In brief
- Every Sdn Bhd lodges an annual return with SSM within 30 days from the anniversary of its incorporation date.
- The financial statements are lodged separately, within 30 days after they have been circulated to the members.
- Only a licensed company secretary or the company's agent can lodge, through SSM's MBRS system.
- SSM states that failing to lodge is an offence under the Companies Act 2016.
Two separate yearly filings
A Malaysian private company has two regular filings with SSM, the Companies Commission of Malaysia. They are separate, with their own due dates, and it helps to think of them as two diary dates.
1. The annual return
The annual return is a yearly update of the company's details. SSM states that a local company must lodge it within 30 days from the anniversary of its incorporation date. So if your company was incorporated on 10 June, the anniversary falls on 10 June every year, and the 30 days run from there. It does not depend on your financial year end.
2. The financial statements
For a private company, SSM states that the financial statements and reports must be lodged within 30 days after they have been circulated to the members. The clock therefore starts from the date you circulate them, so the date of circulation matters and should be recorded.
Who can lodge
You cannot lodge these yourself. SSM states that only the company's appointed licensed company secretary or the company's agent can lodge with the Registrar, on SSM's MBRS reporting system. Others can prepare and upload the files, but the lodger has to approve and submit them. This is one reason a company needs a licensed secretary who knows the due dates.
What SSM charges
SSM's published lodgement fees for a private company are RM150 for the annual return, RM50 for audited financial statements and RM20 for financial statements that are not audited. An application for an extension of time or relief costs RM100 per application. These are SSM's fees only, and they do not include any professional fees.
What happens if you miss them
SSM states that failing to lodge the annual return or the financial statements is an offence under the Companies Act 2016. If you may need more time, the right step is to ask SSM before the due date passes. A late request is much harder.
Keeping it simple
Put the incorporation anniversary in the diary with a reminder a month earlier, record the date you circulate the financial statements, and have one person responsible for both. If you would rather not carry that, our company secretary service keeps the calendar and does the lodging for you.
How we help
We handle SSM filings and statutory registrations for Malaysian companies, together with the registered address and company secretary.
Sources
- SSM: Annual submission for companies
- SSM: Duty to lodge annual return and financial statements (announcement)
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