FAQs

If you are living in Singapore, you can wish to use your home address as the registered office address. This can be done under the Home Office Scheme with URA or HDB.

To use your home address as the registered address, there are certain criteria that have to be met with and if those conditions are breached, your permit can be revoked. 

You also need to consider the type of business activity that is permitted under the Home Office Scheme. Click here to find out if your business activity is permitted. Many common business types are not permitted such as food catering, manufacturing, courier services, beauty services and more.  

By using your home address, you also do not have privacy as the address will be public information as the registered office address of a business can be easily found.

A registered office address has to fulfil the following criteria:

• It has to be a place where all communications and notices may be addressed and has to be open and accessible to the public for not less than 3 hours during ordinary business hours on each business day
• It has to be a physical office address in Singapore
• It cannot be a P.O. box address

You will be receiving mail from government entities like – reminders on annual requirements, new incentives, and also mail from banks. You should check your mail on a daily basis to not miss out on important information.

ACRA and IRAS

Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) is an arm of the Ministry of Finance of the Singapore government. Anything that is related to businesses and their operations usually falls under the jurisdiction of ACRA.

Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) is another arm of the Ministry of Finance that focus mostly on tax collection.

While you do need to update your registered address on both departments, you can do it in one shot by going to bizfile. A change in the ACRA Bizfile database will reflect on the IRAS file on a weekly basis.

However, if you need to do a change of address in IRAS for urgent matters (like receiving a tax refund or correspondence from IRAS soon), you can send over an email via the myTax Mail that contains the documents/information like:

• Tax reference number of the company
• Name of the company
• New Address as updated with ACRA

Ministry of Manpower

Ministry of Manpower (MOM) of Singapore, handles labour policies and everything labour/workforce related in Singapore.

If you are an Employment Pass holder:

You need to update your Employment Pass through EP Online about the change in registered address.

If you are a CPF account holder:

You need to inform and update the CPF board about the change in registered address.

Your bank

If you would like the mailing address to be changed to your new registered address, you may wish to contact your respective bank(s) to have that updated for you.

Your suppliers

If you have had a change in address, it’s best to let your suppliers know as soon as possible. This is to make sure they can easily adjust their schedule in delivering what they are suppose to do for you on time without having to disrupt their routine.

Your investors

While they might be one of the first people to know of a potential move, sending out a document informing when and where you are moving is always a good move.

This not only shows the respect you have for your investors but also reassures them of their importance in your business.

Your customers/followers

While this varies from one business to another, informing your followers (on your website, social media and online directories) and prospective customers is necessary.

Are you an individual starting a company?

• It can be as easy as providing your passport and proof of residency that’s less than 3 months old.

Are you an existing company looking to have a Singapore entity?

• Certificate of Incorporation/Registration
• Business Profile/Certificate of Incumbency
• Group ownership structure chart
• Certificate of Appointment of Corporate Representative and/or Directors’ Resolution in Writing authorising the representative

After incorporation in Singapore, the company is considered a legal entity and can start conducting business activities and hiring employees.

You will receive a Certificate of Incorporation.
ACRA will send an email notification confirming the registration of your company. This is your official Singapore Company Incorporation Certificate and will include your business registration number. If you want a hard copy of the certificate, you can make an online request to ACRA for S$50.

You receive a Business Profile (”Bizfile”).
ACRA will also provide the business profile of your new company for free. The business profile is the identity card of the company.

You are able to open a corporate bank account.
After you have successfully registered your Singapore business, you will be able to open a corporate bank account with any of the banks in Singapore.