Wealth management in Malaysia

“Alexis, I'm moving to Kuala Lumpur on a long-stay visa. I've been told Malaysia doesn't tax my foreign income. Does the treaty still protect me?”

On this point, the France–Malaysia treaty is simpler than most of its neighbours: it defines a resident by simple reference to domestic law of each State, without excluding people taxed only on their local income. The risk therefore lies not in the text, but in proving your presence in Malaysia.

Malaysia has 2,937 French nationals on the consular register at 31 December 2025 (+1.7% over one year).

The treaty of 24 April 1975, amended in 1991 and 2009, covers only income tax: nothing governs inheritance, and the exit tax requires guarantees. At Balmont Conseil, we start from this text, in its consolidated version.

1. Why seek expert wealth management in Malaysia?

Four points determine your situation.

Residence is proven by presence. The Malaysian certificate of residence is based on the 182-day rule. Passport, stamped lease, residence permit and local bank statements make up the file.
Three overlapping texts. The 1975 treaty and its 1991 and 2009 amending protocols, plus the multilateral convention: we work from the consolidated version published by the tax authorities, never from the original text.
The exit tax requires guarantees. Malaysia does not assist France in collecting tax: the deferral must be requested, with a tax representative in France.
Your estate. No convention governs it: France applies article 750 ter of the general tax code, without conventional correction.

2. The France ↔ Malaysia framework in five verified points

Here is the applicable framework, checked against official sources as at 1st October 2026.

French nationals on the register	2,937 at 31 December 2025 (+1.7% over one year).
Income tax treaty	Yes — treaty of 24 April 1975, protocols of 1991 and 2009, amended by the BEPS multilateral convention. It covers only income tax: IFI applies under French law alone.
Estate tax treaty	No. No convention governs inheritances or gifts between France and Malaysia: Article 750 ter of the General Tax Code applies without conventional correction.
Exit tax — deferral of payment	Deferral on request, with a tax representative and guarantees. Malaysia does not assist France in tax collection (appendix BOI-ANNX-000508).
CSG and CRDS on property income and capital gains	17.2% on property income and property capital gains, 18.6% on furnished lettings from 2025 income. The reduced rate of 7.5% does not apply.

Sources: list of tax treaties concluded by France (BOI-ANNX-000306, updated 29 April 2026); exchange-of-information and recovery-assistance clauses (BOI-ANNX-000508, position at 8 October 2025); register of French nationals living outside France at 31 December 2025 (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs); text of the treaty published by impots.gouv.fr; impots.gouv.fr for non-residents' social charges. Position as at 1st October 2026.

On residence. The treaty refers to Malaysian domestic law: being resident in Malaysia under that law is enough, even if Malaysia taxes only your local income. Any challenge will concern the facts — your presence, your home — and the anti-abuse clause added by the multilateral convention.

A rare clause. Article 23 provides for a “notional” tax credit: France credits the Malaysian tax that would have been paid but for certain incentive exemptions. It mainly concerns investment and business income.

On your French income. They remain taxed in France, at the minimum rate of 20%, then 30% above €29,579 of net taxable income, or at the average rate if that is more favourable.

What we do not show. Details of Malaysian tax and long-stay visas are handled with an authorised adviser in Malaysia, whom we coordinate.

3. Our services: 360° support for expatriates and investors

Three workstreams, in the order in which they are decided.

Departure: residence and exit tax

We date your French tax departure, we list the evidence of presence to be gathered in Malaysia, then we put together the deferment file if your securities exceed €800,000 or if you hold at least 50% of the profits of a company (article 167 bis of the general tax code): tax representative, nature and amount of guarantees.

Proof of presence and Malaysian residence certificate.
Deferral application: tax representative and guarantees.
French tax departure date.

Your French income and contracts as seen from Kuala Lumpur

Rents, dividends, assurance-vie: we establish what France continues to tax and what the treaty reduces. A French assurance-vie held by a non-resident no longer bears social charges; its withdrawals are subject to a 12.8% levy, or 7.5% after eight years.

A Luxembourg assurance-vie contract may be considered for a long-term expatriation, on a case-by-case basis.

Estate transfer without a treaty

We establish what each heir would pay in France, according to their residence and the situation of the assets, and we prepare the gifts before departure.

4. Methodology: our way of working

We work in four stages, and at each stage you know where you stand.

The initial review. We establish your actual situation: the make-up of your wealth, the project timeline, the situation of each member of the household, and the tax domicile of your heirs — because it is theirs that counts, not yours.
The applicable framework. We set out, source by source and with its date, the framework that applies to you. What we do not know, we mark “to be confirmed” — never anything else.
The choices. We present the options with figures and their respective consequences, and you decide. Wealth structuring comes after the decision, not before.
Ongoing monitoring. An annual review, free of charge, to check that the framework has not moved — treaties are amended, incentive regimes are abolished, thresholds change.

5. What the firm offers you

What concretely sets our work apart.

Sources, not claims. Every item in your file carries its reference and its date. You can check. It is the only way to work on a subject where most of the information available online is out of date.
A single point of contact in France. We coordinate your local advisers; we do not replace them: the host country's domestic tax rules are handled with a qualified professional on the ground. Our role is to keep the whole picture consistent and to defend the French side of the file.
Fees that are easy to understand. Fees disclosed before any commitment: fixed-price reviews, tailor-made engagements at €500 incl. VAT per hour, insurers' commissions on contracts taken out. The annual review is free of charge.

Frequently asked questions: Malaysia

Does the treaty require me to be taxed in Malaysia to be resident?

No. Article 4 of the treaty of 24 April 1975 refers to the domestic law of each State and contains no clause excluding people taxed only on their local income. You must, however, prove your Malaysian residence in fact.

Is the exit tax deferral automatic for a move to Malaysia?

No. Malaysia does not assist France in collecting tax (appendix BOI-ANNX-000508). The deferral must be requested, with a tax representative and guarantees (Article 167 bis of the French Tax Code).

Is there an estate tax treaty between France and Malaysia?

No. The 1975 convention only covers income tax. France therefore applies Article 750 ter of the General Tax Code, without any treaty amendment.

Is my French rental income still taxed in France?

Yes: at a minimum rate of 20% up to €29,579 of net taxable income and 30% above that, unless you opt for the average rate, plus social charges of 17.2% on unfurnished lettings and 18.6% on furnished lettings from 2025 income.

Which version of the treaty should be read?

The consolidated version published by the French tax authorities, which incorporates the 1991 and 2009 protocols and the multilateral convention. The 1975 text alone is incomplete.

In summary

Malaysia has a simple treaty on residence, which refers to Malaysian law, but exit tax there requires guarantees and inheritance is protected by no text.

The presence file, exit tax and the transfer of your wealth are prepared before departure.

Firm's fees: €500 incl. VAT per hour. Annual follow-up is free of charge.