Company Registration in Malaysia
Capital: Beijing.
Official languages: Chinese.
Currency: Yuan.
Company registration provides the following benefits:
- The favorable geographical location for conducting regional and international trade.
- Relatively developed infrastructure, transport network, and IT sector.
- Availability of qualified engineering and technical personnel.
Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula and on the island of Borneo. On the continental part, it borders Thailand, and on the island part with Indonesia.
Today, Malaysia is an attractive business destination in Southeast Asia due to its favorable location, developed infrastructure, and skilled workforce. Malaysia has a fast-growing economy with liberal market policies aimed at promoting business and entrepreneurship.
The World Bank has ranked Malaysia the 12th easiest place to do business globally.
Taxation and Reporting Features in Malaysia
Corporate Income Tax:
- Standard rate: 24%
- Withholding tax on dividends: 10%
- Tax incentives for certain industries and regions
GST (Goods and Services Tax):
- Standard rate: 6%
- Exemptions for basic food items and services
- 0% on export of goods and international services
Dividends:
- No withholding tax for Malaysian residents
- No tax on foreign-sourced income remitted to Malaysia
Company registration in Malaysia is managed by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM). A proposed company name must be reserved and approved through the SSM online system before proceeding with registration.
To register a company, the directors and shareholders must submit an application along with necessary documents such as the company's constitution, identity documents, and declarations of compliance.
Upon successful incorporation, the company will be issued a Certificate of Incorporation by the SSM. Following this, the company must register for tax and social security obligations.
At the time of registration, the company must have:
- A Company Registration Number issued by the SSM — necessary for all official transactions, including opening a bank account.
- A certified copy of the company's constitution.
- A bank reference letter confirming initial capital contribution by shareholders.
- Payment of the registration fee based on the company's authorized capital.
Company Registration in Malaysia
- Limited liability
- Minimum 1 director / 1 shareholder
- Efficient business setup
Tax Rates in Malaysia
Additional information
- Financial reporting: Mandatory annually (Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards)
- Audit: Mandatory for all companies
- Annual Return: Within 30 days after the anniversary
- Tax return: Submit to the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia
- Employer's Return: If there are employees
- Registers: Shareholders and directors (mandatory)
- Directors' details Publicly available in the registry
- Shareholders' details Publicly available
- Financial reporting Confidential (not published)
Timeline and Stages
- 01
Document preparation and name reservation
1-2 days - 02
Name search in the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM)
1 day - 03
Submission of incorporation documents
1 day - 04
Issuance of Certificate of Incorporation
1-4 days - 05
Opening a corporate bank account
2-4 weeks
The bottom line
Understanding local laws and procedures is essential when registering a company in Malaysia.
Our company offers comprehensive support for the company at all stages - from registration to full support of its activities. Along with helping you register a company legally, we take care of many other tasks as well.
In particular, our scope of services includes the provision of nominee directors and shareholders, leasing of a legal address, and obtaining all necessary licenses and permits for the company. In fact, we ensure that the entire operation of the business is in accordance with local laws in the jurisdiction in question.
Cost calculation
Add the required options for your company:
FAQ
Can you register a company remotely?
Yes, in most cases — you can.
Remote company registration is available in the vast majority of popular jurisdictions today. Modern corporate services, electronic document management and professional registered agents make it possible to complete the entire registration process without being physically present in the country.
The process typically works as follows: you provide the required documents electronically, sign them remotely — via a notary, apostille or electronic signature — and a local registered agent handles all communication with government authorities and document submission on your behalf.
This has been made possible by several factors: most countries allow foreign founders and directors, corporate service providers operate remotely across the globe, and the digitisation of government registries has significantly streamlined and accelerated the procedures.
The one step that may still require in-person presence is opening a corporate bank account — however, even here many banks and fintech platforms now offer remote identity verification.
What documents are needed for registration?
Registering a company in most jurisdictions requires a standard set of documents. For individuals — founders and directors — the typical requirements include: a certified copy of a passport, proof of residential address (utility bill or bank statement no older than 3 months), and in some cases a bank reference letter or CV.
For corporate shareholders, the required documents include: certificate of incorporation, articles of association, register of directors and shareholders, and confirmation of the ownership structure.
Do I need to keep accounting records and submit reports?
Accounting and reporting requirements vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction. In most countries, companies are required to maintain proper bookkeeping, file annual financial statements and submit tax returns.
At the same time, there are a number of jurisdictions where reporting requirements are minimal or effectively non-existent for non-resident companies. These include, for example, the Marshall Islands, the Cook Islands, Panama, Belize, Seychelles and Vanuatu — in these countries, companies that do not conduct business within the territory of the registration state are generally exempt from mandatory financial reporting and audit requirements.
We provide full company administration services, including preparation and submission of annual reports, liaison with local authorities and ensuring full compliance with all corporate requirements of the jurisdiction.
Is it possible to open a bank account for a company?
Yes, opening a corporate bank account is possible for virtually any jurisdiction, however this process deserves careful attention. Today businesses have two main options: traditional banks and fintech platforms.
Traditional banks offer a full range of financial services, but account opening requirements have become increasingly stringent — KYC procedures, source of funds confirmation, business plans and in some cases in-person presence may be required. Fintech platforms — such as Wise, Airwallex, Revolut Business and others — open accounts significantly faster and remotely, making them a popular solution for international companies at an early stage.
Is it possible to use nominee directors?
Yes, the use of nominee directors and shareholders is a common and legitimate practice in international corporate structuring. A nominee director is formally listed in the company registry but acts exclusively in accordance with the instructions of the beneficial owner, providing an additional layer of privacy.
This service is particularly in demand in jurisdictions where information about directors and shareholders is entered into a public register — for example, in Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Malta and a number of other EU countries. In offshore jurisdictions, nominee services are also widely used to simplify corporate governance and protect ownership structures.
We provide nominee director and shareholder services for any jurisdiction we work with.
