KUALA LUMPUR: Actor Iqram Dinzly has been declared bankrupt by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) after failing to pay RM77,000 worth of income tax.
The 38-year-old whose real name is Muhammad Iqram Dinzly Muhammad Saipuddin said in a news report today that a lawyer from LHDN had conveyed the message to him at the Magistrate’s Court in Ipoh yesterday.
“I didn’t arrive on time, so the LHDN lawyer gave the court’s decision to me. I don’t know what to say, they have made their decision, and I have to accept it.”
He also said he could not afford to settle the outstanding amount, and would find a way to “save” his assets, such as his house and car.
“These are all that’s left,” he said, adding that he blamed himself for his predicament.
“All this while I did not know the procedures of paying my income tax and merely collected receipts.”
He added that he received reminder notices to pay tax over the last three years, and he initially owed LHDN close to RM200,000.
“The amount was calculated over my 10 years in the entertainment industry. After getting those notices I was blacklisted.”
Iqram then had an agent to handle tax matters and the amount was reduced to RM67,000.
“Nevertheless, I was told to go to the Magistrate’s Court last year, and ordered to settle that amount in three months.
“Two weeks ago, I went to the LHDN office in Jalan Duta for discussions, and they told me I did not show any initiative to pay up.
“As a result, the amount I owed them went up to RM77,000 and I was given 10 days to settle it. If I failed to do so, I would be declared bankrupt,” he said.
When asked if he would return to acting, to settle the amount he owed LHDN, Iqram said he would not do so.
“I won’t return to acting, it’s because I became a celebrity that I got declared a bankrupt.”