The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has confirmed it is working with the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRB) on a new tax guideline for doctors.

This is following reports that IRB directed the association to advise doctors to file their taxes under sole proprietorship.

"Yes, MMA is working with IRB over the treatment of the doctors' incomes from the private hospitals.

"We are working with IRB to have a workable tax guideline. Discussion is still ongoing," MMA president Dr John Chew told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Asked when this new tax guideline would be released, he said it was still not prepared yet.

The general amnesty given after January's adjustment budget is Dec 15 this year, he said, adding that the new guidelines will be for the lodging of the 2016 tax.

He said they could not say how the new guideline will affect private medical practitioners, as "each and every doctors' business is conducted differently".

Doctors with existing Sdn Bhd companies must cease business immediately and register as a sole proprietor business with the Companies Commission Malaysia.