Liability separated from shareholders
The company can sign contracts, open accounts and hold assets in its own name. Shareholder liability is generally limited to the capital subscribed or paid in.
ACRA registration · Singapore private limited company · ongoing support
Singapore Company Registration
From name application and local director arrangements to bank account opening, bookkeeping, annual filing and tax, here is what it takes to set up a Singapore company.
Foreign individuals and companies can both hold shares, and the whole process can be handled remotely. Tell us what the business does, who the shareholders are and whether you need a bank account, and we will list the documents, timeline and fees.
Fully remote process
Fees explained upfront
Ongoing support after setup
1–3 business days
Typical processing time when the name is approved, documents are complete and no further review is needed
100%
Foreign individuals or companies can hold shares
From S$1
Minimum share capital can start from this amount
17%
Standard corporate income tax rate
S$315
Common ACRA government fees
50
Maximum shareholders in a private limited company
Who it suits
Why do many businesses set up in Singapore?
A Singapore private limited company can sign contracts, receive payments and hold assets in its own name. It suits cross-border trade, e-commerce, technology services, brand operations, regional business and investment.
Clear corporate tax rules
The standard corporate income tax rate is 17%. Qualifying new companies may enjoy partial tax exemption for their first 3 years of assessment.
Built for cross-border business
Suitable for international trade, cross-border e-commerce, software and consulting services, procurement settlement, brand and IP management.
Bank accounts and multi-currency collection
After incorporation, you can apply to Singapore banks, international banks or licensed payment institutions for accounts used for collection, payment and daily settlement.
Company type
A private limited company, or a branch of a foreign company?
The two routes differ in required documents, liability and ongoing upkeep. Businesses planning to operate long term, open a bank account or add shareholders usually choose a private limited company.
Private Limited Company
Pte. Ltd.
A separate company incorporated in Singapore, suited to long-term operations, regional business or holding shares in other companies.
- 1–50 individual or corporate shareholders
- Foreign investors may hold 100%
- At least 1 ordinarily resident in Singapore director
- Shareholder liability generally limited to capital
Suits cross-border e-commerce, trading, technology services, consulting, brand operations, regional offices and holding structures.
Branch Office
Foreign company branch
A branch is not a fully separate company; the overseas parent company generally bears the related liability directly.
- For companies with an existing overseas parent
- Parent company registration and financial documents required
- Name usually must match the parent company
- Requires a qualified Singapore local representative
Suits companies with an overseas parent entering the Singapore market directly. Required documents and tax arrangements depend on the parent company.
What we can handle
Incorporation, banking and tax filing together
Choose the services you actually need, without paying for items you will not use yet.
Name application and ACRA registration
Check the company name, confirm shareholders, directors, shares, financial year end and business scope, then file with ACRA through Bizfile.
Resident director arrangement
If existing shareholders or directors do not meet the resident director requirement, we can help arrange a resident director after reviewing identity and business documents.
Registered address and company secretary
We can provide a Singapore registered address and company secretary service, help keep company records, update particulars and remind you of annual filing and tax deadlines.
Bank account document preparation
We help select a bank or payment institution that fits the business and organise shareholder, customer, supplier, contract and source-of-funds documents.
Bookkeeping, annual filing and tax
Assistance with accounts, annual returns, ECI (Estimated Chargeable Income) and corporate income tax filing, plus GST registration when the conditions are met.
Other cross-border services
We can also assist with cross-border e-commerce platforms, international collection, trademarks and document notarisation and certification.
Before you start
Requirements and documents to prepare
The more complete your documents, the less likely you will need to resubmit them during registration and account opening.
Documents usually required
Additional documents may be needed if a shareholder is a company, the business is in a regulated sector, or the shareholder structure is complex.
Company name
Prepare 2–3 English names. A name cannot be too similar to an existing company.
Identification
Passports or other valid identity documents of shareholders, directors and beneficial owners.
Address proof
Usually a recent bank statement, utility bill or government-issued document.
Business description
What you sell or what services you provide, where customers are, who suppliers are, how payments are made and expected revenue.
Shareholding and capital
How many shares each shareholder holds, the initial share capital, and who ultimately controls the company.
Supporting documents for banking
Website, business plan, contracts, orders, invoices or existing business records.
Foreign investors usually need to apply for the name and register through a corporate services provider, and provide identity, address and business information for review.
01
Shareholders
At least 1, and no more than 50 for a private limited company; individuals or companies.
02
Directors
At least 1 director ordinarily resident in Singapore, aged 18 or above.
03
Share capital
Can start from S$1. The actual amount should reflect your operations and banking needs.
04
Registered address
Must be a Singapore address able to receive company mail and documents.
05
Company secretary
Must be appointed within 6 months of incorporation and meet Singapore requirements.
06
Business code
Choose an SSIC code based on your main activity; some sectors also need a separate licence.
What you receive
What do you receive once registration is complete?
Actual deliverables depend on the service you choose. Company documents and next steps will be listed clearly.
Registration documents and UEN
After approval you receive a UEN, the company’s unique number, used for banking, tax filing and signing certain business documents.
Company particulars and constitution
Company name, address, shareholders, directors, shares and the constitution adopted at registration.
Shareholder, director and share documents
Share records, shareholder and director documents, and resolutions or consents requiring signature, organised according to your situation.
Post-incorporation checklist
A list of what comes next: company secretary, registered address, keeping accounts, annual return, tax filing and bank account opening.
Process
5 steps to register a Singapore company
At every step someone tells you what to prepare. Consistent information reduces repeated document requests.
Understand your needs
We look at what the business will do, who the shareholders are, whether a bank account is needed and what support is required after incorporation.
Apply for the name and confirm details
Apply for the company name and confirm shareholders, directors, shares, financial year end and SSIC business code.
Prepare documents and verify identity
Prepare registration documents and verify the identity, address and business information of shareholders, directors and beneficial owners.
File with ACRA
Submit the registration through Bizfile and follow up on the outcome, additional review or supplementary documents.
Hand over company documents
After receiving the UEN and company documents, continue with company secretary, registered address, bank account, bookkeeping and tax.
When the name is approved, documents are complete and no other agency review is required, registration usually finishes in 1–3 business days. Regulated sectors, unusual names or manual review take longer.
Fees and timing
What does registration cost, and what has deadlines?
Government fees and our service fees are listed separately, so you know exactly what each amount covers.
Once a name is submitted, this government fee is usually non-refundable even if the application is withdrawn or the name is unavailable.
A common government fee for company registration. It does not include service fees, resident director, address or company secretary.
A company secretary must be appointed within 6 months of registration.
If the company requires an audit, an auditor is usually appointed within 3 months of incorporation.
Resident director and company secretary
What do the resident director and company secretary each do?
Both roles carry clear responsibilities, and neither is a name on paper only. We explain the scope, documents you need to provide and ongoing fees before we start.
Resident director
Every Singapore company needs at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore. The director must understand the business and is legally responsible for its management.
- Identity, business content and risk information are reviewed
- Changes to business, shareholders or shares must be reported promptly
- Restricted, higher-risk or unclear businesses may not be accepted
Company secretary
The company secretary helps keep company records, prepare filings and track deadlines, but directors remain responsible for management and filings.
- Helps update registers of directors, shareholders and beneficial owners
- Helps prepare resolutions, annual returns and change documents
- Reminds you of annual return, tax and update deadlines
Bank account
What is needed to open a bank account after incorporation?
Banks look beyond the certificate of incorporation: what the business does, where the money comes from, who the customers and suppliers are, and expected transaction volume.
Documents worth preparing in advance
We check documents against the requirements of the target bank or payment institution and tell you in advance what is missing.
Company documents
Business profile, constitution, shareholding and director information.
Personal documents
Identity and address proof of directors, shareholders and beneficial owners.
Business evidence
Website, contracts, orders, invoices, supplier or customer information.
Source of funds
Where start-up funds come from, expected monthly in and out flows, currencies used and transaction countries.
Annual obligations
What has to be done every year after incorporation?
Even with no revenue, you still need to confirm whether annual returns and tax filings apply. Simply doing nothing is not an option.
Appoint a company secretary
Appoint a company secretary within the deadline and set up the registers the company must keep.
Keep accounts and business records
Keep income, expenses, bank statements, contracts and invoices, and use them to prepare accounts and financial statements.
File ECI (Estimated Chargeable Income)
Estimated chargeable income is generally filed with IRAS within 3 months after the financial year ends, unless the company qualifies for an exemption.
File the annual return with ACRA
Non-listed companies generally file their annual return with ACRA within 7 months after the financial year ends.
Corporate income tax and start-up exemption
The standard corporate income tax rate in Singapore is 17%. Qualifying new companies may enjoy partial tax exemption for their first 3 years of assessment.
75%
Exemption rate on the first S$100,000 of qualifying chargeable income
50%
Exemption rate on the next S$100,000 of qualifying chargeable income
30 November
Common deadline for corporate income tax filing
GST and audit requirements
When the conditions below apply, confirm promptly whether GST registration or an audit is required:
- If taxable turnover in the past 12 months exceeded S$1,000,000, or is expected to exceed it in the next 12 months, you usually need to confirm whether GST registration is mandatory.
- A private company may be exempt from audit if it meets at least two of three criteria: revenue not exceeding S$10m, assets not exceeding S$10m, and no more than 50 employees.
- Being exempt from audit does not mean you can skip bookkeeping, financial statements or tax filing.
Easily overlooked
Issues that affect banking and normal operations
Handling them early reduces inconsistent information, repeated document requests and late filings.
01
Name, business and SSIC code do not match
The company name, website, contracts, invoices and SSIC code should be consistent, otherwise you may have to explain repeatedly during banking or licence applications.
02
No contracts or receipts kept after incorporation
Bank statements, contracts, invoices, expense receipts and shareholder transfer records must be kept for bookkeeping, tax filing or bank reviews.
03
Company changes not updated in time
Changes to registered address, business activity, directors, secretary, shareholders or shares must be updated within the required time.
04
Treating audit exemption as no bookkeeping
Audit, bookkeeping and tax filing are separate matters. Even without an audit, accounts must be kept and taxes filed.
05
Assuming banks stop asking after opening
After opening, banks may still request updated customer, supplier, transaction and source-of-funds information. Actual business should match what was stated.
06
Assuming incorporation grants a work pass
Incorporation and work passes such as Employment Pass or EntrePass are separate matters. Work passes require a separate application and must meet the conditions.
Service options
Choose the services you need
Quotations list ACRA government fees, registration services, resident director, address, company secretary and follow-up services separately, so you know what is included.
Pte. Ltd. registration
Fee on request Quoted based on shareholders and scope
For clients who already have a resident director, address and company secretary
- Name application and company details confirmation
- ACRA registration filing
- UEN and registration documents
- Explanation of post-incorporation obligations
Registration plus local essentials
Fee on request Quoted based on review and timeline
For foreign investors setting up remotely
- Private limited company registration
- Resident director arrangement
- Registered address and company secretary
- Reminders for annual return, tax and updates
Registration, banking and tax filing
Fee on request Quoted based on transaction volume and scope
For clients ready to collect payments and start operations soon
- Company registration and local essentials
- Review and organisation of banking documents
- Bookkeeping, annual return and corporate tax filing
- GST registration when conditions are met
Fees vary with shareholder and director profiles, business content, whether a resident director, address or company secretary is needed, banking, and bookkeeping and tax workload. A service list and quotation are provided before we start.
Our service
Someone keeps following up on what matters
1–3 days
Common name approval time
5 steps
From needs confirmation to document handover
3 languages
Simplified Chinese / Traditional Chinese / English
Clear
Scope and fees explained upfront
Support from document preparation to after incorporation
Zhongcheng Huigu assists with company registration, bank account opening, bookkeeping and tax, and other cross-border matters. Your advisor tells you what to prepare, where things stand and what comes next.
- We learn about your business and shareholders before registering
- Client information is kept secure
- Progress updates as things move forward
- Timely reminders for annual returns and tax
FAQ
Singapore company registration FAQ
Questions clients ask most about registration, directors, banking and tax.
Yes. Foreign individuals or companies can hold all shares without a local Singapore shareholder. However, the company needs at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore, and foreign investors usually register through a corporate services provider.
When the name is approved, identity documents are complete and no other agency review is required, it usually takes 1–3 business days. Regulated sectors, unusual names or missing documents take longer.
Share capital can start from S$1. The actual amount depends on business scale, contracts and banking needs. Capital should reflect reality rather than be set high simply to look substantial.
Directors and shareholders are different roles. Shareholders own the company’s equity through shares, while directors manage the company and carry legal responsibility. What each side can do and who operates the bank account should be set out in company documents and the service agreement. A resident director also cannot be someone who ignores the company entirely.
Once you have the UEN and registration documents you can prepare for account opening. Timing depends on the bank, shareholder profile, business type, transaction countries and document completeness. Banks decide on their own, so registration does not guarantee an account.
Usually you still need to keep a company secretary and registered address, maintain company records, and confirm whether an annual return to ACRA and a tax filing to IRAS are required. A dormant company may have simplified arrangements, but filings cannot simply stop without confirmation.
No. Only qualifying new companies may enjoy partial tax exemption for their first 3 years of assessment. Eligibility depends on shareholding and business circumstances, and exemption does not remove the need to file tax returns.
If taxable turnover in the past 12 months exceeded S$1 million, or is expected to exceed S$1 million in the next 12 months, you usually need to confirm whether GST registration is mandatory. Companies below the threshold may also register voluntarily if eligible, but must then keep filing.
You can apply separately, but successful incorporation does not mean a work pass will be auto-approved. The applicant and the company must still meet MOM requirements on salary, experience, role and the company’s operations.
Yes. Changes to business activity, registered address, office hours, directors, secretary, shareholders or shares require the relevant documents and an update through Bizfile. Some changes must typically be filed within 14 days.
Get started
Clarify documents, timing and fees before you decide
Tell your advisor what the business does, who the shareholders are, and whether you need a resident director, bank account, bookkeeping and tax filing. We will list the documents, expected timeline and fees.
Timelines and fees vary with shareholders, business and chosen services. Bank accounts are reviewed by the bank, and tax requirements follow the latest rules of the authorities. A written service list and quotation are provided before we start.
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