Don’t Miss Your Company’s Annual Return Deadline
SASCO manages your company’s Annual Return filing on time, every year, so your company isn’t exposed to penalties or SSM suspension risk.
Many company directors confuse "Annual Return" with "annual financial statements" — but these are two separate requirements with different deadlines. To make it more confusing, the way the deadline is calculated changed completely when the Companies Act 2016 came into force.
Short answer: under Section 68 of the Companies Act 2016, every company must lodge it with SSM within 30 days of the company’s incorporation anniversary date — no longer based on the Annual General Meeting (AGM) date, as it was under the old Companies Act 1965.
This article explains what it is, who must file it, how to calculate the correct deadline, what information is required, and how it differs from filing financial statements.
What Is an Annual Return?
An Annual Return is a yearly document that gives SSM an up-to-date snapshot of your company’s status — including its registered office address, principal business activity, shareholder structure, list of directors and secretary, and share capital. It is not a financial performance report — that’s the separate function of financial statements.
When Is the Annual Return Deadline?
This is where directors most commonly get confused. Under the old Companies Act 1965, it was filed based on the AGM date. But under Section 68 of the Companies Act 2016, the calculation changed completely:
- It must be lodged within 30 days of the company’s incorporation anniversary.
- Example: if your company was incorporated on 15 March 2023, you must lodge it by no later than 14 April every year (30 days after 15 March).
- This applies every year throughout the company’s life, regardless of when (or whether) an AGM is held.
Private companies in Malaysia are no longer required to hold an annual AGM under the Companies Act 2016 (unless stated otherwise in the constitution or requested by shareholders), so it’s important to understand that this deadline is now completely separate from any AGM date.
Annual Return vs Financial Statements: What’s the Difference?
| Annual Return | Financial Statements | |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Company status information (directors, shareholders, address, share capital) | Financial performance — profit & loss, balance sheet, notes to the accounts |
| Legal Basis | Section 68, Companies Act 2016 | Section 259, Companies Act 2016 |
| Deadline | 30 days from the company’s incorporation anniversary | Circulated within 6 months of the financial year end, and lodged within 30 days of circulation |
Both documents are separate and must be filed independently — filing one doesn’t exempt you from the other.
What Information Must Be Included in the Filing?
- Company name and registration number
- Registered office address and principal place of business
- Principal business activity (nature of business) — read Nature of Business SSM: What It Means and How to Choose Correctly if you’re unsure which code fits
- List of directors, company secretary and managers (if any)
- List of shareholders and their respective shareholdings
- Total authorised and issued share capital
How to File an Annual Return
It is filed electronically via SSM’s MBRS (Malaysian Business Reporting System) portal. The process is usually handled by your company’s registered Company Secretary, since it requires MBRS system access and verification of statutory information.
Penalties for Late Filing
Failing to lodge it within the stipulated 30-day window is an offence under the Companies Act 2016. This can lead to:
- Compounds or enforcement action by SSM against the company and its officers (directors/secretary)
- The company being flagged as non-compliant, which can affect credibility during banking or tender processes
- In cases of continued non-compliance, SSM may move toward company suspension or strike-off
To understand the full risk of company suspension and how to avoid it, read What Happens If SSM Strikes Off Your Company? and How to Renew Your SSM Registration Online in 2026.
Common Filing Mistakes
- Following the AGM date instead of the incorporation date — many still use the old method (AGM date) when the Companies Act 2016 has since switched to the incorporation anniversary date.
- Assuming the filing = financial statements — two separate documents with different deadlines; filing one doesn’t mean the other is done.
- Outdated information — e.g. a shareholder has sold their shares but it isn’t updated in the next Annual Return.
- Not realising the deadline still applies without an active Company Secretary — the filing obligation remains with the company even without an appointed Company Secretary.
It is just one of several statutory forms your company is required to manage. Read Statutory Forms & Section 78 of the Companies Act 2016 for the full list of other registers and statutory notices.
How Can SASCO Help?
SASCO manages your company’s entire Annual Return process — from tracking the correct deadline, preparing the information, to filing via MBRS — so you never have to worry about missing the deadline every year.
Our services include:
- Tracking your filing deadline based on your company’s incorporation date
- Preparing and filing it via MBRS
- Updating director, shareholder and share capital information
- Ongoing Company Secretary service for annual compliance
Not sure when your company’s filing is due?
Contact SASCO and we’ll check the exact date based on your company’s registration record.
Official References
Deadlines and lodgement fees may change. Confirm with SSM or your registered Company Secretary before acting.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Annual Return deadline for a Sdn Bhd in Malaysia?
Within 30 days of the company’s incorporation anniversary date, under Section 68 of the Companies Act 2016 — not based on the AGM date.
What’s the difference between an Annual Return and financial statements?
It is company status information (directors, shareholders, address). Financial statements report the company’s financial performance. Both must be filed separately with different deadlines.
Does a company need to hold an AGM before filing its Annual Return?
Not necessarily. Under the Companies Act 2016, private companies are no longer required to hold an annual AGM (unless the constitution or shareholders require it), and this date no longer depends on the AGM date.
What happens if I file my Annual Return late?
The company and its officers can be subject to compounds or enforcement action by SSM, and continued non-compliance can lead to suspension or strike-off risk.
Who is responsible for filing a company’s Annual Return?
Ultimate responsibility rests with the directors, but the filing process is usually handled by a registered Company Secretary via the MBRS portal.
Can I check my company’s Annual Return deadline myself?
Yes, by checking your company’s registration status on the SSM portal, or by asking your Company Secretary to confirm the exact date based on your incorporation record.
Does the Annual Return need to be filed every year even if the company has no operations?
Yes. This obligation applies to all registered companies, including dormant companies with no active operations.
How long after the incorporation anniversary do I have to file the Annual Return?
30 days from the company’s incorporation anniversary date, every year throughout the company’s life.
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