Singapore Company Formation: Pte. Ltd., MAS Licensing and Banking
Singapore is the operating hub of the Asia-Pacific region, with territorial taxation, a strong regulator (MAS), and the rule of law. Our priority for structures focused on Southeast Asia and for fintech licensing under the PSA.
- Region
- Asia-Pacific
- Class
- Midshore
- CIT
- 17% (effective rate often lower with reliefs)
- VAT
- 9% GST
- Practice
- Singapore · one named partner
Available registration forms
Banking & operations
- Banking
- DBS, OCBC, UOB, plus international banks (Standard Chartered, HSBC). Onboarding is manageable with the right ownership structuring and documentation.
- Operations
- For foreign shareholders without a local director, a nominee director is generally required. PSA licensing for fintech operators is a separate track, with its own nuances.
- INNOVA practice
- Singapore · one named partner
Packages & pricing in Singapore
Services in Singapore
Industries in Singapore
Tools & comparisons
Frequently asked questions — business in Singapore
Singapore pairs a business-friendly legal system with low tax: English common law, zero capital gains tax, no withholding tax on dividends, and a 17% corporate income tax rate. Over 90 double-tax agreements open the door to an ASEAN market of 650 million people. The location works in your favour.
Foreigners can register a Private Limited Company (Pte. Ltd.), a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), a branch office, or a representative office; registration runs through ACRA's BizFile+ portal and takes 1–3 business days once documents are in order. Almost everyone chooses the Pte. Ltd.: limited liability, separate legal personality, and eligibility for startup tax exemptions. The other forms suit narrow cases.
Singapore companies pay Corporate Income Tax (CIT) at a flat 17% on chargeable income. There is no capital gains tax and no withholding tax on dividends paid to shareholders. GST at 9% kicks in once annual taxable turnover passes S$1 million. Singapore runs a territorial system: foreign-sourced income is generally untaxed unless remitted under certain conditions. Nothing hidden.
A Singapore Pte. Ltd. is typically incorporated within 1–3 business days through ACRA's BizFile+ online portal, with a government filing fee of S$315. If your proposed name or business activity needs additional review by another authority — financial services regulated by MAS, for example — approval takes longer. We prepare the documents (passport, residential address proof, shareholder details) in advance so no days are lost. Most of the questions, we already know the answers to.
Yes. Singapore law requires every Pte. Ltd. to have at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore — a Singapore citizen, Permanent Resident, or EntrePass/Employment Pass holder. A foreign founder who does not reside in Singapore appoints a nominee local director; the service runs S$1,500–S$3,000 per year through a licensed corporate service provider. We take this part on.
Your business in Singapore: formation, banking, tax, immigration — under one desk. One partner.
- Written reply within 24 h
- Fixed price after scoping
- One named partner
- Confidentiality in the contract