SSIC codes guide
4 minute read
Starting a business in Singapore is a decision made by an increasing number of entrepreneurs from all across the globe. This is hardly a surprise, since Singapore is a prosperous country that enables both the locals and foreigners to advance in their business endeavors.
However, before you carry on with your company operations, you need to register your company and specify your business activity. In this SSIC codes guide, we will walk you through essential information such as the definition of SSIC codes, the importance of choosing the correct code, and, finally, the list of the most commonly used codes.
Here is a quick overview:
- Consulting
- Holding companies
- Technology
- B2B and Finance
- Retail
- Wholesale
- General Services
- Health and Beauty
- Education and Childcare
- Food and Beverage
- Construction/Real Estate
- Shipping and Logistics
- Miscellaneous
What are SSIC codes?
An SSIC code, or a Singapore Standard Industrial Classification Code, is a number provided to classify a company’s business activities that are carried out in the country of Singapore.
SSIC codes are used by the government for statistical purposes. However, they also serve the purpose of helping with the regulation and governance of companies.
The codes are reviewed and updated when and if necessary. The goal of this is to ensure that the codes:
- Stay aligned with the changes in international standards
- Reflect significant changes in the economy
- Remain updated in regard to emerging activities
On top of that, the country authorities can use the codes for several other purposes.
- ACRA can use it to determine whether any additional licenses are needed for the business activity carried out by the company.
- IRAS can also use the SSIC code to determine whether specific tax benefits apply to the company.
Things to note when choosing a SSIC code
Naturally, when selecting your SSIC code associated with principal activities of your company, it is best to opt for a code that reflects the activities you seek a license for.
For instance, if your company is a financial holding company, it would make sense to select the SSIC code 64201. This way, you can apply for the necessary license so that you can operate within the Singaporean borders.
However, keep in mind that holding companies tend to get taxed heavily by the Inland Revenue of Singapore. Also, they are not eligible for most tax deductions.
Finally, it would be smart to write a custom description of your business activity for your business profile. This description does not have to be longer than one page. It is not required to go by the SSIC standard description, since ACRA allows writing a more accurate business activity description upon registration.
List of SSIC codes
Here is a list of SSIC codes across various fields of business.
Take note: The business types in bold will require licensing/permits.
Consulting
| 70201 | BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES (GENERAL) | |||||||||||||
| 70209 | BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 62021 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANCY (EXCEPT CYBERSECURITY) | |||||||||||||
| 62022 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CYBERSECURITY CONSULTANCY | |||||||||||||
| 71129 | ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY ACTIVITIES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 71126 | ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES SUPPORTING MINING, OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION AND OFFSHORE EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||||
| 71121 | GENERAL BUILDING ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 71122 | PROCESS AND INDUSTRIAL PLANT ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES | |||||||||||||
Holding companies
| 64201 | BANK/FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES | |||||||||||||
| 64202 | OTHER HOLDING COMPANIES | |||||||||||||
Technology
| 62019 | DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER SOFTWARE AND PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 62090 | OTHER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER SERVICE ACTIVITIES (EG DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES) | |||||||||||||
| 62013 | DEVELOPMENT OF SOFTWARE FOR INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA (EXCEPT GAMES) | |||||||||||||
| 62011 | DEVELOPMENT OF E-COMMERCE APPLICATIONS | |||||||||||||
| 63120 | WEB PORTALS (INCLUDING SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES) | |||||||||||||
| 62024 | COMPUTER SYSTEMS INTEGRATION ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||||
| 63119 | DATA PROCESSING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES N.E.C. (EG DATA TABULATION SERVICES, COMPUTER TIME SHARING SERVICES, APPLICATION SERVICE PROVIDERS, DATA STORAGE AND STREAMING SERVICES) | |||||||||||||
B2B and Finance
| 82999 | OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICE ACTIVITIES (EG JUNKETS, ADMINISTRATION OF LOYALTY PROGRAMMES) | |||||||||||||
| 73100 | ADVERTISING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||||
| 85491 | CORPORATE TRAINING SERVICES AND MOTIVATIONAL COURSE PROVIDERS | |||||||||||||
| 78105 | EXECUTIVE SEARCH SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 69202 | BOOK-KEEPING SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 69201 | ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING SERVICES (INCLUDING TAXATION ADVISORY SERVICES) | |||||||||||||
| 66192 | CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISORY SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 66301 | ASSET/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT | |||||||||||||
| 66309 | FUND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
Retail
| 47910 | RETAIL SALE VIA INTERNET | |||||||||||||
| 47721 | RETAIL SALE OF COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES (INCLUDING SKINCARE PRODUCTS) | |||||||||||||
| 47311 | RETAIL SALE OF MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT for MOTORCYCLES AND SCOOTERS | |||||||||||||
| 47412 | RETAIL SALE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND ACCESSORIES AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE (EXCEPT GAMES) | |||||||||||||
| 47719 | RETAIL SALE OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND LEATHER ARTICLES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 47711 | RETAIL SALE OF WEARING APPAREL FOR ADULTS | |||||||||||||
Wholesale
| 46900 | GENERAL WHOLESALE TRADE (INCLUDING GENERAL IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS) | |||||||||||||
| 46541 | WHOLESALE OF INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT | |||||||||||||
| 46522 | WHOLESALE OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS | |||||||||||||
| 46592 | WHOLESALE OF MEDICAL, PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND PRECISION EQUIPMENT | |||||||||||||
| 46639 | WHOLESALE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, HARDWARE, PLUMBING, AND HEATING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES N.E.C. (EG CEMENT, SAND) | |||||||||||||
| 46699 | WHOLESALE OF OTHER SPECIFIC COMMODITIES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 46309 | WHOLESALE OF FOOD, BEVERAGES, AND TOBACCO N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 46599 | WHOLESALE OF OTHER MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 46511 | WHOLESALE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT | |||||||||||||
| 46551 | WHOLESALE OF MARINE EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES (INCLUDING MARINE NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT AND RADAR) | |||||||||||||
| 46424 | WHOLESALE OF COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES | |||||||||||||
General services
| 74191 | INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 74192 | ART AND GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 82303 | EVENT/CONCERT ORGANISERS | |||||||||||||
| 43210 | ELECTRICAL WORKS | |||||||||||||
| 96099 | OTHER PERSONAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 78104 | EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES (EXCLUDING MAID AGENCIES) | |||||||||||||
| 46100 | WHOLESALE ON A FEE OR CONTRACT BASIS (EG COMMISSION AGENTS) | |||||||||||||
| 79102 | TRAVEL AGENCIES AND TOUR OPERATORS (MAINLY OUTBOUND) | |||||||||||||
| 81211 | GENERAL CLEANING SERVICES EXCEPT for HOUSEHOLDS (INCLUDING CLEANING OF PUBLIC AREAS AND JANITORIAL SERVICES) | |||||||||||||
| 49219 | PASSENGER LAND TRANSPORT N.E.C. (EG PRIVATE CARS FOR HIRE WITH OPERATOR AND TRISHAWS) | |||||||||||||
| 95301 | REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLES (INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF PARTS & ACCESSORIES) | |||||||||||||
| 88911 | CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN (INCLUDING OWN-ACCOUNT BABYSITTING) | |||||||||||||
| 61099 | OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES N.E.C. (EG PROVISION OF VOIP (VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICES) AND CYBER ‘CAFES’ (OFFERING INTERNET ACCESS ONLY)) | |||||||||||||
| 93203 | CABARETS, NIGHTCLUBS, DISCOTHEQUES, DANCE CLUBS, AND KARAOKE LOUNGES | |||||||||||||
| 77101 | RENTING AND LEASING OF PRIVATE CARS WITHOUT OPERATOR | |||||||||||||
| 59111 | MOTION PICTURE/MOVIE PRODUCTION | |||||||||||||
Health and Beauty
| 86201 | CLINICS AND OTHER GENERAL MEDICAL SERVICES (WESTERN) | |||||||||||||
| 96022 | BEAUTY SALONS AND SPAS (INCLUDING SLIMMING, SKIN CARE AND HAIR CARE CENTRES) | |||||||||||||
| 86203 | SPECIALISED MEDICAL SERVICES (INCLUDING DAY SURGICAL CENTRES) | |||||||||||||
| 86204 | DENTAL SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 96021 | HAIRDRESSING SALONS/SHOPS (INCLUDING BARBER SHOPS) | |||||||||||||
| 86909 | OTHER HEALTH SERVICES N.E.C. (EG REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES EG PHYSIOTHERAPY, CHIROPRACTIC, SPEECH THERAPY) | |||||||||||||
Education and Childcare
| 85509 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES N.E.C. (EG TUITION MATCHING SERVICES) | |||||||||||||
| 85499 | OTHER EDUCATION N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 85420 | MUSIC, DANCING, ART, SPEECH AND DRAMA INSTRUCTION | |||||||||||||
| 85410 | SPORTS AND RECREATION EDUCATION (EG YOGA, SPORTS, MARTIAL ARTS, DIVING, AEROBICS) | |||||||||||||
Food and Beverage
| 56111 | RESTAURANTS | |||||||||||||
| 56122 | FOOD COURTS, COFFEE SHOPS, AND EATING HOUSES (WITH MAINLY FOOD AND BEVERAGE INCOME) | |||||||||||||
| 56112 | CAFES AND COFFEE HOUSES | |||||||||||||
| 56129 | OTHER FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVING PREMISES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 56140 | STALLS SELLING COOKED FOOD AND PREPARED DRINKS (INCLUDING STALLS AT FOOD COURTS AND MOBILE FOOD HAWKERS) | |||||||||||||
| 56201 | FOOD CATERERS | |||||||||||||
| 47219 | RETAIL SALE OF FOOD N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 47112 | MINI-MARTS, CONVENIENCE STORES AND PROVISION SHOPS | |||||||||||||
| 68104 | LETTING AND OPERATING OF FOOD COURTS, COFFEE SHOPS AND EATING HOUSES (WITH MAINLY RENTAL INCOME) | |||||||||||||
Construction/ Real Estate
| 41001 | GENERAL CONTRACTORS (BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING MAJOR UPGRADING WORKS) | |||||||||||||
| 41009 | BUILDING CONSTRUCTION N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 68101 | REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS | |||||||||||||
| 43301 | RENOVATION CONTRACTORS | |||||||||||||
| 68109 | REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES WITH OWN OR LEASED PROPERTY N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 42101 | GENERAL CONTRACTORS (NON-BUILDING CONSTRUCTION) | |||||||||||||
| 43220 | PLUMBING, HEATING (NON-ELECTRIC) AND AIR-CONDITIONING | |||||||||||||
| 68201 | REAL ESTATE AGENCIES AND VALUATION SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 68103 | LETTING AND OPERATING OF SELF-OWNED REAL ESTATE EXCEPT for HOTELS, LODGING AND BOARDING HOUSES | |||||||||||||
Shipping and Logistics
| 30110 | BUILDING AND REPAIRING OF SHIPS, TANKERS AND OTHER OCEAN-GOING VESSELS (INCLUDING CONVERSION OF SHIPS INTO OFF-SHORE STRUCTURES) | |||||||||||||
| 50021 | SHIPPING LINES | |||||||||||||
| 52292 | FREIGHT FORWARDING, PACKING AND CRATING SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 50024 | CHARTERING OF SHIPS, BARGES, AND BOATS WITH CREW (FREIGHT) | |||||||||||||
| 52226 | SHIP MANAGEMENT SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 52222 | SHIPPING AGENCIES (FREIGHT) | |||||||||||||
| 52227 | SHIP BROKERING SERVICES | |||||||||||||
| 52291 | VALUE ADDED LOGISTICS PROVIDERS | |||||||||||||
Miscellaneous
| 28300 | INSTALLATION OF INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING WORKS | |||||||||||||
| 31001 | MANUFACTURE OF FURNITURE AND FIXTURES OF WOOD (INCLUDING UPHOLSTERY) | |||||||||||||
| 52299 | OTHER TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT ACTIVITIES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 32909 | OTHER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
| 63909 | OTHER INFORMATION SERVICE ACTIVITIES N.E.C. | |||||||||||||
Wrap-up
You can also use ACRA’s keyword search engine to browse the full list of SSIC codes. Alternatively, you can always reach out to us and our team will be happy to help you.
