Asia-Pacific · Company formation
Company formation in Singapore
An Asian holding or operating hub built on territorial tax, a wide treaty network and first-tier banking.
At a glance
- Entity
- Private limited company (Pte Ltd)
- Corporate tax
- 17% flat (as of 2026). New companies enjoy a 75% exemption on the first SGD 100,000 of normal chargeable income and 50% on the next SGD 100,000 for their first three years (Start-Up Tax Exemption), with a lighter partial exemption thereafter; a 50% CIT rebate capped at SGD 40,000 applies for YA 2026.
- Incorporation time
- ~1 day online via ACRA's BizFile+ once the name is approved; a day or two longer if the name is referred to another agency.
- Minimum capital
- SGD 1 paid-up (no minimum share capital).
- Resident director
- At least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore required (Companies Act s.145) — a citizen, PR, or eligible pass holder.
- Audit
- Small-company audit exemption (meet two of three: revenue ≤ SGD 10m, assets ≤ SGD 10m, ≤ 50 employees).
- Remote set-up
- Yes, no visit needed; foreigners cannot self-file and must engage a licensed registered filing agent.
- Government fee
- SGD 315 to ACRA (SGD 15 name application + SGD 300 registration), as of 2026.
- Best for
- An Asian holding or operating hub built on territorial tax, a wide treaty network and first-tier banking.
The process
- Reserve the company name via ACRA's BizFile+ (SGD 15; reservation valid 120 days).
- Appoint at least one ordinarily-resident director, a shareholder, and a qualified company secretary, and secure a local registered address.
- Prepare the constitution and complete the filing agent's KYC/due-diligence checks.
- File the incorporation application with ACRA (SGD 300); the UEN and business profile issue, usually the same day.
- Open a corporate bank account and register for GST if taxable turnover exceeds SGD 1m.
What can go wrong
- A foreign founder must appoint a locally-resident director (commonly a paid nominee) and retain a licensed corporate service provider — both recurring costs, not one-off fees.
- GST registration is compulsory once taxable turnover exceeds SGD 1m; the standard rate is 9% (from 1 January 2024).
- Economic substance is scrutinised: a shell relying solely on a nominee director risks losing treaty access and can stall bank onboarding.
- Corporate bank account opening involves rigorous KYC and can take several weeks; confirm current requirements with the chosen bank.
Popular relocation routes
A move is never only a company. These are the residency and citizenship routes families pair with it.
Form a company in Singapore?
One named person on the file, an honest read on tax and substance, and a fixed quote before you commit.