For many business owners in Singapore, the word "audit" conjures images of expensive professional fees, lengthy document preparation, and management time diverted from core operations. The good news is that the vast majority of Singapore private companies are fully exempt from having their financial statements audited — provided they qualify as a "small company" under [...]
Transfer pricing is one of the most scrutinised areas of international tax compliance in Singapore. As Singapore-based companies transact with related parties — whether parent companies, subsidiaries, or associated entities — across borders, the prices and terms of those transactions must reflect what independent parties would agree to. This is the arm's length principle, and [...]
When a company is struck off the register in Singapore and needs to be restored, there are two paths available: administrative reinstatement through ACRA, and court reinstatement through an application to the High Court. Court reinstatement is required in specific circumstances where administrative reinstatement is unavailable — typically where the company was struck off more [...]
Attracting and retaining talent is one of the most persistent challenges for Singapore private limited companies. A well-designed employee incentive scheme — whether structured as an Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP), a share award, or a phantom equity arrangement — can align employee interests with company growth without requiring immediate cash outlay. But each structure [...]
Few situations are more frustrating for a business owner, creditor, or shareholder than discovering that a company has been struck off the ACRA register — only to find that the company has an unresolved legal claim to pursue, an ongoing court case to defend, or assets that cannot be recovered without the company first being [...]
Attracting and retaining strong employees in Singapore's competitive labour market often requires more than a salary. Equity-based incentive schemes — whether real shares, options over shares, or cash-linked equivalents — give employees a stake in the company's success and align their interests with those of founders and shareholders over the long term. For private companies [...]
From 6 May 2026, every Singapore company that is required by law to have its accounts audited must ensure that its audit report names — by full name — the individual public accountant personally responsible for the engagement. This is one of the most operationally significant changes introduced by the Corporate and Accounting Laws (Amendment) [...]
When a Singapore company is struck off the register — whether by ACRA on its own initiative or through a voluntary striking-off application — a fundamental question arises for any person with a stake in the company: how long do I have to apply to court to reinstate it? The answer matters enormously. Miss the [...]
Shareholder loans — where a shareholder or director lends money to their own company, or where the company makes a loan to a director — are a common feature of Singapore SMEs, especially in the early stages when access to bank financing is limited. However, these arrangements carry important legal and tax implications that many [...]
Opening a corporate bank account is one of the first practical steps after incorporating a Singapore company — and increasingly, one of the most challenging. Singapore banks apply stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks, and the requirements have tightened further following the Corporate Service Providers Act and the commencement of the [...]