Striking a Company's Name Off the SSM Register

A dormant company that ceased trading long ago remains legally “alive” — it must still file annual returns, it is still exposed to penalties, and its directors still bear responsibilities to SSM. Striking the company’s name off the register is the official way to end that existence, but it is open only to companies that are genuinely clean of assets, debts, and disputes.

This guide explains when a strike-off may be applied for under section 550 of the Companies Act 2016, the full conditions that must be met, and the steps to apply through SSM, based on the current edition of the SSM Guidelines (Revised 14 July 2026).

What is striking off a company’s name, really?

Under paragraph 549(a) of the Companies Act 2016, the Registrar may exercise discretion to strike a company’s name off the register if there is reasonable cause to believe that the company is not carrying on business or is not in operation. The Registrar may act on their own initiative, or on the basis of an application made by a director or shareholder under section 550.

The distinction is procedural: section 549(a) confers the power on the Registrar, while section 550 provides the formal mechanism for a director, member, or liquidator to apply for that power to be used.

Striking off is not a winding up. It is cheaper and faster, but limited to clean dormant companies. If the company still holds capital, assets, or liabilities that need to be settled, the SSM Guidelines direct the company to undergo a voluntary winding up instead.

Does your company qualify? SSM’s eleven conditions

Paragraph 6 of the SSM Guidelines (Revised 14 July 2026) sets out the conditions that must be met before an application is accepted. If any one fails, the application will not be approved.

#	Condition	Brief note
a	A members’ resolution has been passed	Passed under section 290; if a shareholder cannot be traced, proof of attempts by registered post must be attached
b	No assets and liabilities at the time of application	The management accounts must show this; if operations have not begun, declare that there are no transactions and that the bank account is closed
c	No outstanding charge in the Register of Charges	Checked against the Register of Charges kept by the Registrar
d	No outstanding penalty or compound under the Act	All such liabilities must be settled first
e	No outstanding tax or liability with any government department	Tax clearance (LHDN) is required if the company has ever operated
f	Company information with the Registrar is up to date	Director particulars must match SSM’s records
g	Not involved in any legal proceedings	Within or outside Malaysia
h	No return of capital to shareholders	If capital remains, use a voluntary winding up
i	Not a holding company	A holding company must undergo a voluntary winding up
j	Not a “Guarantor Corporation”	That is, a company that guarantees the repayment of a third party’s money
k	No declaration or payment of dividends	Based on the last audited financial statements lodged

For a company limited by guarantee, the latest audited financial statements must be enclosed. For a dormant subsidiary, a letter of consent from the holding company (for a wholly-owned subsidiary) or from all shareholders is required.

How is the application filed?

An application under section 550 is made through SSM’s Corporate Registry System (CRS). The applicant must complete the prescribed declaration and strike-off application form, ensure that all conditions are complied with, and upload all supporting documents at the time of application.

The core documents typically required:

• The members’ resolution under section 290 approving the application;
• Management accounts showing no assets and liabilities;
• Evidence of the disposal of assets or the settlement/waiver of liabilities (if the last audited statements show otherwise);
• Confirmation of tax clearance for a company that has operated;
• A letter of consent from the holding company or shareholders for a subsidiary.

The application fee is RM100 (paragraph 10 of the Guidelines; Item 27, Schedule of Fees (Regulation 8), Companies Regulations 2017).

What fees and timeframes are involved?

Besides the application fee, there are costs relating to objections and withdrawals. The following table summarises the official figures from the SSM Guidelines (Revised 14 July 2026) and the Schedule of Fees of the Companies Regulations 2017:

Action	Fee	Timeframe
Application to strike off the name (Item 27)	RM100	—
Notice of objection by any person (Item 28)	RM300	Within 60 days from the notice under subsection 551(1) — paragraph 13
Notice of withdrawal of application (Item 29)	RM500	Within 60 days from the notice under subsection 551(1) — paragraph 11

Note: The SSM Guidelines (Revised 14 July 2026) set a period of 60 days for objections and withdrawals. Some references to the text of the Companies Act 2016 (subsection 552(1)) still mention 30 days; confirm the applicable period with SSM before acting.

Once SSM is satisfied, a notice is issued to the relevant parties and the process allows a 60-day period for objections. If a reasonable objection is received, SSM may suspend the process for one year (“Suspension Period”, paragraph 16 of the Guidelines). If the cause of the objection is not resolved after the suspension period ends, SSM may terminate the process and revert the company’s status from “Existing – Striking Off in Process” back to “Existing” (paragraph 18).

Who may object, and on what grounds?

Under subsection 552(1), any person may file a notice of objection through the CRS within 60 days (paragraph 13 of the Guidelines), accompanied by supporting documents. The recognised grounds include:

• The company is still carrying on business or has a valid reason to continue to exist;
• The company is a party to legal proceedings;
• The company is in receivership or liquidation;
• The objector is a creditor, member, or party with an unsettled claim;
• The objector intends to pursue a right of action on behalf of the company (for example, a derivative action under Part III); or
• It would be unjust and inequitable to strike off the company’s name for any other reason — for instance, while an investigation by an authority or a takeover negotiation is ongoing.

Even where an objection is received, the Registrar will still not proceed with the strike-off unless satisfied that the objection has been withdrawn, that the facts are no longer correct, or that the objection is frivolous and vexatious (paragraph 20).

What happens after the name is struck off?

The strike-off takes effect through gazetting. Under subsection 551(3), on the publication of that gazette, the company is thereby dissolved (paragraph 21 of the Guidelines). However, dissolution is not the end of responsibilities:

• Continuing liability. Under section 554(1)(a), the liability of every director, officer, or member continues and may be enforced as if the company had not been dissolved.
• Keeping records. Directors must keep all registers, books, statutory records, and accounting records for seven years after the strike-off, and make them available for the Registrar’s inspection (paragraph 23).
• Restoration. Any aggrieved person may apply to the Court within seven years from the date of dissolution to restore the company’s name under subsection 555(1) (paragraph 22).

What to do next

Before filing, work through the paragraph 6 checklist honestly: obtain tax clearance from LHDN, close the bank account, dispose of assets, settle SSM penalties, and ensure the Register of Charges is clean. If the company still holds capital or has unsettled liabilities, take the voluntary winding up route rather than a strike-off.

Because the SSM Guidelines are revised from time to time (the current version dated 14 July 2026 supersedes the 9 June 2017 version (revised 19 April 2019), and revokes Practice Note No. 5/2009), confirm the latest fees, timeframes, and forms on the SSM portal before submitting an application, and consider the advice of a licensed company secretary for cases involving subsidiaries, holding companies, or untraceable shareholders.