24/7/365
Singapore Company Limited By Shares (Private Limited / Pte Ltd)
Introduction
This entity is a very popular in Singapore with its own pros and cons.
A company that is established locally in Singapore is a private limited company. The term “Pte Ltd.” or “Private Limited” is added as suffix in the name of the company.
Foreign entrepreneurs can establish a private limited company, but with a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident as a local director. For a business with significant growth plans and takes business risks invariably and comes out with growth, this kind of entity is best suited to set up a business.
The requirements before incorporating a Singapore Private Limited Company
- You just need to have a minimum of SGD1
worth of paid-up capital (also known as share capital) to register your Singapore Company. This capital amount can be increased at any time after once the company is incorporated. - Your proposed company name needs to be approved.
- You need to appoint a minimum of one local resident who is a Singapore Citizen (SC) or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) as director. An unlimited number of additional resident or non-resident directors can be appointed as well. Both resident and non-resident directors need to be at least 18 years old, not bankrupt, and free of any malpractice charges in the past.
- Your proposed company can have between 1-50 shareholders, which / whom may or may not be directors. Shareholders can consist of both resident and non-resident individuals or companies and 100% non-resident shareholding is allowed. After a Singapore company is incorporated, shares can be freely issued or transferred at any time.
- Within 6 months of incorporation of your Singapore Company you are required to appoint a qualified Singapore resident as Company Secretary. Sole director and/or shareholder cannot act as the company Secretary.
- A physical Singapore registered office address is required which can be either residential or commercial but P.O. Box is not allowed.
- To use residential address as registered office address you are required to obtain Home Office Scheme licence from HDB and URA for public and private residence respectively.
- The physical presence of Singapore residents is required for all officers and shareholders to sign the required documents in front of us.
Additional Information for foreigner who intends to incorporate a Singapore Private Limited Company
In addition to the above guidelines, some additional information are to be considered:
- As a non-resident individual or entity cannot self-incorporate a company under Singapore law hence you are to seek a profession firm’s service to do it.
- Singapore work pass is not required to be obtained if you are operating your company from overseas. On a visitor visa you can attend to company matters on a short-term basis. A local resident director is to be appointed to meet out the criteria of minimum one local resident director which we can provide on your behalf. This local director is called Nominee Director who does not usually involve in any operational activities.
- You are required to obtain an EntrePass (Entrepreneur Pass), which will allow you to act as the local resident director of your company if you intend to move to Singapore in order to physically operate your company.
- Without being present in Singapore, company incorporation and work pass formalities can be handled unless you require to open a bank account with Singapore bank.
Documents required to incorporate a Singapore Private Limited Company
In order to incorporate your company in Singapore, we require you to furnish the following documents:
- KYC Form
- Company name
- Description of business activities
- Particulars of Shareholder/s
- Particulars of Director/s
- Registered office address
- Particulars of Company Secretary/ies
- Constitution (Refer to Model Constitution by ACRA)
When you choose any professional service firm like us, they will typically require these documents from you in order to prepare the necessary documentations:
- For non-residents: Copy of passport, proof of overseas residential address, as well as Know Your Client (KYC) particulars such as reference letters from banks, personal and business profiles, etc.
- For Singapore residents who are Singapore Citizen: Copy of Singapore identity card as well as Know Your Client (KYC) particulars
- For Singapore residents who are Singapore Permanent Residents: Copy of Singapore identity card, Copy of passport, proof of overseas residential address, as well as Know Your Client (KYC) particulars
- For any corporate entity shareholder/s: Copy of corporate registration documents, such as a Certificate of Incorporation, Profile & Constitution
Any non-English documents are required to be translated into English with official endorsements.
Pros or Advantages of a Singapore Private Limited Company
- Separate legal entity from members and directors, which means that members and directors are not personally liable for the losses and debts incurred
- Easier to obtain funding during start-up years and also eligible for government funded micro loans offered by local banks
- Succession of Company is perpetual, until they are struck off or wound up
- The Net Profit up to SGD100,000/- each year for the first three consecutive years are 100% exempted and a further 50% exemption on the next SGD200,000 of normal chargeable income which translates into a huge savings of SGD51,000/- in the first 3 years while establishing the businesses in Singapore till the Year of Assessment 2019.
- From the Year of Assessment 2020 for the first three years of assessment it is at 75% exemption on the first SGD100,000 of normal chargeable income; and a further 50% exemption on the next SGD100,000 of normal chargeable income.
- Till the end of the Year of Assessment 2019: From the fourth year onward the company is entitled only for partial tax exemption. The tax rate is at 4.25% and 8.50% on the first SGD10,000 and next SGD290,000 respectively of normal chargeable income; and beyond first SGD300,000 the prevailing rate at 17% is applicable.
- Effective from the Year of Assessment 2020: From the fourth year onward the company is still entitled for partial tax exemption. The tax rate is at 4.25% and 8.50% on the first SGD10,000 and next SGD190,000 respectively of normal chargeable income; and beyond first SGD200,000 the prevailing rate at 17% is applicable.
- Attractive tax exemptions and incentives. Your company is NOT required to pay any tax amount on the Net Profit for the first SGD100,000/-, whereas at 8.5% and 17% for the next SGD200,000/- and beyond first SGD300,000/- respectively till the Year of Assessment 2019.
- From the Year of Assessment 2020: Your company is required to pay the tax at 4.25% on the Net Profit for the first SGD100,000/-, whereas at 8.5% and 17% for the next SGD100,000/- and beyond first SGD200,000/- respectively effective from the Year of Assessment 2020.
- Singapore companies do not have to pay taxes on capital gains or dividends.
Click here to learn more about Advantages or Pros of all types of Entities in Singapore.
Cons or Disadvantages of a Singapore Private Limited Company
- Higher registration cost and also costly to maintain
- More compliance obligations (e.g., a company secretary has to be appointed within 6 months of the company’s incorporation)
- Annual General Meeting has to be conducted
- Annual Return filing with the Authority
- Estimated Chargeable Income and Corporate Tax to be filed
- Limitation in Fund Raising compare to Public Company
Click here to learn more about Disadvantages or Cons of all types of Entities in Singapore.
After incorporation of a Singapore Private Limited Company
We can arrange for you to open bank accounts with major banks in Singapore once the company is successfully incorporated.
The physical presence of the company officers are mandatory as part of the account opening procedure by most of Singapore banks. When you are unable to meet this requirement then you are to choose a bank which does not make the physical presence as mandatory.
Basic Compliance for a Singapore Private Limited Company
These are some basic compliance for Singapore Companies:
Company Secretary
Every company in Singapore must appoint / hire a Singapore resident as company secretary who must have knowledge as well as experience to discharge his or her functions as the secretary of company.
Registered Address
Every company in Singapore needs to have an office registered in Singapore that must be open at the same time accessible to the public during the normal office hours.
Local Resident Director
The Company has an option of having their preferred number of local as well as foreign directors. Nevertheless, it must have at least a director who is an ordinary resident in the country of Singapore i.e. Singapore Permanent Resident or Singapore Citizen. Anyone that is above the age of 18 can be appointed as the director of a company. However, some individuals such as bankrupts may be disqualified from holding office as director.
A director of a company has to comply with a number of statutory obligations under the Companies Act in Singapore. Some of these key obligations or duties include:
Annual General MeetingCompanies, unless exempted, are required to hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM). |
Annual ReturnAll companies must file their annual return within 7 months after the closing of the financial year end (FYE). |
Register of Registrable ControllersWith effect from 31 March 2017, companies, foreign companies and LLPs (unless exempted) are required to maintain beneficial ownership information in the form of a register of registrable controllers, and to make the information available to public agencies upon request. Filing Requirements for Register of Controllers (RORC) (W.e.f: 30-July 2020)In line with international practices, ACRA has implemented a new requirement for all companies, foreign companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP), unless exempted, to lodge information on their Registers of Registrable Controllers (RORC) with ACRA via BizFile+ from 30-July 2020 onward. This is in addition to the existing requirements for companies and LLPs to maintain a RORC at the registered office address. |
Register of Nominee DirectorsWith effect from 31 March 2017, Companies are required to keep a register of its nominee directors containing the particulars of the nominators of the company’s nominee directors and produce the register of nominee directors and any related document to the Registrar, an officer of the ACRA or a public agency, upon request. |
Register of MembersAll companies must maintain with ACRA an electronic Register of Members (EROM), which is a listing of all shareholders. This information is updated whenever a company files a registration of share ownership or changes in share ownership. All companies’ Electronic Registers of Members are available for purchase by members of the public from ACRA. |
Electronic Registers of Directors, Secretaries, Auditors and CEOsSimilarly, companies must maintain electronic registers of directors, secretaries, auditors and CEOs with ACRA. Companies are required to update ACRA within 14 days after changes in appointments. |
Changes in Company Information / ParticularsCompanies are required to update ACRA within 14 days of any changes to the company’s name, address and business activity. |
Changes in Personal Particulars of Company Officers including Secretaries and ShareholdersCompanies are required to update ACRA within 14 days of any changes to the personal particulars of company officers including Secretaries and shareholders. |
Financial Year End
Every company in Singapore must always fix the financial activities at the end of the year (FYE). If a company is in form of a subsidiary, its FYE must also coincide with year-end financial statements of its holding company.
Appointment of Auditors
Under section 205 of the Companies Act, the directors of a company are required to appoint at least one accounting entity to be the company’s auditor within 3 months of the company’s incorporation. In Singapore, only public accountants or accounting firms approved by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) can act as company auditors.
Auditors will hold office from the time of their appointment until the conclusion of the company’s next annual general meeting (AGM). Therefore when a newly-incorporated company first appoints an auditor, this auditor will hold office until the conclusion of the company’s first AGM.
Then during the first AGM, the company will have to appoint a new accounting entity (or reappoint the same accounting entity) to act as the company’s auditor until the conclusion of the next AGM. This auditor will then hold office until the conclusion of the company’s subsequent AGM, and so on and so forth.
If the directors fail to appoint a company auditor, any company member may apply to the Registrar to have it appoint an auditor for the company instead.
Exemption from Audit Requirements
Companies that are regarded as a “small company” for a particular financial year, or are dormant, are exempt from audit requirements. These companies therefore do not need to appoint auditors (or have their financial statements audited) for that financial year.
Small Company Exemption
In general, a company will be considered a “small company” if it is a private company throughout the current financial year, and satisfies any 2 of the following criteria for each of the 2 financial years immediately before the current financial year:
- The company’s revenue does not exceed SGD10 million;
- The value of the company’s total assets does not exceed SGD10 million; or
- The company does not have more than 50 employees.
Refer to the Thirteenth Schedule of the CA for the criteria that companies incorporated for less than 3 years, or incorporated before 1 July 2015, have to meet in order to be considered a “small company”.
Dormant company
A company will also be exempt from audit requirements if:
- It has been dormant from the time of its formation; or
- It has been dormant since the end of the previous financial year.
A company is dormant during a period in which no accounting transaction occurs. Dormant companies will cease to be considered dormant once such an accounting transaction occurs.
The following are not to be considered as accounting transactions (refer to section 205B(3) of the CA for the full list):
- The appointment of a company secretary
- The appointment of an auditor
- The keeping of company registers and books
- The payment of any fees or charges that the law requires to be paid
Exception to exemption from audit requirements
Even if a company is exempt from audit requirements, the Registrar may still require the company to lodge its audited financial statements and an auditor’s report if the Registrar is satisfied that the company has breached laws relating to the:
- Keeping of accounting records (section 199 of the CA); or
- Laying of its financial statements at its AGM (section 201 of the CA).
GST Registration
This is known as the VAT or Value Added Tax in some other countries, and this means that GST is another consumption tax, which is levied on supply of goods as well as services as well as the import of these goods into Singapore.
GST is another indirect tax and often expressed in terms of percentage (current rate at 7%) and it is applied to selling price of goods as well as services provided. You will remit the net amount after setting off with allowed input taxes on your purchase, etc to the tax authorities. GST is neither income nor expense as you will be collection agent on behalf of Government from the consumers.
This means that you need to register your company if you want to have humble time enjoying the types of services that you offer to your customers.
The GST registration is needed only whenever a company falls in the following category:
- The net turnover is over SGD1 million in the past 12 months or known as retrospective basis.
- There is enough reason to expect its net turnover to exceed SGD1 million in the next one year (12 months) also known as prospective basis.
Corporate Income Tax
The corporate tax rate is at 17% currently. Tax will only be imposed at the corporate level and Singapore dividends in the hands of the company’s shareholders are tax exempt.
The Net Profit up to SGD100,000/- each year for the first three consecutive years are 100% exempted and a further 50% exemption on the next SGD200,000 of normal chargeable income which translates into a huge savings of SGD51,000/- in the first 3 years while establishing the businesses in Singapore till the Year of Assessment 2019 i.e., till the date 31-December-2018.
From the Year of Assessment 2020: Exemption at 75% on the first SGD100,000 of normal chargeable income; and a further 50% exemption on the next SGD100,000 of normal chargeable income for the first three years from the date of incorporation.
After completion of first three years, from the fourth year onward, the company is entitled with partial tax exemption.
1) Tax Exemption Scheme for New Start-Up Companies: |
|
| Under the scheme, qualifying new companies are given the following tax exemption for the first three consecutive YAs (Year of Assessment) where the YA falls in | |
| Year of Assessment (YA) | Exemption on normal chargeable income |
| YA 2020 onwards | 75% exemption on the first $100,000 |
| YA 2010 to 2019 | Full exemption on the first $100,000 |
| A further 50% exemption on the next $200,000 | |
2) Partial Tax Exemption for all companies: |
|
| All companies including companies limited by guarantee can enjoy the following tax exemption: | |
| Year of Assessment (YA) | Exemption on normal chargeable income |
| YA 2020 onwards | 75% exemption on the first $10,000 |
| A further 50% exemption on the next $190,000 | |
| YA 2010 to 2019 | 75% tax exemption on the first $10,000 |
| A further 50% exemption on the next $290,000 | |
Business Licences
Intended activities of the company may or even may not need a business licence. Whenever your company needs a licence, the managers must apply to obtain all necessary approval prior to commencing offering products or services through their business activities.
You can commence your business operations only after obtaining one or more business licences which depends on the nature of your businesses. Employment agency, educational institutions, restaurants, travel agencies, financial services, import-export related trades, etc. are falling under this category as some examples to be applied with specific licences.
Examples of setting up & general functioning of a Private Limited Company for some businesses in Singapore (click on the below type of Business or image):
Examples of setting up Businesses & general functioning of a Pte Ltd Company in all 5 Sectors / Industries in Singapore (click on the below type of Sector for specific requirements or image for general functions):
| Process Chart |
|
|
|
Construction Sector |
|
|
Manufacturing Sector |
|
|
Marine Shipyard Sector |
|
|
Process Construction & Maintenance Sector |
|
|
Services Sector
|
Accounting Records
Every company must always keep accounting as well as other records essential to explain their transactions as well as their financial position and to allow for a profit and loss account before preparing a balance sheet. These accounting records need to be kept for five years after completion of the essential operations or transactions. Each director has a right to inspect these accounting records at any time.
Director’s Disclosure
Any Director shall disclose the following to the company:
- Material personal interest that the Director has and related to their affairs
- Interests that Directors believe it’s appropriate and able to be disclose to avoid any interest conflict or perception of any conflict of interest
Notification of Changes
Every time change occurs in particulars of company or even to its officers and shareholders, changes must also be lodged with the Registrar of Companies and on failure, this will always incur penalties.
Company Registration Number Disclosure
Singapore Companies Act at the moment requires each company to have its registration number together with registered name in all the business letters, invoices, official notices, publications and statements of account. This means that the company must always fill the corporate tax returns, or apply for the permits or the submitting CPF contributions of their employees. All companies are issued with Unique Entity Number by the regulatory authority.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
An AGM is a mandatory annual meeting of shareholders. At the AGM, your company will present its Financial Statements (also known as “Accounts”) before the shareholders (also known as “Members”) so that they can raise any queries regarding the financial position of the company.
Timeline for holding AGM
For companies with financial year ending (FYE) on or after 31 August 2018:
If you are a listed company, you must hold an AGM within four months after your company’s financial year end and file the annual return within five months after your company’s financial year end.
If you are not a listed company, you must hold an AGM within six months after your company’s financial year end and file the annual return within seven months after your company’s financial year end.
For companies with financial year ending (FYE) before 31 August 2018:
You must hold the first AGM within 18 months of the date of incorporation.
The financial statements you present at an AGM must be made up to a date not more than four months before the AGM, if you are a listed company. For non-listed companies, it must be made up to a date not more than six months before the AGM.
Exemptions from holding an AGM
With effect from 31 August 2018, private companies can be exempted from holding AGMs if they send their financial statements to their members within five months after the financial year end.
The exemption to hold an AGM is subject to the following safeguards:
- A member who wishes to request that an AGM be held must notify the company no later than 14 days before the end of the sixth month after the financial year end
- Directors must hold an AGM within 6 months after the financial year end if notified by any member of the company to do so. The company may seek the Registrar’s approval for an extension of time to hold AGM by the deadline (i.e. before the end of the six months after the financial year end)
- Private companies must hold a general meeting to lay financial statements if any member or auditor requests for it no later than 14 days after the financial statements are sent out. Directors must, within 14 days after the date of request, hold a general meeting to lay the financial statements.
Private dormant relevant companies*, which are exempt from preparing financial statements, do not need to hold AGMs, subject to the above safeguards.
*A private dormant relevant company is a private company which is dormant, not listed (or not a subsidiary of a listed company); and has total assets less than or equal to $500,000 (consolidated value if it is an ultimate parent).
Dispensing with AGMs
A private company need not hold AGMs if all the members pass a resolution to dispense with the holding of annual general meetings. Companies may pass written resolutions for matters that would have been tabled at an AGM. The written resolutions may be circulated via hardcopies or other legible form (such as e-mails) as agreed upon by the company and the members.
Applying for an Extension of Time to hold your AGM
You can apply for an Extension of Time (EOT) of up to 60 days, if you need to delay holding the AGM or filing the annual return.
An EOT application can be made by a company officer (e.g. company secretary or director), or by a professional firm on behalf of your company.
- The application fee is $200.
- Provide the reasons for the application (Listed companies are to attach the reasons for the application, along with any relevant documents, including any comments by SGX on the application).
- Once the EOT application is successfully submitted, a confirmation email will be sent by ACRA to the person making the application.
Click here to learn more about AGM (Annual General Meeting)
Annual Return (AR) Filing Requirements
Every company in Singapore must file its Annual Return in its appropriate due date with the Company Registrar otherwise this will incur penalties.
Timeline for filing of Annual Returns (AR) |
|
| For Companies with FYE ending before 31 Aug 2018 | For Companies with FYE ending on or after 31 Aug 2018 |
|
For companies having a share capital and keeping a branch register outside Singapore: File annual returns within 60 days after AGM |
For companies having a share capital and keeping a branch register outside Singapore: File annual returns within 6 months (if listed) or 8 months (if not listed) after FYE |
|
For other companies File annual returns within 30 days after AGM |
For other companies: File annual returns within 5 months (if listed) or 7 months (if not listed) after FYE |
|
Annual return can be filed only:
|
|
|
To prevent companies from arbitrarily changing their FYE, the following safeguards are put in place by ACRA:
* if the change in FYE will result in a financial year longer than 18 months; or * if the FYE was changed within the last 5 years; and
|
|
| A company’s financial periods starting on or after 31 Aug 2018 by default will be taken to be a period of 12 months for each financial period. | |
|
Important information for companies with unusual financial year period:
|
|
|
Important information for newly Incorporated companies that have yet to file Annual Returns:
|
|
Click here to learn more about filing of Annual Return (AR).
| Source of Information, Guidelines, Compliance, Laws, Rules & Regulations is from the relevant authorities of Singapore | |
| Details of Source | Name of Authorities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
