Singapore Guide · Setting Up a Company
The Q&As below cover the steps, basic requirements and annual obligations of setting up a company in Singapore. A fuller overview is in the article on company setup and annual compliance (in Chinese).
FAQ
What are the steps to register a company in Singapore?
A common process is: choose the company type (a private limited company, Pte. Ltd., is the most common) → check and reserve the company name → prepare the company constitution and the details of directors and shareholders → submit the registration through BizFile+ of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). With complete documents, registration is generally completed within 1 to 3 working days.
Source: ACRA (acra.gov.sg) (website: acra.gov.sg)
What are the basic requirements for registering a Singapore company?
At least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore (a Citizen, PR or eligible pass holder); at least one shareholder; a company secretary appointed within 6 months of incorporation; a local registered address in Singapore; and a minimum paid-up capital of S$1.
Source: ACRA (website: acra.gov.sg)
What are a Singapore company's annual obligations?
They mainly include holding the annual general meeting as required or passing written resolutions instead, filing the Annual Return with ACRA, and filing the Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) and corporate income tax return (Form C / C-S) with IRAS. The corporate income tax rate is 17%, and newly set-up companies may enjoy partial tax exemption if they qualify.
Source: ACRA; IRAS (website: iras.gov.sg, acra.gov.sg)
What is needed to open a bank account for a Singapore company?
Usually the company registration documents (BizFile information), the company constitution, identity documents of directors and shareholders, a description of the business and an explanation of the source of funds. Banks make their own assessment and may require an interview with the directors; the time needed varies by bank and business.
Source: Monetary Authority of Singapore, MAS (mas.gov.sg); bank websites (website: mas.gov.sg)
Data as read on 1 October 2026. Policies may change; please refer to the latest official announcements, and consult a professional for your own situation.
Official references
- ACRA: Company registration and annual returns www.acra.gov.sg (Search the site for: register a company / annual return)
- ACRA: BizFile+ online portal www.bizfile.gov.sg
- IRAS: Corporate income tax and start-up tax exemption www.iras.gov.sg (Search the site for: Corporate Income Tax / start-up tax exemption)
Policies may change; please refer to the latest official announcements.
Other categories
Financial Planning Basics · CPF · Healthcare · Tax · Work Passes and Residency · Bank Accounts · Children's Education · Family Arrangements · Family Offices · Insurance guides
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