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Singapore: 17% corporate tax
and a regional HQ structure

Asia-Pacific finance and trade hub. Incorporation takes 1–2 weeks — banking, tax residency and the Employment Pass decide whether it works.

Book a Singapore consultation →See the path
Corporate tax
17%

With RHQ and DEI incentives, the effective position can improve further.

Incorporation
1–2 weeks

ACRA online filing; typically 3–10 business days with complete documents.

Employment Pass
3–6 months

Dependent on COMPASS scoring. Fix the structure before filing, not after a rejection.

Why Singapore

It is not the rate.
It is being believable.

17% is not the lowest corporate rate in Southeast Asia. Singapore's value is what it gives a foreign-owned business:

  • Counterparties accept it. The same contract signed by a Singapore entity is read differently from one signed onshore
  • Capital moves through it. Multi-currency accounts, cross-border payments and regional cash pooling are standard
  • Residency can be structured. An EP and tax residency let both the people and the capital sit offshore legally
Use cases

Four profiles that fit best

01
Regional HQ

Sales, procurement and cash pooling for Southeast Asia, positioned for RHQ incentives.

02
Cross-border trade

Contract and settle through a Singapore entity to reduce friction in payments and tariff exposure.

03
Fintech & digital assets

Payments, asset management and Web3 businesses requiring licensing and local substance.

04
Wealth & residency

Family structures, education and residency planning handled alongside the operating entity.

The path

From zero to trading normally

STEP 01
Structure design
Ownership layers, share capital, business scope, RHQ eligibility.
1 week
STEP 02
ACRA incorporation
Name approval, constitution, officer documents, registered address and secretary.
1–2 weeks
STEP 03
IRAS registration
Tax registration, GST assessment, preparation for Certificate of Residence.
1–2 weeks
STEP 04
Banking
Business narrative and source of funds, interview, multi-currency account opening.
2–6 weeks
STEP 05
EP & operations
COMPASS optimisation, EP filing, local hires and office setup.
3–6 months
Deliverables

What you receive

Corporate
Certificate of incorporation, constitution, registers, business profile, company seal
Tax
Tax registration confirmation, COR application pack, GST position memo
Banking
Account approval, account details, online banking and authorisation setup, payment guide
EP strategy
Item-by-item COMPASS scoring sheet, remediation plan, filing checklist and timeline
Compliance calendar
Annual return, tax filing, EP renewal and secretary change dates
FAQ

The six questions we are asked most

Can a foreign founder own 100% of a Singapore company?
Yes. Outside regulated sectors such as banking, insurance and payments, trading, holding and consulting companies may be wholly foreign-owned. The company must have at least one resident director, which a licensed corporate services provider can supply.
How is the COMPASS score calculated?
COMPASS scores salary level, qualifications, the nationality diversity of the workforce and the share of local employees, among other indicators. Forty points is the pass mark. Shortfalls can be addressed by raising salary, hiring locally or restructuring the role — but the fix must be designed before filing, not after a rejection.
How much share capital is needed?
The statutory minimum is SGD 1, but capital affects bank onboarding and EP scoring. We usually recommend SGD 10,000–100,000 depending on business substance and customer profile.
Do I have to travel to Singapore?
Incorporation can be completed remotely. Most banks require the director to attend in person for account opening; some accept video verification, subject to their current policy.
Is the company automatically a tax resident?
No. A Certificate of Residence is a separate application to IRAS and requires board and key management decisions to be made in Singapore. This is the single most common misconception and it affects treaty benefits.
What is required each year?
ACRA annual return, IRAS tax filing, audit (exempt for qualifying small companies), company secretary and registered address upkeep, and EP renewal. Late filing triggers penalties and can affect renewals and banking.

Score your COMPASS profile first

Free. If the score does not clear the bar, we will tell you where it falls short — and whether it can be fixed.

Book a scoring review →
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