Company Registration Number Malaysia: Format, How to Find It & Why It Matters

If you have ever stared at a form asking for your “company registration number” and weren’t sure which number it wanted, you are not alone. Malaysia changed its registration number format back in 2019, which means plenty of companies now have two numbers on file, an old one and a new one, and most online systems, LHDN’s e-Invoice included, expect the new one specifically.

This guide explains what the number actually is, how to read it, where to find yours, and the one situation, e-Invoice, where getting it wrong causes real delays.

What Is a Company Registration Number?

A company registration number is the unique identifier SSM (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia) assigns to every company, business, and limited liability partnership (LLP) registered in Malaysia. In banking and e-Invoice contexts it is often called a Business Registration Number (BRN) instead, but it refers to the same number.

This is different from your company’s name, which can change. The registration number stays with the entity for its entire life, from incorporation through to strike off or winding up.

The New 12-Digit Format vs the Old Format

SSM introduced a new registration number format for entities registering from 11 October 2019 onwards. If your company was incorporated after that date, your registration number looks something like this:

201901000005

Read left to right, the 12 digits break into three parts:

• First 4 digits — year of registration (2019 in this example)
• Next 2 digits — entity type code
• Last 6 digits — a running number for that year and entity type

The entity type codes are:

• 01 — local company (most Sdn Bhd companies)
• 02 — foreign company
• 03 — business (sole proprietorship or partnership)
• 04 — limited liability partnership (LLP)
• 05 — international LLP
• 06 — professional LLP

If your company was registered before 11 October 2019, it was originally issued an old-format number that looks like 1234567-A (seven digits, a dash, then a letter). SSM has since issued every existing entity a new 12-digit number as well, so most pre-2019 companies now have both on file. Both numbers remain valid for searching your company on SSM’s systems, and there is no deadline forcing you to reprint letterheads, invoices, or signboards with the new number. That said, it is worth having the new number on hand, because an increasing number of government systems, e-Invoice included, ask for it specifically.

Where to Find Your Company Registration Number

The quickest places to check, roughly in order:

• Your Certificate of Incorporation / Notice of Registration — issued by SSM when your company was formed, this is the definitive source for your own number.
• SSM e-Search (ssm.com.my) — a free basic search by company name or number, returning the registration number, incorporation date, entity type, and status (Active, Dormant, or Wound Up).
• Your own past invoices, contracts, or bank account opening documents — the number is typically printed on these.
• MyData-SSM (mydata-ssm.com.my) — for a more detailed profile report, including directors, shareholders, and the latest annual return date, for a small fee.

If none of these are at hand, your company secretary should have both your old and new registration numbers on file as a matter of course.

How to Check Another Company’s Registration Number

Before signing a contract, extending credit, or onboarding a new supplier, it is good practice to verify the registration number a company has given you. Use SSM e-Search with the company’s name to confirm the number matches and that the entity’s status is Active rather than Dormant or Wound Up. If a supplier’s invoice only shows an old-format number, that alone is not a red flag, since both formats remain valid, but it is still worth cross-checking the name and number together on e-Search.

Easy to Confuse With Other Numbers

• Business Registration Number (BRN) — the same as your company registration number. This is simply the term used on banking forms and in e-Invoice.
• Tax Identification Number (TIN) — issued by LHDN for tax purposes, in a different format. Your TIN and your registration number are not the same, though both are required for tax filing and e-Invoice.
• SST Registration Number — a separate number issued by RMCD (Royal Malaysian Customs Department), and only to businesses registered for Sales and Service Tax. Not every company has one; see our guide on the SST registration number if you need to check or apply for yours.
• EPF and SOCSO employer numbers — separate again, issued when you register as an employer with KWSP and PERKESO respectively.

Why This Number Matters for e-Invoice

Under LHDN’s e-Invoice rules, every invoice must carry the supplier’s legal Business Registration Number, listed as a mandatory field in the MyInvois submission. Getting this field wrong, using an outdated or mistyped number, is one of the quieter reasons an e-Invoice can fail validation. If your business is preparing for e-Invoice, or already live, confirming your correct 12-digit registration number with SSM e-Search before you configure your invoicing system or software can save you a rejected submission later. See our guide on what e-Invoice is in Malaysia for the full compliance picture.

What If You Can’t Find Your Registration Number?

If your Certificate of Incorporation is missing and you cannot locate the number on any past document, SSM e-Search is the fastest fix: search by your exact registered company name and the number will come up along with your company’s current status. If your company secretary has changed hands or records were incomplete, this is also a good moment to have your statutory records reviewed more generally, since a missing registration number sometimes points to other gaps in the file.

How SASCO Can Help

Chasing down the right number across old paperwork should not take up your afternoon. SASCO’s company secretarial team can confirm your correct registration number, check it against your other statutory numbers (TIN, SST, if applicable), and make sure your e-Invoice and banking records are consistent with each other.

Need a quick check before a deadline, or a fuller review of your company’s records? Get in touch with SASCO to discuss what you need.

Frequently asked questions

Is my company registration number the same as my Business Registration Number (BRN)?

Yes. Business Registration Number (BRN) is simply the term used for your company registration number in banking and e-Invoice contexts. They refer to the same number issued by SSM.

My company was registered before 2019. Which number should I use for e-Invoice?

Use your new 12-digit number. SSM has issued every pre-2019 entity a new-format number alongside the original, and e-Invoice systems are generally built around the new format. Check SSM e-Search if you are not sure which one you have on file.

Is SSM e-Search free?

Yes, a basic search by company name or registration number is free on SSM’s e-Search. A more detailed company profile report through MyData-SSM, including directors and shareholders, carries a small fee.

Is a company registration number the same as a tax identification number (TIN)?

No. Your registration number is issued by SSM when your company is formed. Your TIN is issued separately by LHDN for tax purposes and follows a different format. Both are typically required for e-Invoice and tax filing.

Do sole proprietorships and partnerships get a registration number too?

Yes. Businesses registered with SSM, including sole proprietorships and partnerships, receive a registration number under entity type code 03, following the same 12-digit structure as companies.