Recently, one of our clients received a government inspection letter.

Not from LHDN.
Not from SSM.

It came from the Unit Wang Tak Dituntut, Jabatan Akauntan Negara Malaysia, Negeri Johor.

The client asked me,
“Boss, why did we receive this?”
“We also never claim any money from the Government.”

I replied,
“They are not checking whether the Government owes you money.”
“They are checking whether you are holding money belonging to someone else.”

That is a very different question.

I asked the accounts person,
“Do you have any old creditor balances?”

She replied,
“Got.”

“How old?”
“Very old.”

“Who do we owe?”
“Previous accounts staff handled.”

“Why is it still inside the balance sheet?”
“Every year the system brought it forward.”

This is how Wang Tak Dituntut exposure usually starts.
Nobody purposely keeps the money.
The balance simply stays inside the accounting system.
Until a government inspection letter arrives.

Under Section 12(1) of the Unclaimed Moneys Act 1965,
the Registrar or an authorised officer from Jabatan Akauntan Negara Malaysia (JANM) may inspect the company’s books, registers, records and documents.

Refusing to produce records, failing to correct an error when required, or obstructing the inspection may result in a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment of up to three months, or both.

So, what is Unclaim Money (Wang Tak Dituntut)?
Generally, it covers three categories.

First.
Money legally payable to someone but left unpaid for at least two years.

Examples include unpaid salaries, bonuses, commissions, dividends, refundable deposits and expired bank drafts.

Second.
Money in a bank account that has not been operated by its owner for at least seven years.

Third.
A credit balance in a trade account that has remained dormant for at least two years.

For most SMEs, the exposure normally hides here.

An old trade creditor.
A credit balance inside a debtor account.
An unpresented cheque.
A customer deposit that should have been refunded.
The final salary of a resigned employee who never came back to collect it.

The amount may be small.

But the law does not ask whether the amount is material to your company.

It asks,
“Does this money belong to someone else?”

If yes, it cannot remain inside your balance sheet forever.

Under Section 10,
every company or firm holding unclaimed money must maintain an Unclaimed Moneys Register.

The register should cover unclaimed money remaining unpaid as at 31 December.

The register and the money must generally be lodged with the Registrar by 31 March of the following year through the eGUMIS submission process.

Read the full content in our blog
https://www.ktp.com.my/blog/unclaimed-money-audit/31july2026