Singapore has, in less than a decade, become the dominant family office hub in Asia. As of 2024, MAS publicly disclosed that more than 2,000 single family offices had received tax incentive approval, up from fewer than 50 in 2018. The trajectory has continued through 2025 and into 2026, fuelled by HNW migration from Hong [...]
For decades, the Cayman Islands has been the default jurisdiction of choice for fund sponsors raising capital from Asian and global investors. The Segregated Portfolio Company (SPC), in particular, became the workhorse vehicle for multi-strategy hedge funds, private equity sleeves, and bespoke managed accounts. But in 2020, Singapore quietly introduced a competitor: the Variable Capital [...]
For many foreigners working or investing in Singapore, the natural next step after settling in is to apply for Permanent Residence (PR). PR confers most of the lifestyle benefits of citizenship — the right to live and work without a pass, access to HDB resale flats (with restrictions), Medisave/CPF for those who contribute, and the [...]
Singapore is one of the most generous government-grant ecosystems for SMEs in Asia. The three workhorse schemes — the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG), the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG), and the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant — collectively fund tens of thousands of business projects each year across digital transformation, productivity, and overseas expansion. But each [...]
Singapore's Employment Pass (EP) framework changed fundamentally on 1 September 2023 when the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) took effect. The shift from a flat qualifying salary test to a points-based system has caught out countless employers and candidates — particularly those whose applications would have sailed through under the old rules. The good news is [...]
Running a Singapore company involves a calendar of recurring obligations to ACRA, IRAS, MOM, and CPF. Miss a deadline and the consequences range from late filing penalties of S$300–S$600 with ACRA, to compounded GST penalties with IRAS, to disqualification of directors in serious cases. The good news: every deadline is predictable once you know your [...]
Singapore has emerged as Asia's premier hub for single-family offices, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) reporting more than 2,000 single-family offices established by the end of 2024 — a number that continues to grow despite tightened criteria. The combination of political stability, sophisticated financial infrastructure, deep capital markets, and the headline tax exemption [...]
Introduction For any Singapore employer, payroll management goes well beyond simply paying salaries. It involves calculating and remitting CPF contributions, Skills Development Levy, Foreign Worker Levy, and maintaining compliant payslip records — all on strict monthly deadlines. A missed payment or incorrect calculation can result in penalties, interest charges, and in serious cases, prosecution. This [...]
Introduction Every decision of substance in a Singapore company must be properly authorised and documented. Whether you are opening a corporate bank account, approving a major contract, allotting shares, or changing your registered office, the law requires that these actions be sanctioned by a formal company resolution. Understanding the different types of resolutions — and [...]
Introduction Every Singapore private limited company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. For foreign entrepreneurs and investors who do not live in Singapore, this requirement creates an immediate practical challenge. The solution most commonly used is the appointment of a nominee director — a Singapore resident who sits on [...]