Quick answer
A private company must circulate its audited financial statements to members within 6 months of its financial year end (Companies Act 2016, s.258) and lodge them with SSM within 30 days of circulation (s.259). The directors prepare the statements (s.248) and circulate them (s.257). We prepare the resolutions and lodge on time; the prescribed SSM fee is included.
Last reviewed： · Reviewed by：ONEKEY BIZ compliance team
01
Overview
Your audited financial statements go through two statutory steps after the audit is signed. First, the directors must circulate them — together with the directors' and auditors' reports — to every member. Second, the company lodges them with SSM, where they become part of the public record.
For a private company, Section 258 of the Companies Act 2016 sets the circulation deadline at six months from the financial year end, and Section 259 requires lodgement with SSM within 30 days of circulation. A December year-end company circulates by 30 June and lodges within 30 days after that.
Late lodgement is an offence and a red flag on the company's record. It also affects everything that asks for your latest accounts: bank facilities, CIDB and licence renewals, tenders and ESD applications. Planning backwards from the circulation deadline — and starting the audit early enough — is what keeps it on time.
Who needs this
- Every Sdn. Bhd. that is required to be audited
- Companies whose previous filings were late
- Companies needing current accounts on SSM for banks, CIDB or tenders
02
Documents you need to prepare
Financial statements
- Signed audited financial statements with the auditors' report
- Directors' report and statement by directors
Company
- Financial year end date
- Directors' resolution approving circulation (we draft it)
- Audit itself is a separate service performed by an approved company auditor; this service covers circulation and SSM lodgement.
- Qualifying companies may be exempt from audit under SSM's practice directive — we check eligibility first.
03
How to get it done with ONEKEY BIZ
- 1Deadline plan FYE
We work back from your FYE to set audit and circulation dates.
- 2Collect signed statements After audit
We receive the signed audited statements and reports.
- 3Circulation resolution Within 6 months
We prepare the directors' resolution and circulation records.
- 4Lodge with SSM Within 30 days
We lodge the statements within 30 days of circulation.
- 5Confirm & file Done
Lodgement confirmation sent and next year's dates logged.
You do
- Complete the audit in time
- Sign the directors' resolution
We do
- Plan the deadlines from your FYE
- Prepare the circulation resolution
- Lodge with SSM on time
- Log next year's dates
04
What you receive
Proof the audited financial statements were lodged.
Records that the statements were circulated to members on time.
The statements as filed with SSM.
Audit, circulation and lodgement dates in our compliance calendar.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as the annual return?
No. The annual return is tied to the incorporation anniversary; financial statements are tied to the financial year end.
Does every company need an audit?
Most do, but SSM allows audit exemption for qualifying companies; we check whether you qualify.
What if the audit is late?
Talk to us before the six-month deadline — we plan the options before the company is in default.