Category Archives: Setting up a Business in Singapore

Is it Compulsory to Have a Corporate Secretary?

Before registering your company in Singapore, you need to understand the legal requirements of setting up a business to ensure preparedness. In Singapore, after the registration and incorporation of a company, you are required to appoint a company secretary within six months.  If at some point the company secretary chooses to leave the company, this position should not be vacant for more than six months after.

Singapore Budget Updates 2018: Corporate Tax

[su_x3] Singapore Budget Updates 2018: Corporate Tax Income The Singapore Budget 2018 was delivered by the Finance Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat, on 19 February 2018. This article highlights some of the key changes on corporate tax. Adjustments to Tax Exemption Schemes For start-ups, with effect from YA 2020, there will be 75% tax exemption […]

Singapore Budget Updates 2018: Goods and Services Tax

[su_x4] Singapore Budget Updates 2018: Goods and Services Tax The Singapore Budget 2018 was delivered by the Finance Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat, on 19 February 2018. This article highlights some of the key changes on goods and services tax (GST).   Increase in GST rate The prevailing GST rate of 7% will be raised […]

Audit Exemption: New “Small Company” Concept

Audit Exemption: New “Small Company” Concept The Companies (Amendment) Act 2014 (Amendment Act) was passed by Parliament in October 2014, introducing the largest number of changes to the Companies Act since its enactment in 1967. The changes are intended to reduce the regulatory burden on companies, provide for greater business flexibility and improve the corporate […]

An Overview of Common Business Structures among Start-ups

[su_p2] Sole Proprietorship Partnership Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Company Legal Status Not a separate entity Separate entity Separate entity Liability Unlimited liability Limited liability Limited liability Personal Liability Owners/Partners are personally liable for debts and losses Partners are not personally liable for debts and losses incurred by other partners Members are not personally liable for […]

Outsourcing as an Alternative

Focusing on your business priorities Small and medium enterprises are often limited by budget and time constraints, and would have priorities over growth, business expansion or research and development. Outsourcing therefore provides business owners with a sensible alternative to ensure that their accounting and bookkeeping needs are managed by a group of professionally accredited accountants. […]

Corporate Compliance – An Overview

Annual General Meeting (AGM) Singapore companies are required to conduct an AGM once every calendar year. Key requirements of the AGM are as follows: The first AGM must be held within 18 months from its incorporation; The interval between AGMs should not be more than 15 months; Directors are required to present a true and […]

Company Incorporation & Business Registration

Company Name The proposed name of the company must be approved prior to incorporation. Approval can be obtained by filing the application with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). Registered Address All Singapore incorporated companies must have a registered address. The registered address must be a local Singapore address accessible to the public during […]

Business Structures in Singapore

Deciding on the company structure and constitution is typically one of the first key decision any aspiring business owner needs to make. The structure and constitution would have significant implications to considerations over ownership, liabilities, compliance requirements and cost. Private Company A private company is the most common business entity for setting up a business […]