Malaysia Zakat Calculator Guide
Zakat is one of the five Pillars of Islam and is a financial obligation upon every Muslim who meets certain conditions. In Malaysia, the two types of zakat most commonly calculated by individuals are income zakat and savings zakat. The calculator on this page helps you quickly estimate how much zakat you owe, free of charge and without downloading any app.
For income zakat, start by selecting or entering your monthly gross salary. The calculator multiplies it by 12 to get your annual gross income, then deducts an EPF contribution of 11% along with basic necessity allowances — RM8,000 for yourself and RM3,000 for each dependent such as a spouse and children. You can also enter other monthly deductions. The remaining balance is your eligible net income for zakat. If this amount reaches the nisab, zakat is charged at the rate of 2.5%.
For savings zakat, you simply enter your savings balance. According to Islamic principles, saved funds that have been held for one full year (haul) and reach the nisab value are obligatory to be zakated at the same 2.5% rate. The calculator clearly shows whether your savings reach the nisab and how much zakat should be paid.
Nisab is the minimum wealth threshold that makes zakat obligatory. The actual nisab value changes with the current gold price (usually based on 85 grams of gold), so the RM22,000 figure used in this calculator is a guideline estimate only. Always refer to your state Islamic Religious Council for the official, up-to-date nisab value, as each state may issue different rates from time to time.
The calculation breakdown shown lets you transparently see how each figure is derived — from gross income, EPF deduction, necessity allowances, through to net income and the final zakat. This makes it easy to review and understand your zakat obligation before making a payment.
Once you know your zakat amount, payment can be made through your respective state zakat body such as Lembaga Zakat Selangor, PPZ-MAIWP for the Federal Territories, or another state religious council. Most offer online payment, automatic monthly salary deductions, and physical counters. Paying zakat through official channels ensures it is distributed to the eight eligible recipient categories (asnaf).