01
Overview
The annual return is a yearly snapshot of your company that SSM keeps on the public register: registered address, principal business activities, directors, secretary, shareholders and their shareholdings, and share capital. It is not a financial report — that is a separate lodgement of audited financial statements — but it must match what your statutory registers say.
Section 68 of the Companies Act 2016 requires the return to be lodged within 30 days from the anniversary of the date of incorporation. A company incorporated on 15 March lodges between 15 March and 14 April every year, regardless of its financial year end.
Late or missing returns are an offence under s.68(8): the company and every officer in default can be fined up to RM50,000, with further daily fines while the default continues. Repeated non-lodgement also gives SSM grounds to treat the company as defunct and start striking it off — and a lapsed filing history causes problems later when you open a bank account, apply for a licence, or bring in an investor who runs a company search.
Who needs this
- Every Sdn. Bhd. — including dormant companies with no business
- Companies whose previous secretary missed a filing
- Foreign-owned companies that need a clean SSM record for bank and licence applications
- Companies about to change directors or shareholders, so the return reflects the latest position
02
Documents you need to prepare
Company records
- Latest register of members (shareholders) and register of directors
- Any changes during the year: new directors, share transfers, new share allotments, address change
- Principal business activity and MSIC code currently used
Confirmation from directors
- Confirmation that the particulars are correct as at the return date
- Director's signature on the return, where required
- If a director or shareholder change happened during the year but was never lodged, that change must be regularised first — otherwise the return will not match SSM's records.
- A dormant company still must lodge its annual return every year.
03
How to get it done with ONEKEY BIZ
- 1Calendar check Month −1
We log your incorporation anniversary and open the file 30 days ahead.
- 2Register reconciliation Day 1–5
We compare your statutory registers with SSM's records and flag anything unlodged.
- 3Prepare the return Day 5–10
We draft the return with current directors, shareholders, capital and address.
- 4Director confirmation Day 10–15
You confirm the particulars; we collect any signature needed.
- 5Lodge with SSM Before deadline
We lodge within the 30-day window and send you the lodgement confirmation.
You do
- Tell us about any change in the year
- Confirm the particulars we prepare
We do
- Track your deadline every year
- Reconcile registers against SSM records
- Prepare and lodge the return
- Pay the prescribed SSM fee on your behalf
04
What you receive
Official proof that the annual return was lodged, with the lodgement date.
The return as filed, showing the particulars now on SSM's register.
Registers of members and directors kept consistent with what SSM holds.
Logged in our compliance calendar with an advance reminder.
Rules and requirements in detail
Real clients we've done this for
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Is the annual return the same as submitting audited accounts?
No. The annual return is lodged within 30 days of your incorporation anniversary; audited financial statements are a separate lodgement tied to your financial year end.
Does a dormant company need to file?
Yes. Every company must lodge an annual return each year whether or not it trades.
What if we are already late?
Lodge as soon as possible — the default continues until you do. We lodge the outstanding returns and advise on any compound notice SSM issues.