to provide support / industry input in developing tax policy / measures.
- Managing Audit by the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board (IRB) / Royal Malaysian Customs Department
- Performing health check on the tax returns including preparing justification on tax treatment adopted.
- Provide briefing on the entire value chain to the authorities to enable a better understanding of the business operations.
- Provided support and justification to the authorities during audits.
- Liaised with authorities to achieve favourable outcomes for the business.
- Ad-hoc Tax Advisory
- Provided tax compliance and advisory services for e-commerce and logistics sectors, enhancing operational efficiency.
Tax Manager- Regional
Weatherford Malaysia Sdn Bhd
01.2019 - 02.2020
- Tax Compliance
- Corporate Tax Filing
- Prepared tax returns for relevant years of assessment by extracting data from ERP system and analysing source documents for accuracy.
- Preparation and submission of tax estimates for the relevant years of assessment.
- Withholding tax filing
- Review and provide input on withholding tax exposure on transactions involving entities within the Group on a monthly / quarterly / annually.
- Review and submission of withholding tax returns monthly / quarterly / quarterly.
- Oil & Gas Service Provider
- Financial Reporting
- Preparation of data required for annual Employer Remuneration (Form E) submission to the tax authorities.
- Assisted in monthly financial closing by verifying and rectifying tax figures in ERP system for Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Brunei.
- Review and provide input on preparation of monthly / quarterly GST /VAT returns for relevant entities within the Group.
- Assist in the registration of GST / VAT number for entities across the region.
- Set up compliance processes for entities in various countries.
- Brunei
- Financial Reporting
- Assisted in monthly financial closing by verifying and rectifying tax figures in ERP system for Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Brunei.
- Singapore
- Philippines
- Malaysia
- Brunei
- Oil & Gas Service Provider
- Financial Reporting
- Assisted in monthly financial closing by verifying and rectifying tax figures in ERP system for Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Brunei.
- Individual Tax Compliance
- Preparation of tax returns for expats employed under the Group for the relevant years of assessment which includes extraction of data from ERP system and perform analysis including verifying source documents.
- Preparation of data required for annual Employer Remuneration (Form E) submission to the tax authorities.
- Financial Reporting
- Assisted in monthly financial closing by verifying and rectifying tax figures in ERP system for Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Brunei.
- Oil & Gas Service Provider
Global Tax Manager -Asia
Iflix Sdn Bhd
09.2017 - 12.2018
- Tax Compliance
- Corporate Tax Filing
- Review and provide input on preparation of tax returns for the relevant years of assessment.
- Preparation and submission of tax estimates for the relevant years of assessment.
- Set up the compliance process for entities in various countries.
- Conducted analysis of benchmarking exercises for Transfer Pricing documentation in Asia, ensuring compliance with regional tax regulations.
- Compiled list of countries covered in tax compliance, including Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Czech Republic, and Thailand.
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Australia
- Czech Republic
- Thailand
- GST Filing
- Review and provide input on preparation of monthly / quarterly GST returns for relevant entities within the Group.
- Assist in the registration of GST / VAT number for entities across the region.
- Countries covered:-
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Australia
- Czech Republic
- Thailand
- Withholding tax filing
- Review and provide input on withholding tax exposure on transactions involving entities within the Group.
- Review and submission of withholding tax returns monthly / quarterly.
- Countries covered:-
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Myanmar
- Cambodia
- Ad-hoc tax advisory
- Review and provide input on management agreement between subsidiaries within the Group to ensure the management fees charged are in accordance with the Income Tax Act.
- Assist and provide advice on restructuring exercise undertaken involving the transfer of shares from holding company to a newly incorporated entity in different jurisdiction.
- Applied for waiver of withholding tax for royalty payments to the Malaysian Ministry of Finance.
- Submitted application for Principal Hub Incentive for Regional Headquarters, facilitating tax incentives for operations in Malaysia.
- Group Tax
Assistant Vice President
Sime Darby Holdings Berhad
01.2015 - 08.2017
- Directed tax strategies for the entire group of companies, ensuring compliance and alignment with financial objectives.
- Managed tax compliance processes for various companies within the division.
- Provide continuous support to the companies by providing high level input on tax returns and other tax matters.
- Assist companies within the Divisions by providing high level input on preparation of tax returns for the relevant years of assessment.
- Advised on Real Asset Monetization exercises in Singapore and Australia, enhancing tax efficiency.
- Provided tax advisory services to companies operating in Brunei.
- Delivered tailored tax advisory services to meet client requirements.
- Provide continuous support to the companies by providing high level input on tax returns and other tax matters.
- Assist companies within the Divisions by providing high level input on preparation of tax returns for the relevant years of assessment.
- Assist companies within the Divisions by providing high level input on preparation and submission of tax estimates for the relevant years of assessment.
- Provide advice on withholding tax implication on transactions incurred by the relevant companies.
- Review and provide high level input on Transfer Pricing documentations prepared by companies within the division to ensure the documentation prepared are in compliance with the Transfer Pricing regulations.
- Review and provide high level input on management agreement between subsidiaries within the Group to ensure the management fees charged are in accordance with the Income Tax Act.
- Review and provide high level inputs on GST returns prepared by the companies within the Division.
- Provide ad-hoc tax advisory in relation to GST queries raised by companies within the Group.
- Assist companies within the Division which is subject to tax audit / investigations by providing high level review on the following:-
- Obtain an understanding of the tax position of the relevant companies for the years of assessment under investigation.
- Review documents , i.e. tax computations, correspondences, agreements, etc.
- Identify areas currently or could be potentially come under scrutiny and commence preparation of defense strategy.
- Continuously communicating and liaising with the companies personnel to assist in deciding and strategizing the most appropriate defense strategy.
- Attend meeting with the relevant company and income tax authority personnel to resolve any disputes.
- Continuously communicating and liaising with the companies personnel to assist in deciding and strategizing the most appropriate defense strategy.
- Attend meeting with the relevant company and income tax authority personnel to resolve any disputes.
- Directed tax strategies for the entire group of companies, ensuring compliance and alignment with financial objectives.
Tax Consultant (Assistant Manager)
PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services Sdn Bhd
05.2012 - 12.2014
- Assisting companies being investigated by the IRB by performing the following:-
- Identify areas currently or that could potentially come under scrutiny and commence preparation of defense strategy.
- Communicated and liaised with company personnel to develop and strategise appropriate defence strategies, enhancing collaboration and clarity.
- Finalising the investigation process with the IRB.
- Determining the status of the investigation to date and obtaining a preliminary understanding of the areas of focus by the IRB through meetings with the Companies’ personnel and the IRB’s officials.
- Obtain an understanding of the tax position of the relevant companies for the years of assessment under investigation.
- Review documents , i.e. tax computations, correspondences, agreements, etc.
- Review files retained by the IRB office and obtain copies of the relevant documents needed.
- Assisting Companies in the Application for Tax Incentive
- Conducted in-depth analysis of company activities to identify potential tax incentives, maximising available benefits.
- Determining and formulating a supportable basis to claim the proposed incentive.
- Preparation and submission of business plan together with supporting documents to the relevant authorities.
- Attended meetings, discussions and presentations with relevant authorities to facilitate the application.
- Provided ad-hoc tax advice on various compliance issues.
- Provide advice in relation to Permanent Establishment issues.
- Provide advice in relation to determination of date of commencement of business.
- Assisting companies in obtaining exemption under Section 44(6) of the Income Tax Act, 1967.
- Transfer Pricing & Investigations
Education
Associate Member -
Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia
Malaysia01-2014
Bachelor of Arts (Honors) - Accounting & Finance
Systematic College
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia01-2005
Systematic Diploma - Business (Foundation)
Systematic College
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia01-2001
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) -
SMK Methodist Sentul
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia01-2000
Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) -
SMK Methodist Sentul
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia01-1998
Skills
- Tax compliance
- Tax advisory
- International tax regulation
- Transfer pricing
- Tax audit management
- Tax reporting compliance
- Regulatory compliance
- E-invoicing implementation
- Compliance strategy formulation
- Financial analysis
- Risk management
- Project management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Team leadership
- Problem solving
- Tax advisory services
Custom
PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services Sdn Bhd, Member of sports club, Represented the Firm in friendly football matches and Inter Accounting Firm Tournament., Member of the Toastmasters Club. Moores Rowland Taxation Services Sdn Bhd, Sports Committee, Organizing member of the Firm’s Annual Dinner 2005., Represented the Firm in Inter Firm Accounting Games. Systematic College, Kuala Lumpur, Vice-President of Student’s Council 2003., Organized the College Open-Day and Sports Carnival 2003., Represented college in various football tournaments. SMK Methodist Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, Participated in Inter-School Choral Speaking competition., Participated in team building camp organized by Biro Tatanegara., Committee member of the school taekwondo club., Represented school in inter-school taekwondo tournaments., Librarian.
Languages
English
Proficient
C2
Malay
Proficient
C2
Tamil
Elementary
A2
Timeline
Head of Tax - Regional
Air Asia Move Sdn Bhd
02.2025 - Current
Associate Director -Head of Tax
Touch ‘N Go Sdn Bhd
02.2024 - 02.2025
Head of Tax - Malaysia
Ecart Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd
03.2020 - 01.2024
Tax Manager- Regional
Weatherford Malaysia Sdn Bhd
01.2019 - 02.2020
Global Tax Manager -Asia
Iflix Sdn Bhd
09.2017 - 12.2018
Assistant Vice President
Sime Darby Holdings Berhad
01.2015 - 08.2017
Tax Consultant (Assistant Manager)
PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services Sdn Bhd
05.2012 - 12.2014
Associate Member -
Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia
Bachelor of Arts (Honors) - Accounting & Finance
Systematic College
Systematic Diploma - Business (Foundation)
Systematic College
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) -
SMK Methodist Sentul
Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) -
SMK Methodist Sentul