Singapore — governance guide

A practitioner reference for Singapore, generated from the GovernOS rules engine. Always current with the jurisdiction packs.

At a glance

Legal systemCommon law
Filing languageen
AGM notice period14 clear days
Coverage tierT2 ruled

Regulators & portals

Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)

Company registry · API filing

Filing portal →

Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

Financial regulator

Filing portal →

Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)

Tax authority

Filing portal →

Ministry of Manpower (incl. COMPASS) (MOM)

labor_authority

Filing portal →

Central Provident Fund Board (CPF)

labor_authority

Filing portal →

Entity types

Private Company Limited by Shares (Pte Ltd)

min 1 director(s) · secretary required

Public Company Limited by Shares

min 2 director(s) · secretary required · can be public

How to — common actions & what each requires

Add director
Approvals

board (50%), shareholders (50%)

Documents

Directors Resolution — Appointment of Director; Consent to Act as Director (Form 45)

Filings

ACRA-Appoint-Director (due T+14d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), ss.145, 153

Issue shares
Approvals

shareholders (50%), board (50%)

Documents

Directors Resolution — Allotment of Shares; Share Certificate

Filings

ACRA-Return-Allotment (due T+14d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), ss.161, 196A

File annual return
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Filings

ACRA-Annual-Return (due T+30d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), s.197

File beneficial ownership
Approvals

Documents

Register of Registrable Controllers

Filings

ACRA-RORC (due T+2d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), Part XIA (registrable controllers)

Remove director
Approvals

shareholders (50%)

Documents

Members Resolution — Removal of Director

Filings

ACRA-Cessation-Director (due T+14d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), ss.152, 173

Appoint officer
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Directors Resolution — Appointment of Officer; Consent to Act as Company Secretary

Filings

ACRA-Appoint-Secretary (due T+14d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), s.171

Transfer shares
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Instrument of Transfer; Directors Resolution — Approval of Transfer; Share Certificate (transferee)

Filings

ACRA-Transfer-Shares (due T+14d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), ss.126, 128

Create ESOP
Approvals

board (50%), shareholders (50%)

Documents

Employee Share Option Scheme; Directors Resolution — Adoption of ESOP; Members Resolution — Approval of Share Scheme

Filings

none

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), s.161 (share issue mandate)

Grant options
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Option Grant Agreement

Filings

none

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), s.161

Approve financing
Approvals

shareholders (50%), board (50%)

Documents

Directors Resolution — Approval of Financing Round; Members Resolution — Allotment Mandate; Subscription Agreement

Filings

ACRA-Return-Allotment (due T+14d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), ss.161, 63A

Approve dividend
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Directors Resolution — Declaration of Dividend

Filings

none

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), s.403

Create subsidiary
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Directors Resolution — Incorporation of Subsidiary

Filings

ACRA-Incorporation (due T+0d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), ss.17, 19

Amend constitution
Approvals

shareholders special (75%)

Documents

Special Resolution — Alteration of Constitution

Filings

ACRA-Notice-Resolution (due T+14d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), ss.26, 184

Change company name
Approvals

shareholders special (75%)

Documents

Special Resolution — Change of Name

Filings

ACRA-Change-Name (due T+0d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), s.28

Prepare AGM
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Notice of Annual General Meeting; AGM Minutes

Filings

none

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), ss.175, 177

Approve audit / accounts
Approvals

board (50%), shareholders (50%)

Documents

Directors Resolution — Approval of Financial Statements; Members Resolution — Appointment of Auditor

Filings

none

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), ss.201, 205

file-eci
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI)

Filings

IRAS-ECI (due T+92d)

Authority

Income Tax Act 1947, s.63

file-corporate-tax-return
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Form C / C-S / C-S (Lite) — Corporate Income Tax Return

Filings

IRAS-Form-C (due T+334d)

Authority

Income Tax Act 1947, s.62

register-gst
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

GST Registration Application (Form GST F1)

Filings

IRAS-GST-F1 (due T+31d)

Authority

Goods and Services Tax Act 1993, s.9 + First Schedule

file-gst-return
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Quarterly GST Return (F5)

Filings

IRAS-GST-F5 (due T+31d)

Authority

Goods and Services Tax Act 1993, s.41

file-withholding-tax
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Form IR37 / S45 — Withholding Tax Filing

Filings

IRAS-S45 (due T+75d)

Authority

Income Tax Act 1947, s.45

apply-work-pass
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Employment Pass Application (COMPASS)

Filings

MOM-EP (due T+0d)

Authority

Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 + COMPASS framework (in force from 1 September 2023; existing EPs from 1 September 2024)

renew-work-pass
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Employment Pass Renewal

Filings

MOM-EP-Renew (due T+0d)

Authority

Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990

spass-quota-check
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

S Pass / Work Permit Quota Check

Filings

none

Authority

Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990

file-cpf-contribution
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Monthly CPF Contribution Schedule

Filings

CPF-Monthly (due T+14d)

Authority

Central Provident Fund Act 1953

file-financials-xbrl
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

XBRL Financial Statements

Filings

ACRA-XBRL (due T+30d)

Authority

Companies (Filing of Documents) Regulations 2003, reg.5

change-registered-office
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Directors Resolution — Change of Registered Office

Filings

ACRA-Change-Office (due T+14d)

Authority

Companies Act 1967 (Singapore), s.142

Reference only — not legal advice. Rule packs are directionally accurate and being legally validated per jurisdiction.