As part of the requirements for incorporating a company in Singapore, the Companies Act provides that every limited company (and LLP) shall have a registered office address in Singapore from the date of the company incorporation and throughout its existence.
A registered office address is a valid address lodged with the ACRA at the incorporation of the company. As the official address of the company, it is where all communications and official notices are addressed, and also the place where the company’s or LLP’s registers and records are kept.
Find out more about how to register a company’s office address in this article:
- What are the conditions for the registered office address?
- Using the home office as a registered address
- Using a virtual office as a registered address
- Next steps
What are the conditions for the registered office address?
Accessible
The registered office address must be available to the public for at least three hours during regular business hours on each business day. At this location, the company can receive visits from the public, notices from governmental agencies, banks, and legal documents.
Physical office
Therefore, the registered office address must be a physical office address in Singapore, excluding postal box addresses. The registered office address is not necessarily the same place where the company activities are conducted.
Update the change of registered office address in Singapore
The registered office address may change at any time during the company’s existence by passing a resolution of the company’s board of directors. Any change must be updated with the ACRA within 14 days from the date of the change.
As this address appears on the official documents of the company, this change also has to be updated with various institutions (governmental agencies, banks, etc.).
Default penalty
The company and the directors that fail to register a valid registered office address are guilty of an offence and may be fined up to $5,000.
Other alternatives may be considered, especially by SMEs, for their flexibility and convenience. Note that these options still need to comply with the registered office address conditions.
Using the home office as a registered address
For Singapore residents, the Home Office Scheme allows owner, tenant, or occupant of HDB flats to use their residential address as a registered office address for their company upon a successful application with the authorities.
Occupants who are not the owners have to obtain written consent from the owner before applying for the Home Office Scheme.
The Home Office Scheme is allowed only to operate a small-scale office or run the administrative function of the business, without disturbing the neighborhood. The use shall respect some conditions, including the following:
- The nature of the business must be permitted. It must be an administrative activity in nature, such as:
- Accountancy services
- Architectural services
- Consultancy services (business, engineering, IT, management, or education)
- Design/Advertising services
- Insurance/Financial planning services
- Real estate agencies
- Technology-based and knowledge-intensive businesses
- Trading office (excluding car trading office)
- The unit where is conducted the business continues to be used as a place of residence,
- Not hiring more than 2 non-resident employees,
- Not displaying any external business signage or advertisements,
- Not displaying any external business signage or advertisements.
Note that using a residential address also means sacrificing privacy, as the address will become public information displayed on the company’s official documents.
Using a virtual office as a registered address
Virtual office is the choice of most foreign companies in Singapore, usually, they prefer to use the office address of their company secretary as their registered office address and also the place for the company’s records to be kept. This facilitates communication with the authorities who will send the communications directly to the corporate secretary offices.
Virtual offices offer flexibility to business owners in the choice of address without having to bear the rent of an office in Singapore. A prestigious address may also offer credibility in the related corporate industry and be more attractive to investors, partners, or customers.
Next steps
If you are living in Singapore and if you are not, getting the registered office address service via your corporate service provider is always the best and most chosen option. As a corporate secretary provider in Singapore, MBiA can offer you:
- Opting for a prestigious office address in central business districts enhances the appeal to potential investors and customers, particularly for businesses in corporate sectors.
- Embrace a paperless approach with MBiA’s registered office address service. We handle mail from Singapore Government Authorities, banks, and other entities, offering direct mail scanning to your platform. Reach out via email for any mail-related inquiries.
FAQ
1. Can I use my friend’s Singapore address as the registered address for my company?
You can use your friend’s address for your company’s registered address in Singapore, provided it complies with regulations, including approval under the Home Office Scheme with either URA or HDB. However, ensure your business activities don’t disturb neighbors or compromise your friend’s privacy.
2. What happens if I don’t uphold a registered office following the incorporation of my company in Singapore?
Failing to upkeep a registered office after incorporation is an offense. Both the company and any defaulting officer could face a maximum fine of S$5000, along with potential default penalties. The registered office must meet specific requirements, including being open during designated hours on working days for public access.
