Singapore
How to register a company in Singapore: tax, fees and annual filings, from official sources.
- Company type
- Private company limited by shares (Pte. Ltd.), often an exempt private company
- Headline corporate tax
- 17%
- Registration fee
- SGD 15 name application + SGD 300 company registration via Bizfile (online only).
- Region
- Asia and Middle East
A Singapore private company costs SGD 315 to register, but a foreign founder must use a corporate service provider and appoint at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore. Corporate tax is 17%, with partial exemptions for small profits.
The figures below come from the registry, tax authority and statutes linked under Sources, as they stood on 30 September 2026. Fees and thresholds change, so check the linked official page before you file. This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your situation.
Questions
How much does it cost to register a company in Singapore?
SGD 15 name application + SGD 300 company registration via Bizfile (online only).
What is the corporate tax rate in Singapore?
Flat 17% on chargeable income. Qualifying new start-ups (first 3 years of assessment): 75% exemption on the first SGD 100,000 and 50% on the next SGD 100,000; other companies: 75% exemption on the first SGD 10,000 and 50% on the next SGD 190,000. For YA 2026 a corporate income tax rebate of 50% of tax payable (capped at SGD 40,000) applies, with a SGD 2,000 cash grant for companies that employed a local employee in 2025.
Can a non-resident set up a company in Singapore?
Foreigners cannot self-file: ACRA states foreigners must engage a corporate service provider (CSP/registered filing agent) to register; Singpass holders who will be director or secretary can apply directly on Bizfile.
Annual deadlines for this and other jurisdictions are in the company filing deadlines calendar.
- Corporate tax
- Flat 17% on chargeable income. Qualifying new start-ups (first 3 years of assessment): 75% exemption on the first SGD 100,000 and 50% on the next SGD 100,000; other companies: 75% exemption on the first SGD 10,000 and 50% on the next SGD 190,000. For YA 2026 a corporate income tax rebate of 50% of tax payable (capped at SGD 40,000) applies, with a SGD 2,000 cash grant for companies that employed a local employee in 2025.
- Minimum capital
- At least SGD 1 of share capital (minimum one issued share); shares may be issued without full payment, so no prior pay-in requirement is stated by ACRA.
- Forming it from abroad
- Foreigners cannot self-file: ACRA states foreigners must engage a corporate service provider (CSP/registered filing agent) to register; Singpass holders who will be director or secretary can apply directly on Bizfile.
- Local requirements
- At least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore (citizen, PR or someone meeting local residency rules); a company secretary (natural person, local resident, not the sole director) within 6 months; a registered office at a Singapore address open to the public at least 3 hours each business day.
- VAT, GST or sales tax
- GST registration compulsory when taxable turnover exceeds SGD 1 million (calendar-year retrospective test or 12-month prospective test); standard GST rate 9% (since 1 January 2024).
- Annual filings
- ACRA annual return within 7 months after financial year end (non-listed companies; late penalty SGD 300/600). IRAS: Estimated Chargeable Income within 3 months after FYE (waived if revenue ≤ SGD 5 million and ECI nil); Form C-S/C-S (Lite)/C by 30 November each year (YA 2026 deadline 30 Nov 2026). Financial statements filed in XBRL unless exempt (solvent exempt private companies need not file).
- Audit
- Private companies are audit-exempt as 'small companies' if they meet at least 2 of 3 criteria for the past two consecutive financial years: revenue ≤ SGD 10 million, total assets ≤ SGD 10 million, ≤ 50 employees. Dormant companies are also exempt.
- Beneficial owners
- Yes: companies must keep a Register of Registrable Controllers and file it with ACRA's Central RORC (on the day of registration for companies registered from 16 June 2025); it is not available to the public, only to law enforcement.
- Also know
- Start-up tax exemption requires the company to be incorporated and tax resident in Singapore and meet shareholding conditions; foreign company branches cannot claim it. Appoint an auditor within 3 months of registration unless audit-exempt. Solvent exempt private companies (fewer than 20 members, no corporate shareholder) need not file financial statements with ACRA but must declare solvency. Private companies may be exempt from holding an AGM.
- Company registry
- Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) - Bizfile
- Registry website
- acra.gov.sg
- Tax authority page
- iras.gov.sg
- Last reviewed
- Sources
Source Link IRAS - Corporate Income Tax Rate, Rebates & Tax Exemption Schemes https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/corporate-income-tax/basics-of-corporate-income-tax/corporate-income-tax-rate-rebates-and-tax-exemption-schemes ACRA - Service & transaction fees: Companies https://www.acra.gov.sg/manage/companies/service-transaction-fees/ ACRA - Registering a local company via Bizfile https://www.acra.gov.sg/register/business/registering-different-business-structures/local-company/registering-via-bizfile/ ACRA - Choosing company directors & other key officers https://www.acra.gov.sg/register/business/registering-different-business-structures/local-company/appointing-company-directors-other-key-officers/ ACRA - Deciding on share capital & share types https://www.acra.gov.sg/register/business/registering-different-business-structures/local-company/deciding-on-share-capital-share-types/ ACRA - Applying for a new business entity name https://www.acra.gov.sg/resources/guides-forms/apply-for-new-business-entity-name/ ACRA - Deadline & requirements for annual returns https://www.acra.gov.sg/manage/companies/legal-requirements-common-offences/filing-annual-returns-companies/deadline-requirements/ ACRA - Audit exemptions: small company concept https://www.acra.gov.sg/manage/companies/legal-requirements-common-offences/preparing-financial-statements/audit-exemptions/ ACRA - Filing with the Central RORC https://www.acra.gov.sg/manage/companies/legal-requirements-common-offences/maintaining-local-companys-information-registers/rorc/central-rorc/ ACRA - Post-registration guide: local company https://www.acra.gov.sg/register/business/after-registering/local-company/ ACRA - Financial statements filing requirements & exemptions https://www.acra.gov.sg/manage/companies/legal-requirements-common-offences/filing-financial-statements-in-xbrl-format/requirements-exemptions/ IRAS - Do I need to register for GST https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-(gst)/gst-registration-deregistration/do-i-need-to-register-for-gst IRAS - Current GST rates https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-(gst)/basics-of-gst/current-gst-rates IRAS - Basic Guide to Corporate Income Tax for Companies https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/corporate-income-tax/basics-of-corporate-income-tax/basic-guide-to-corporate-income-tax-for-companies