General Contracts
How to handle service agreements, NDAs, MOUs, loan agreements, and other contract types.
General contracts cover a wide range of document types, including service agreements, NDAs, MOUs, loan agreements, powers of attorney, and other instruments that do not fall under the employment or tenancy categories.
Fixed Duty vs Ad Valorem
When uploading a general contract, the key decision is which duty type applies:
| If the contract... | Use this category | Duty amount |
|---|---|---|
| Involves any amount payable by one party to another (e.g., loan principal, service fee, purchase price) | Ad Valorem | A percentage of the contract value |
| Does not involve any payment between parties | Fixed Duty | Flat RM 10 |
Rule of thumb: If the agreement involves any amount of money being paid by one party to another, it should be ad valorem. Fixed duty only applies when there is genuinely no payment or monetary consideration between the parties (for example, a simple NDA or a non-financial MOU).
Ad Valorem Rates
For ad valorem general contracts, the rate depends on the specific document type. Common rates include:
| Document type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Loan Agreement | 0.5% |
| Sales Agreement | 1% |
| Transfer Agreement | 0.3% |
| Lease Agreement | 0.1% |
The contract value is rounded up to the nearest RM 1,000 before the percentage is applied.
Entering Contract Details
When reviewing a general contract:
- Confirm the document type matches the actual contract.
- For ad valorem contracts, verify the contract value is correct.
- Review the parties (at least 2 are required).
- Check the contract date for late penalty implications.
Duplicate Fees and Late Penalties
General contracts follow the same rules as other types:
- RM 10 per duplicate copy
- Late penalties apply if submitted more than 30 days after the contract date
See How Duty Is Calculated for the full breakdown.