A registered address is the official address of a company as recorded with the relevant government authority in Malaysia, such as the Companies Commission of Malaysia (“CCM”). It functions as the legal address of the company and is used for maintaining statutory records and receiving official correspondence from government agencies. It is commonly situated at the Company Secretary’s office.

In accordance with Sections 46 (1) and (2) of the Companies Act 2016 (“CA 2016”), every company is required to continuously maintain a registered office within Malaysia. This address serves as the official point of contact for the delivery of legal documents, statutory notices, and regulatory correspondence. The registered office must also operate during normal business hours and be reasonably accessible to the public, ensuring that documents can be delivered and inspections can be carried out in accordance with the CA 2016.

Any change to this address must be formally lodged with the CCM within 14 days from the date of change pursuant to Section 46 (3) of the CA 2016.

A business address refers to the physical location where the company conducts its day-to-day operations. This is the address where business activities such as management, administration, or service delivery take place. This address is commonly used by clients, suppliers, and business partners to interact with the company and may appear on invoices, websites, and other marketing materials. Unlike the registered address, a company may have more than one business address, allowing the company to operate in multiple locations to support its business needs, such as expanding its market presence or managing different functions across locations.

Under the CA 2016, the company is required to notify CCM of its business address by submitting Practice Directive 2/2017 (Notification of Change in the Business/Branch Address and/or Nature of Business) within 14 days. This requirement applies to any changes to the company’s business address, including the establishment of a new address, changes to an existing address, addition of new business locations, or closure of any business address.

One important point to take note is that a company may use the business address as the company’s registered address. This is permissible provided that the company’s statutory records are properly maintained and kept at that business address in accordance with regulatory requirements.

The distinction between these two addresses is important for both compliance and operational purposes. The registered address ensures that a company remains reachable for legal matters and government notifications, while the business address facilitates daily operations and client interactions. Using the correct address in the appropriate context helps a company maintain professionalism, transparency, and regulatory compliance.  

In summary, the registered address and business address may sometimes coincide, particularly for small businesses, but they are fundamentally different. The registered address serves legal and statutory purposes, while the business address is focused on operational activities. Understanding and correctly maintaining these addresses is a key part of running a compliant and efficient business.

Kaizen, together with its associate firms in Malaysia, can help the clients to perform these compliances formalities so as to maintain the Malaysia company in good standing. Please call and talk to our professional accountants in Kaizen for further clarification.