🇸🇬 Singapore Company Formation
17% corporate tax with territorial basis, no capital gains tax, and 0% WHT on dividends. Asia-Pacific's premier holding and trading jurisdiction with 90 tax treaties.
Updated April 2026
Corp Tax
17%
Capital Gains
0%
WHT Dividends
0%
Tax Treaties
90
Ownership
100% foreign
Tax System
Rates and incentives
| Tax | Rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | 17% | Territorial basis. 75% exemption on first SGD 100k and 50% on next SGD 100k for new companies. |
| Capital gains tax | 0% | No general CGT. Section 13W exemption for disposal of 20%+ shareholdings held 24+ months. |
| Withholding — dividends | 0% | One-tier system. No WHT on dividends to residents or non-residents. |
| Withholding — royalties | 10% | Reduced by DTA network. Qualifying payments to treaty partners can reach 0%. |
| IP Development Incentive | 5–10% | Concessionary rate on qualifying IP income under modified nexus approach. |
| GST | 9% | Increased from 8% on 1 January 2024. |
Why Singapore
Key advantages
Territorial taxation with no capital gains
Only Singapore-sourced income is taxed. No general capital gains tax. Section 13W exempts qualifying share disposals. One of the cleanest tax systems globally.
World-class banking and financial infrastructure
DBS, OCBC, UOB — consistently ranked among the world's safest banks. Full SWIFT, multi-currency, and digital banking ecosystem.
Variable Capital Company for fund structures
VCC enables multiple sub-funds under a single legal entity. Used by family offices and fund managers with Section 13O/13U tax exemptions.
90 double tax treaties
Extensive DTA network covering US, UK, China, India, Japan, Australia, and all major ASEAN partners. Strong treaty protection for holding and trading income.
Common law system trusted by investors
British-inherited legal framework. Consistently ranked top-3 globally for rule of law, ease of doing business, and IP protection.
What We Build
Full scope of implementation
- ✓Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) registration via ACRA
- ✓Local director provision — mandatory by law, we provide
- ✓Company secretary appointment — mandatory, we provide
- ✓Registered Singapore address with operational support
- ✓Corporate bank account — full KYC file and compliance dossier
- ✓VCC setup for family offices and fund management structures
- ✓Annual AGM, corporate tax filing, and ACRA return coordination
Who This Is For
Ideal client profiles
2025 – 2026
What has changed
Pillar Two — Domestic Top-up Tax from FY 2025
15% global minimum tax applies to MNE groups with consolidated revenue above EUR 750M. Refundable Investment Credit introduced as offsetting measure.
⚠ Foreign asset disposal gains — new Section 10L
From 2024, gains from sale of foreign assets received in Singapore may be taxable for entities without economic substance. Affects holding structures without genuine Singapore operations.
Source-of-Wealth documentation — mandatory from June 2025
All new non-resident corporate accounts at Singapore banks require Source-of-Wealth documentation. Increases onboarding time but improves compliance standing.
Common Questions
FAQ
Is Singapore still territorial — or has it moved to worldwide taxation?
Singapore remains territorial. Only Singapore-sourced income is taxed. However, from 2024 the new Section 10L taxes gains from disposal of foreign assets received in Singapore by entities without adequate economic substance. Standard trading companies with real Singapore operations are unaffected.
Do I need a local director in Singapore?
Yes — at least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore (citizen, PR, or Employment Pass holder). Nominee directors are legally permitted but banks scrutinize nominee arrangements during KYC. A director with genuine authority is strongly recommended.
What is the VCC and who should use it?
The Variable Capital Company is a corporate structure for investment funds. It allows multiple sub-funds under one entity, can issue and redeem shares without court approval, and qualifies for Section 13O/13U tax exemptions. Primarily used by family offices and professional fund managers.
How difficult is bank account opening for non-residents?
Moderate. Traditional banks (DBS, OCBC, UOB) require clear business justification and Singapore substance. OCBC introduced fully remote onboarding in 2025 and is the most accessible option. Fintech alternatives like Aspire open accounts in 1–3 days with remote onboarding.