SG · Incorporation

Company Registration
Singapore Pte Ltd

Set up your Singapore Pte. Ltd. 100% remotely, with us as an ACRA-registered corporate service provider. We handle the registration, the company secretary, a resident director if you need one, and ongoing accounting, with a personal contact.

Does Singapore fit? Fit Check

Strasia Group Singapore Pte. Ltd. is a registered corporate service provider in Singapore.

Corporate Tax17% headline*

Resident directorRequired, we can arrange

Foreign Ownership100%

ACRARegistered CSP

* New companies that are tax resident in Singapore pay less in their first three years under the Start-up Tax Exemption (75% exemption on the first S$100,000, about 4.25% effective on that amount). Your personal tax follows where you live.

Last updated: 10/2026

How do you register a company in Singapore as a foreigner?

You register a Singapore company online with ACRA via Bizfile. As a foreigner you register through a registered corporate service provider such as Strasia Group Singapore Pte. Ltd., 100% remotely. Required are at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore, a company secretary and a Singapore address. Government fees are S$15 for the name and S$300 for the registration. Corporate income tax is 17%, with exemptions for new companies; your personal tax follows your residence.

Singapore company registration: key facts

Legal form	Private limited company (Pte. Ltd.), registered with ACRA via Bizfile; foreign founders register through a corporate service provider source
Shareholders	100% foreign ownership possible source
Director	at least one ordinarily resident in Singapore; directors are responsible under the Companies Act, purely nominal directors are not intended source
Company secretary	required; may not be the sole director source
Registered office	a registered office in Singapore where notices can be received source
Government fees	S$15 name application, S$300 registration, S$60 per annual return source
Corporate income tax	17%; new companies: 75% of the first S$100,000 exempt in the first three Years of Assessment, otherwise partial exemption (conditions apply) source
Dividends	no withholding tax; one-tier system, the company’s tax is final source
Capital gains	generally not taxable; exception since 2024: disposal of foreign assets without adequate economic substance in Singapore source
Branch instead of a Pte Ltd	possible for foreign companies, but not a separate company: the parent is fully liable; a locally resident authorised representative is required source

As of 16 Oct 2026 · Sources: ACRA and IRAS · Singapore tax in detail

Overview

Why a Singapore Pte Ltd?

A Singapore company makes sense if you serve clients in Asia, build a regional office or need a business account in Singapore. The standard rate is 17% with exemptions for smaller profits; Singapore generally does not tax capital gains, nor dividends paid by a Singapore company. If tax is the only reason and you stay resident in Germany, the company does little for you, because it can become taxable there.

As a registered corporate service provider in Singapore, Strasia Group Singapore Pte. Ltd. handles the incorporation, from name search to ACRA registration to support with the account opening. All 100% remote.

Torn between Singapore and Hong Kong? Hong Kong tends to suit trade with China, Singapore customers in Southeast Asia. The Hong Kong side of the same question is in our Hong Kong guide with four example cases.

A Pte Ltd can be 100% yours, but needs a director in Singapore

17% corporate tax with startup exemptions

Capital gains generally not taxed (exception since 2024, see key facts)

No tax on dividends in Singapore

100% foreign ownership allowed

Online incorporation via ACRA (Bizfile)

Support with the account opening (e.g. OCBC Singapore, CIMB, Airwallex, Aspire); the bank decides itself

Minimum capital only SGD 1

ASEAN gateway: Access to Southeast Asia

How low can tax in Singapore be?

Low, with conditions: the standard rate is 17%. With the qualifying start-up tax exemption, new companies pay about 4.25% effective on the first S$100,000 and 8.5% on the next S$100,000 in their first three Years of Assessment; from the fourth year the partial exemption applies. For YA 2026 a rebate also halves the tax (capped at S$40,000). Singapore does not tax capital gains or dividends paid by a Singapore company. The start-up exemption requires the company to be tax resident in Singapore and does not apply to investment holding companies.

Singapore corporate tax with calculator →

What is a Nominee Director?

Singapore requires at least one locally resident director. If you do not have Singapore residency yourself, we arrange a resident director (often called a nominee director) who fulfils this legal requirement.

Important: ACRA expects every director to fulfil their duties under the Companies Act; purely nominal directors are not intended. You make the business decisions as the shareholder, and we agree the resident director’s duties and liability in writing beforehand.

Incorporation Process

Online with ACRA via Bizfile, 100% remote; we guide every step.

Name Check & Consultation

We reserve your company name and check availability with ACRA. We agree the structure with you beforehand.

Documents & KYC

You send us the required documents (ID, proof of address). We prepare all incorporation documents and arrange a resident director if needed.

ACRA Registration

We file the incorporation documents with ACRA. You receive your Certificate of Incorporation and Business Profile.

Support with account opening

We assist you in opening a business account, in Singapore mostly possible remotely (OCBC, CIMB, Airwallex, Aspire); the bank decides.

Payment Processing Setup

Through our direct contacts at PayPal, Airwallex and Oceanpayment you get a personal contact at the provider; the provider decides on activation.

Payment Processing & Banking

Singapore companies can use the common payment processors. Through our direct contacts at PayPal, Airwallex and Oceanpayment you get a personal contact at the provider; the provider decides on activation.

PayPalOnline Shop Integration, Payment Links

AirwallexMulti-currency accounts & payment processing

OceanpaymentPayment processing for online shops (Shopify, …)

Shopify PaymentsPayment processing for Shopify stores

StripePayment processing with website integration, payment links

AspireMulti-currency accounts & debit cards

Singapore Company Formation: Process and Requirements

Incorporating a Pte Ltd in Singapore is fully digital via ACRA; most registrations are approved soon after payment. As a registered corporate service provider, Strasia Group Singapore Pte. Ltd. handles the name search and registration and supports you with the bank account application. At least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore; if you have no one, a registered service provider can arrange a nominee director.

Founding your own company and need a visa? The Singapore Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) is Singapore's work pass for foreign founders.

Living in the EU while holding an account outside it? The rules for that change in 2027; see EU banking rule & foreign accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner incorporate a company in Singapore?

Yes, 100% foreign ownership is allowed. You register through a registered corporate service provider such as us. The company needs at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore; if you have nobody locally, we arrange a resident director.

Can I open a bank account remotely?

Often yes: many banks and payment providers in Singapore offer remote account opening, such as OCBC Singapore, CIMB, Airwallex and Aspire. Each bank checks the business and the owners itself and decides; we support you with the account opening and prepare the documents.

Do I need a nominee director?

Singapore requires at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore. ACRA makes clear that directors may not be on paper only: every director is responsible under the Companies Act. If you have nobody locally, we arrange a resident director and agree duties and liability with you.

Is 0% tax possible in Singapore?

Not on profits: the standard rate is 17%. With the qualifying start-up tax exemption, 75% of the first S$100,000 is exempt in the first three Years of Assessment, which is about 4.25% effective on that amount; for YA 2026 a rebate also halves the tax (capped at S$40,000). Singapore does not tax capital gains (whether a gain counts as capital depends on the facts of each case) or dividends paid by a Singapore company, and there is no withholding tax on dividends. How distributions are taxed where you live depends on your residence.

How does the startup tax exemption work?

Qualifying new companies are exempt on 75% of the first S$100,000 of chargeable income in their first three Years of Assessment (maximum S$75,000 a year). All other companies receive the partial exemption: 75% of the first S$10,000 and 50% of the next S$190,000. For YA 2026 there is also a 50% rebate, capped at S$40,000.

Can I use PayPal and other payment providers?

Yes, Singapore companies can use payment providers such as PayPal, Airwallex and Oceanpayment. Through our direct contacts you get a personal contact at the provider; the provider decides on activation.

How does company incorporation in Singapore work?

Name check, documents, ACRA registration, then the bank account, fully remote. We guide every step, from the name check to the company secretary and the registered office.

How long does setting up a company in Singapore take?

Registration with ACRA via Bizfile is quick once the documents and the resident director are in place. Opening the account usually takes longer, because each bank runs its own checks and decides. That is why we do not quote a fixed timeline; in the first consultation we tell you what to expect.

Is Singapore a tax haven?

No, but a location with low, clear tax and several genuine zeros. Company profits: 17%, with exemptions for new companies. At zero: no withholding tax on dividends (one-tier system); capital gains are generally not taxable, and gains on disposing of shares are exempt from corporate income tax if the company held at least 20% for at least 24 months. For holdings: dividends from foreign subsidiaries are exempt from corporate income tax if they were taxed abroad and the headline rate there is at least 15%. Since 2024, gains from disposing of foreign assets are taxable if the company lacks adequate economic substance in Singapore. Your personal tax follows your residence.

How much does it cost to register a company in Singapore?

ACRA’s own fees are small: S$15 for the name application, S$300 for the registration and S$60 for each annual return. On top come the resident director, company secretary, address and later accounting. We quote our own fees in a written offer before any engagement; government fees are shown separately.

Is ACRA the same as Bizfile?

No: ACRA is the authority that registers and regulates companies in Singapore; Bizfile is its online portal for incorporation, annual returns and company information. Foreign founders file through a registered corporate service provider.

Branch or Pte Ltd in Singapore?

A foreign company can register a branch in Singapore with ACRA. The branch is not a separate company but part of the parent, which is fully liable for it; at least one authorised representative resident in Singapore is required. A Pte Ltd is a separate Singapore company, and liability is limited to its assets. On tax, IRAS says: the start-up exemption applies only to companies incorporated in Singapore; a branch only gets the partial exemption. How the branch profits are treated back home (permanent establishment under the tax treaty) is a question for your tax adviser.

Next step: the first call

Free initial consultation: 60 minutes, no obligation.

Written offer before any engagement; government fees shown separately.

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Corporate tax compared

Standard rates on the company’s profit

Hong Kong8.25% / 16.5%

Profits tax, two-tier: 8.25% up to HKD 2 million profit

Singapore17%

Corporate income tax, partial exemptions only for qualifying income

Dubai (UAE)9%

on the part above AED 375,000; 0% below it and on qualifying free-zone income

Labuan3%

on audited net profit from Labuan trading activity, with substance on site

USA21%

federal rate for corporations, plus state tax where due; an LLC is taxed differently

Germany~30%

15% corporate tax plus solidarity surcharge and trade tax

Netherlands19% / 25.8%

19% up to EUR 200,000 profit

France25%

What you pay yourself depends on where you live and where the company is actually managed. As of 22 Oct 2026, sources: IRD · IRAS · FTA (VAE) · LHDN · IRS · Belastingdienst · impots.gouv.fr

SG vs HK vs Dubai vs USA vs UK: Company Formation Compared

Compare the key jurisdictions for your company formation at a glance.

Criterion	Singapore	Hong Kong	Dubai	USA	UK
Corporate Tax	17% (effective from ~4.25%)	8.25–16.5%	9% above AED 375,000	21% (corporation); LLC: at owner level	19–25%
Capital Gains Tax	0%	0%	0%	0–20%	0–28%
VAT	9%	0%	5%	0%	20%
Minimum Capital	S$1	No minimum	No minimum	No minimum	No minimum
100% Foreign Ownership	Yes	Yes	Yes (Free Zone)	Yes	Yes

Corporate Tax17% (effective from ~4.25%)

Capital Gains Tax0%

VAT9%

Minimum CapitalS$1

100% Foreign OwnershipYes

1 / 5

Headline rates as of 2026, without guarantee. Hong Kong taxes only profits sourced in Hong Kong; offshore profits may be exempt, subject to IRD review. Capital gains tax 0% applies only to gains of a capital, not a trading, nature. Your personal tax follows your residence.

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Tell us what it is about: company formation, accounting and tax, or a visa. You will hear from us within one business day.

Strasia Group · Singapore

Office

2 Venture Drive
Vision Exchange, #06-24
Singapore 608526

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Company RegistrationSingapore Pte Ltd