Singapore's Variable Capital Company (VCC) and the Cayman Islands Segregated Portfolio Company (SPC) are now the two most frequently compared fund structures for Asia-focused asset managers. For decades, Cayman dominated: it offered flexibility, a light-touch regulatory regime, and deep familiarity among institutional investors globally. That consensus is shifting rapidly. Since the VCC framework launched in [...]
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 [...]
Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a broad-based consumption tax levied at a rate of 9% on the supply of goods and services in Singapore and on imports of goods. For Singapore business owners and directors, understanding when GST registration is required — and when it may be advantageous even if not compulsory — is [...]
Introduction As Singapore continues to position itself as a global business hub, more companies are engaging in cross-border transactions with related parties — whether with a parent company overseas, a subsidiary in another jurisdiction, or an affiliated entity within the same corporate group. These related-party transactions are subject to Singapore's transfer pricing rules, which require [...]
For many business owners in Singapore, Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration is a milestone that raises a host of questions. When is registration compulsory? Is there any benefit to registering voluntarily? What are the compliance obligations that come with being GST-registered? And with the new InvoiceNow requirements rolling out from April 2026, what should [...]
Running a company in Singapore comes with a host of regulatory obligations. From holding your Annual General Meeting to filing tax returns with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), missing a single deadline can result in penalties, fines, or even prosecution. For directors and company officers, staying on top of these requirements is not [...]
Running a business in Singapore comes with stringent compliance requirements, primarily governed by the Companies Act 1967. One of the most critical annual obligations is the preparation and filing of financial statements. However, business cycles fluctuate. Sometimes, a company may be inactive, effectively "sleeping" or dormant. In such cases, the law provides relief from certain [...]
Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a fundamental component of Singapore's tax system. For business owners, the question is not if they will have to deal with GST, but when and how. The decision to register for GST is a significant milestone, with two distinct paths available: compulsory registration, which is a legal requirement, and [...]
In today's digital-first economy, your company's accounting data is one of its most valuable and vulnerable assets. From payroll details and revenue figures to client information and supplier contracts, these digital records are a goldmine for cybercriminals. With the increasing adoption of cloud accounting platforms, the convenience of access must be balanced with robust security [...]
Proper record-keeping is a cornerstone of good corporate governance and financial hygiene. For businesses in Singapore, it’s not just a best practice—it's a legal obligation with specific timelines dictated by the authorities. But with piles of invoices, receipts, and bank statements, many business owners are left wondering: exactly how long do these documents need to [...]