bakedbean

Thanks guys. That's really helpful.

So they need copies of even the blank pages of passport? That's a bit of a bore.

Neon, out of interest, where did you park? Fort Cornwallis? Beach Street is such a nightmare for parking.

NeonHippy

I'm an early bird so I drove to Beach Street turning right into Beach Street from the round-a-bout. If you drive past HSBC there is a car park on the left about 100 yards further on. At 10:30 there were still about 5 spaces left so I just drove straight in. If you go in a bit earlier, there is a food court right next to the car park for a cheap breakfast

bakedbean

Now that Penang Immigration doesn't always stamp and, from my experience these days, prefers not to, how does that wash with the Tax Office I wonder

Looking at the passport one would think I have been here for months when in fact I've been here n there and getting no stamps in passport.

One way to find out I suppose.

NeonHippy

When I was at the Penang Immigration Office they suggested that I keep a spreadsheet record of entries into and out of the country with the days here calculated. I have attached a copy of my spreadsheet for you to use. Simply replace the days in and out from your records.

This could be important if Penang are not stamping your passport as there will be stamps showing your arrival in foreign parts but not your return.

BTW, returning from Cambodia last week through KLIA2 the immigration officers refused to let us use the diplomatic channel unlike KLIA and Penang.

InVinoVeritas

That is very useful, NH, but I always thought the day of departure AND the day of arrival were both counted as being present in Malaysia, the logic being that this is how they are counted on a Malaysian visa.

NeonHippy

IVV, I can't comment on how Malaysia counts the days, I've not seen it written down anywhere in English although I'm sure the rule exists. In the UK it matters to HMRC where you are at midnight so that is what I used. I would not be surprised if the accounting rules for immigration are different to the rules for taxation.

Using your method would give an extra day towards the total with each trip, using my method may add some caution but will avoid any unnecessary delays and confusion when you go to the tax office.

teejaydee

Correct, both days are counted.

bakedbean

Thanks Neon. Very useful.

JC3

When you travel out of Malaysia I believe most countries you visit will stamp your passport with your arrival and departure date. The exception is probably the UK assuming you have a British passport. So you can use these stamps to record your movements.
As you suggest Malaysia Immigration may not stamp your passport if you have MM2H, but they will do so on request.

JC3

InVinoVeritas

I don't think anywhere in the EU will stamp an EU member state's passport.

JC3

That sounds right to me. It would probably be illegal to do so.

JC3

Gunnar45

I can confirm that I never get my PP stamped when entering Schengen countries.
For EU but non-Schengen, I am not sure but I will find out this summer.
As for counting number of days of stay in Malaysia, the PP is scanned when leaving and entering MY but I do not know if the data obtained is linked to the tax authority....

bakedbean

If you have a chip in your passport, Australia doesn't stamp you in either. When I went there in March, I got no stamps in passport whatsoever (in Malaysia and Aus). According to my passport, it's as if I've never been there. This sure confused Putrajaya with my new MM2H.

JC3

That's interesting.

I'd love to know what the various tax authorities actually know about one's travel movements, days spent in/out of the country etc, and whether immigration data is accessible by the inland revenue. It looks like the HMRC's ability to trawl data is ever increasing...

See: What does the taxman know about you, your finances and your lifestyle? - Telegraph

JC3

Gunnar45

I know form some Australians here that the various AU authorities have linked up their systems with immigration so that they know if someone is out of the country long enough to lose certain benefits.
A simple passport scan would therefore suffice, no need for old fashioned staps.