How to keep your company compliant in Singapore
This Singapore corporate compliance guide provides a complete overview of the things you will need to know and do to keep a company compliant in Singapore for 2015. This guide is covering the compliance requirements of a private limited company in Singapore which is Singapore’s limited liability company format. This guide covers requirements for company secretary, registered address, local resident directorship, financial year end filing, GST registration, account records, directorship disclosure, notifications, UEN disclosure, annual filing and if required appointment of auditors.
Basic of Singapore Corporate Compliance Requirements
- Must appoint a company secretary
- Must have a registered address in Singapore
- Must have a Singapore resident as a director
- Must establish a Financial Year End
- If taxable turnover is above $1m per year most register for GST
- Some business activities may require a business license
- Must file an Annual Return and Annual Tax Return each year
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Singapore Corporate Compliance Guide
Singapore Company Compliance Requirements for 2015
Overview of Singapore company compliance requirements
This guide specifically covers the corporate compliance requirements of a Singapore private limited company for 2015. In order to properly operate your company in Singapore all the compliance criteria must be fulfilled.
Company Secretary
Corporate Secretary requirements for a Singapore company
Singapore companies are required to appoint a qualified company secretary within 6 months of incorporation. The company secretary needs to possess the knowledge and experience to preform the functions of a Singapore company secretary.
A Singapore Resident Director
Requirements for a Singapore resident director
At least 1 Singapore Resident Shareholder (can be a foreigner holding an EntrePass or Employment Pass), there are no limitation on the number of additional directors or their nationality as long as at least 1 is a Singapore Resident. Any person over the age of 18 years of age can be appointed to be a director in a Singapore private limited company as long as they are not bankrupt or not convicted of offences relating to fraud and dishonesty.
Registered Singapore Address
Registered address requirements for a private limited company in Singapore
All businesses in Singapore must have a valid registered address in Singapore. The registered address can not be a Post Box. The registered address can not be an HDB apartment address without prior approval. Also many private residential developments in Singapore do not allow for use of the residential address as a commercial business address.
GST Registration
GST registration requirements for a Singapore company
Singapore’s Goods and Services tax is a consumption tax that is levied on the import of goods (collected by Singapore Customs), as well as nearly all supplies of goods and services in Singapore, similar to a sales tax or VAT (Value Added Tax). The current GST is 7% and is applied to the selling price of the goods or services provided by businesses registered as a GST entity. GST registered entities are required to file a return on a regular basis, typically quarterly.
GST registration is required if:
- The taxable turnover for the previous year is more than S$1 million or
- Expected turnover for the next year will exceed S$1 million
Establishing a Financial Year End
Singapore companies are required to set a FYE date.
A Singapore company is required to set a financial year end (FYE) date. If the company is a subsidiary company, the FYE is generally made to coincide with the financial year end of the parent company to ensure easier worldwide accounting. In other cases the choice of the Financial Year End date is totally up to the company to select.
Annual Filing Requirements
Filing requirements for a company’s annual return and annual tax return
A Singapore company is required to file an Annual Return with Singapore’s Company Registrar and an Annual Tax Return with Singapore’s Internal Revenue Authority.
Annual Return
- Must be filed with ACRA (Singapore’s Company Registrar)
Annual Tax Return
- Must be filed with IRAS (Singapore’s Revenue Authority)
Disclosure of the Company’s UEN
Disclosure requirements of the company’s registration number
The Singapore Companies Act requires all companies to display their registration number and company’s registered name on all business letters, statements of account, invoices, official notices and publications.
Director Disclosure Requirements
Disclosure requirements of the company’s directors
Directors of a Singapore company are required to disclose any personal interest they have in matters that relate to the business dealings of the company as well as any other interest which the Director feels may be appropriate to disclose to avoid conflicts of interest.
Notification of Changes
Requirements to file changes with authorities
All changes made to a Singapore company must be promptly registered with the Singapore Company Registrar. Failure to maintain current business details can result in penalties and or fines.
Accounting Requirements
Requirements for financial record keeping
A Singapore company is required to keep their accounting and other financial records for explanation of the transactions and financial matters of the company. The accounting records is required to be retained for a minimum of 5 years on all of the transactions or operations of the business. All directors have the right to review the accounting records of the company on request at any time.
Business License Requirements
Business specific licensing requirements in Singapore
Depending on the planned activities of your business it may or may not require a specific business license. If your company requires a license, you are required to apply for and gain the applicable authority’s approval before commencing of your business activities. In Singapore only few types of business activities actually require a business license.
Appointing of an Auditor
When is appointment of an auditor required
Singapore company is required to appoint an auditor within 3 months of its incorporation, unless it is exempted from audit requirements by fulfilling all the requirements below.
Exemption From Audit
- All shareholders need to be individuals
- Less than 20 shareholders
- Less than $5 million in annual turnover