Starting a Company
PDPA Compliance for Singapore Companies: A 2026 Guide
The Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA) governs the collection, use, disclosure, and care of personal data in Singapore. With the significant amendments that took effect in February 2021 — including mandatory data breach notification, enhanced enforcement powers,...
Singapore LLP vs Pte Ltd: Which Business Structure Is Right for You?
When setting up a business in Singapore, one of the first decisions you face is choosing the right legal structure. Two of the most popular options are the Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) and the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). Both offer limited liability...
How to Move to Singapore as a High Net Worth Individual: All Pathways (2026)
Singapore consistently ranks among the world’s top destinations for high-net-worth (HNW) individuals and their families. Its political stability, low taxes, world-class healthcare and education, and strategic position at the heart of Asia make it an...
Annual Compliance Checklist for Singapore Private Companies: A Corporate Secretary’s Guide
A practical annual compliance checklist for Singapore private companies — corporate secretary duties, ACRA filings, IRAS tax matters, AGM, audits and payroll.
Understanding the Role and Responsibilities of a Corporate Secretary in Singapore
Understand corporate secretary duties in Singapore: Companies Act compliance, ACRA filings, IRAS obligations, CPF and payroll essentials — and how Raffles Corporate Services can assist.
Compliance Guide for Singapore F&B Companies: ACRA, IRAS, SFA & MOM Obligations (2026)
Singapore's food and beverage (F&B) sector is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country — and for good reason. Food safety, employment law, tax compliance, and environmental obligations all intersect when you operate a restaurant, café, hawker...
Understanding Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and Annual Returns for Singapore Companies
Clear, practical guidance on AGMs and filing annual returns in Singapore under the Companies Act. For directors, company secretaries and SMEs.
Director’s Resignation in Singapore: Steps, Obligations and Common Pitfalls
Learn the key steps and obligations when a director resigns in Singapore: ACRA filing, board resolution, tax, CPF, and common pitfalls. Practical guidance for companies.
Singapore Startup Tax Exemption (SUTE): 3-Year Tax Relief for New Companies Explained (2026)
Starting a business in Singapore comes with many advantages — and one of the most valuable is the Startup Tax Exemption (SUTE) scheme. Under SUTE, newly incorporated qualifying companies enjoy significant corporate income tax exemptions for their first three Years of...
Convertible Notes and SAFEs in Singapore: Legal Structure, Tax Treatment & Common Terms (2026)
Early-stage Singapore startups raising their first cheque almost always do so via a convertible note or Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) rather than a priced equity round. The reason is simple: putting a number on a pre-revenue company is hard, slow, and...
Running a Company
Maintaining the Register of Nominee Directors: What Every Company Must Know
Practical guide to maintaining the register of nominee directors in Singapore: Companies Act requirements, ACRA filings, directors’ duties and compliance best practices.
PDPA Compliance for Singapore Companies: A 2026 Guide
The Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA) governs the collection, use, disclosure, and care of personal data in Singapore. With the significant amendments that took effect in February 2021 — including mandatory data breach notification, enhanced enforcement powers,...
AML Compliance for Singapore Companies: A 2026 Guide for Business Owners
Anti-money laundering (AML) compliance is not just a concern for banks and financial institutions. Singapore companies across all sectors face obligations under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (CDSA) and...
Form C-S vs Form C vs Form C-S Lite: Which IRAS Tax Return Does Your Company File?
Every year, Singapore-incorporated companies must file a corporate income tax return with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). But which form applies to your company? The answer depends on your annual revenue, whether you claim capital allowances, and...
Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS) Singapore 2026: All 7 Loan Types, Eligibility & How to Apply
Access to financing is one of the most persistent challenges for Singapore SMEs — whether managing working capital gaps, funding equipment purchases, expanding overseas, or closing a major contract. The Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS), administered by Enterprise...
Singapore LLP vs Pte Ltd: Which Business Structure Is Right for You?
When setting up a business in Singapore, one of the first decisions you face is choosing the right legal structure. Two of the most popular options are the Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) and the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). Both offer limited liability...
Maintaining the Register of Controllers: ACRA Requirements and Practical Tips
Learn how to maintain a company Register of Controllers in Singapore under the Companies Act. Practical steps, common mistakes and how a corporate secretary can help.
Share Buybacks in Singapore: How Companies Can Repurchase Their Own Shares (2026)
Share buybacks — where a company purchases its own previously issued shares — are a powerful but often underutilised corporate tool for Singapore private limited companies. Whether your objective is to return surplus cash to shareholders, facilitate the exit of a...
How to Stack Singapore Government Grants: A Multi-Grant Strategy Guide (2026)
Singapore's grant landscape is generous — but navigating it intelligently means understanding not just what each grant covers, but how to combine multiple grants to maximise the total funding your business can claim. This strategy, known as grant stacking, is entirely...
Understanding Drag-Along Rights in Singapore Shareholder Agreements
When a majority shareholder wants to sell their stake in a Singapore company, minority shareholders can sometimes block or complicate the transaction by refusing to participate. Drag-along rights — a clause found in most well-drafted shareholder agreements — solve...
Growing a Company
Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS) Singapore 2026: All 7 Loan Types, Eligibility & How to Apply
Access to financing is one of the most persistent challenges for Singapore SMEs — whether managing working capital gaps, funding equipment purchases, expanding overseas, or closing a major contract. The Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS), administered by Enterprise...
How to Move to Singapore as a High Net Worth Individual: All Pathways (2026)
Singapore consistently ranks among the world’s top destinations for high-net-worth (HNW) individuals and their families. Its political stability, low taxes, world-class healthcare and education, and strategic position at the heart of Asia make it an...
How to Stack Singapore Government Grants: A Multi-Grant Strategy Guide (2026)
Singapore's grant landscape is generous — but navigating it intelligently means understanding not just what each grant covers, but how to combine multiple grants to maximise the total funding your business can claim. This strategy, known as grant stacking, is entirely...
ONE Pass Singapore 2026: Complete Guide to the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass
Singapore's Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass — known as the ONE Pass — is the most flexible and generous work pass the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) offers. Launched in January 2023, it is designed to attract top global talent: senior professionals, established...
After Your Grant Is Approved: Claims, Compliance & Audit Obligations for Singapore SMEs
Getting your government grant approved in Singapore is a significant achievement — but it is not the finish line. For most grants administered by Enterprise Singapore, the approval letter is the beginning of a structured post-approval process that requires careful...
Business Adaptation Grant (BizAdapt) Singapore 2026: Eligibility, Activities & How to Apply
Singapore's trade landscape shifted dramatically in the first half of 2026. The ripple effects of US tariff measures sent Singapore-based exporters and manufacturers scrambling to reassess their supply chains, redirect their sales pipelines, and rethink their...
Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) Singapore 2026: Eligibility, Application & Renewal Guide
If you are a foreign national who wants to live in Singapore long-term — whether as the spouse of a Singapore Citizen, the family member of a work pass holder, or in another qualifying capacity — the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) is likely the first residence pass you...
S Pass Singapore 2026: Quota, Eligibility & Application Guide for Employers
The S Pass is Singapore's mid-skilled work pass, designed for foreign professionals who do not meet the higher salary and qualification thresholds for an Employment Pass (EP) but whose skills are needed by Singapore employers. If you are an employer looking to hire a...
Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) Singapore 2026: Salary Threshold, Validity and Application Guide
The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is the most flexible work pass Singapore offers to high-earning foreign professionals. Unlike a standard Employment Pass, the PEP is not tied to a single employer — its holder can change jobs without filing a new pass...
Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant 2026: Eligible Markets, Activities and How to Apply
For Singapore SMEs eyeing their first overseas customers, the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant administered by Enterprise Singapore remains the most accessible piece of internationalisation funding on the market. It defrays up to 70% of the third-party costs of...
Taxes and GST
Form C-S vs Form C vs Form C-S Lite: Which IRAS Tax Return Does Your Company File?
Every year, Singapore-incorporated companies must file a corporate income tax return with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). But which form applies to your company? The answer depends on your annual revenue, whether you claim capital allowances, and...
Singapore’s Global Minimum Tax (Pillar 2) 2026: What MNCs Must Do Before the June Deadline
Singapore has quietly enacted one of the most significant shifts in its corporate tax landscape in decades. The Multinational Enterprise (Minimum Tax) Act 2024 (MMT Act) — Singapore's implementation of the OECD's Pillar Two Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) rules —...
Singapore Double Tax Agreements (DTAs) 2026: How to Claim Treaty Benefits and Reduce Withholding Tax
A comprehensive guide to Singapore’s Double Tax Agreements — how DTAs reduce withholding tax on dividends, interest, and royalties, how to obtain a Certificate of Residence from IRAS, and the key conditions for claiming treaty benefits in 2026.
R&D Tax Deductions in Singapore: Section 14C, 14D and the Enterprise Innovation Scheme (2026)
A detailed guide to Singapore R&D tax deductions under Section 14C, Section 14D, and the Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS) — including qualifying expenditure, documentation requirements, and the 400% EIS deduction for YA2024–2028.
Singapore’s Global Minimum Tax (Pillar 2) 2026: What MNCs Must Do Before the June Deadline
Singapore has quietly enacted one of the most significant shifts in its corporate tax landscape in decades. The Multinational Enterprise (Minimum Tax) Act 2024 (MMT Act) — Singapore's implementation of the OECD's Pillar Two Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) rules —...
Transfer Pricing in Singapore: IRAS Documentation Requirements & Compliance Guide (2026)
Singapore GST F5 Return: How to File Your GST Return Correctly (2026)
If your business is GST-registered in Singapore, you are required to file a periodic GST return — called the GST F5 — with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). For most businesses, this is done quarterly. Filing incorrectly, late, or not at all exposes...
Singapore Startup Tax Exemption (SUTE): 3-Year Tax Relief for New Companies Explained (2026)
Starting a business in Singapore comes with many advantages — and one of the most valuable is the Startup Tax Exemption (SUTE) scheme. Under SUTE, newly incorporated qualifying companies enjoy significant corporate income tax exemptions for their first three Years of...
Withholding Tax in Singapore: When It Applies & How to Comply (2026)
If your Singapore company makes payments to overseas suppliers, non-resident directors, or foreign contractors, you may have a withholding tax obligation — even if you have never thought about it before. Failing to withhold and remit the correct amount can expose your...
Singapore Group Relief 2026: Section 37C Guide to Transferring Losses Within a Corporate Group
One of the easiest tax wins available to a Singapore corporate group is also one of the most overlooked: the group relief system under Section 37C of the Income Tax Act 1947. Group relief lets a profitable company in a Singapore group absorb the unutilised losses,...
Bookkeeping
Common Bookkeeping Errors in Singapore & How to Avoid Them | Raffles Corporate Services
Avoiding the Pitfalls: A Guide to Common Bookkeeping Errors in Singapore Accurate bookkeeping is the bedrock of any successful business. It provides a clear picture of your financial health, informs strategic decisions, and ensures compliance with Singapore's...
Outsourcing vs In-house Accounting: Pros, Cons & Compliance Issues
In the dynamic business landscape of Singapore, financial management remains a cornerstone of sustainable growth. Every business — from start-ups to multinational corporations — must ensure accurate accounting, timely reporting, and compliance with the Singapore...
Mastering Your Financials: A Business Owner’s Guide to FRS Compliance in Singapore
As a business owner, you juggle countless responsibilities, from product development and marketing to customer service and team management. Amidst this whirlwind of activity, the crucial task of financial management can sometimes feel overwhelming. However,...
Outsourcing Bookkeeping in Singapore: A Smart Move for Your Business?
Accurate and timely bookkeeping is the bedrock of any successful business. It's not just about recording transactions; it provides crucial financial insights for decision-making, ensures compliance with Singapore's regulations (like those set by ACRA and IRAS), and...
Top 5 Accounting Software for SMEs in 2025: Streamline Your Finances
In 2025, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly relying on advanced accounting software to streamline their financial processes and support business growth. With numerous options available, choosing the right accounting software can be a daunting...
When Should Shipping Costs Be Separated from the Related Product Sale?
In the world of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), efficient book-keeping and accurate accounting are crucial to maintaining financial health and making informed business decisions. One area that often causes confusion is the treatment of shipping costs in relation...
How Should Incentive Payments Be Accounted For?
Incentive payments play a crucial role in motivating employees, driving performance, and achieving business goals. For small business owners in Singapore, understanding how to properly account for these payments is essential to ensure compliance with local regulations...
Can non-refundable upfront fees be recognised in revenue when received?
Under Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS), specifically SFRS 15 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," non-refundable upfront fees are generally not recognised as revenue when received. Instead, these fees are considered part of the total transaction...
Under what conditions can customisation or installation services be considered separately from the related product sale?
Under Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS), specifically SFRS 15 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," customisation or installation services can be considered separately from the related product sale under the following conditions: Distinct in the...
Can contract acquisition costs be capitalised, or must they be expensed?
Under the Financial Reporting Standards (FRS), particularly FRS 15/ASC 606, contract acquisition costs can be capitalised, rather than expensed immediately, if conditions are met. Capitalisation of Contract Acquisition Costs 1. Incremental Costs of Obtaining a...
News
XBRL Filing with ACRA: Requirements, Exemptions & Step-by-Step Guide
XBRL Filing with ACRA: Requirements, Exemptions & Step-by-Step Guide Most directors of Singapore companies have heard of XBRL. Far fewer can confidently say what it stands for, when it must be filed, what data must be tagged, and which companies are exempt. This...
Employment Pass vs ONE Pass vs PEP: Which Singapore Work Visa Do You Need?
Employment Pass vs ONE Pass vs PEP: Which Singapore Work Visa Do You Need? Singapore offers a tiered range of professional work passes, and choosing the right one is more consequential than most applicants realise. Pick the wrong pass and you may overpay on minimum...
Singapore Company Compliance Calendar: Every Filing Deadline You Need
Singapore Company Compliance Calendar: Every Filing Deadline You Need Running a Singapore company means keeping a small but unforgiving calendar of statutory deadlines. ACRA, IRAS, MOM, the CPF Board and (where relevant) MAS each set their own filing dates â and...
Complete Guide to Setting Up a Family Office in Singapore (2026)
Complete Guide to Setting Up a Family Office in Singapore (2026) Singapore has, in the space of a decade, become Asia’s pre-eminent hub for single family offices. The combination of political stability, a deep banking and asset management ecosystem, an...
VCC vs Cayman SPC: Why Singapore Is the New Fund Domicile
VCC vs Cayman SPC: Why Singapore Is the New Fund Domicile For decades, the Cayman Islands segregated portfolio company (SPC) was the default offshore vehicle for hedge funds, private equity sleeves and bespoke managed accounts targeting Asian capital. That dominance...
Complete Guide to Setting Up a Family Office in Singapore (2026)
Singapore has emerged as Asia's leading family office hub, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) reporting close to 2,000 single family offices established in the city-state by end-2024 — and that number continues to climb in 2026. The combination of a stable...
Singapore PR Application 2026: Requirements, Documents & Timeline
Becoming a Singapore Permanent Resident is one of the most consequential decisions a foreign professional or family in Singapore can make. PR status confers the right to live and work in Singapore indefinitely without an employer-tied work pass, full access to CPF and...
Singapore Budget 2026: Corporate Tax Rebate, AI Incentives, and What Every Business Owner Needs to Know
Singapore's Budget 2026, delivered on 18 February 2026, introduced a raft of measures designed to support businesses amid global uncertainties and rising energy costs. For company owners, directors, and finance teams, the headline measures — a generous corporate...
Singapore Budget 2026 Corporate Income Tax Rebate: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know
Singapore’s Budget 2026, delivered in February, introduced a suite of tax measures aimed at supporting businesses in a period of global economic uncertainty. Among the most relevant for company owners is the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Rebate for the Year of Assessment...
How the April 2026 ACRA Amendments Affect Singapore Directors: New Penalties, Duties, and Compliance Steps
If you are a director of a Singapore company, April 2026 marks a watershed moment. The Corporate and Accounting Laws (Amendment) Act 2025, passed by Parliament on 5 November 2025, introduces some of the most significant changes to Singapore’s corporate governance...