Closing a Singapore company is more often a paperwork exercise than a financial one. Most owner-managed Singapore companies that have stopped trading do not need to be wound up by a liquidator — instead, they can apply to ACRA to be struck off the register under section 344A of the Companies Act 1967. The process is free, takes around four to five months, and ends with the company being formally dissolved.

The catch: ACRA will only strike off a company that genuinely meets the conditions for striking off. Companies with outstanding tax, unpaid creditors, ongoing legal proceedings, or undischarged statutory obligations cannot be struck off until those issues are cleaned up. Get the pre-clean-up wrong and the application will be rejected, the gazette notice cycle will not start, and you will have wasted time without closing the company.

This guide walks through the eligibility criteria, the document and tax clean-up before applying, the Bizfile application process, the gazette timeline, and what to do if the company has assets, creditors, or members who object. For end-to-end management of company closure, including final tax filings, IRAS clearance, and the ACRA application, Raffles Corporate Services handles striking off as a routine engagement for clients winding down dormant or surplus subsidiaries.

Striking off vs members’ voluntary winding up vs creditors’ voluntary winding up

Three principal mechanisms exist to close a Singapore company:

  • Striking off (s 344A) — administrative removal from the ACRA register. Available only to companies that meet the conditions below. Free; no liquidator needed.
  • Members’ voluntary winding up (MVL) — a formal solvent liquidation initiated by a special resolution of the members. Required when the company has assets to distribute, contingent liabilities to discharge, or shareholders who want a clean liquidator’s audit trail. Costs S$3,000-S$8,000 in liquidator fees for a simple solvent estate.
  • Creditors’ voluntary winding up (CVL) — for insolvent companies that cannot pay their debts. Initiated when the directors believe the company cannot continue trading. Triggers obligations under the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018.

Striking off is the right tool for the simplest case: a company that has stopped trading, has no assets, no liabilities, no ongoing disputes, and whose tax filings are up to date. If any of those is missing, MVL is usually the right alternative.

Eligibility for striking off under section 344A

Under section 344A of the Companies Act 1967, ACRA may strike a company off the register if the Registrar has reasonable cause to believe that the company is not carrying on business or operations. In practice, ACRA’s published criteria require a company to confirm all of the following before applying:

  • The company has not commenced business since incorporation, or has ceased trading.
  • The company has no outstanding tax liabilities with IRAS.
  • The company has no outstanding debts with any government agency (CPF Board, MOM, etc.).
  • The company is not involved in any court proceedings (in Singapore or elsewhere).
  • The company has no current or contingent assets and liabilities.
  • The company has no outstanding charges in its register of charges.
  • All / majority of the directors authorise the application, and the company has obtained written consent from a majority of shareholders.

The full set of conditions and the application form are at ACRA’s striking-off page. The Companies (Striking Off) Regulations 2015 sets out the procedural rules; the substantive power is in section 344A and following provisions of the Companies Act 1967.

Pre-application clean-up: what you need to do first

The most common reason striking-off applications stall is that the pre-clean-up was not completed. Work through the checklist before submitting on Bizfile:

1. Final corporate tax filing with IRAS

The company must file its final corporate tax return covering the period up to cessation of business. If the company has been dormant, file a “dormant” Form C-S with revenue of zero. If the company traded recently, file a final Form C-S / C and pay any outstanding tax. Obtain IRAS’s tax clearance letter — ACRA does not require this letter to be uploaded, but its absence will trigger objections during the gazette period. See our Singapore Corporate Tax 2026 guide for the final-return mechanics.

2. GST deregistration (if applicable)

If the company is GST-registered, apply to deregister under regulation 12 of the GST (General) Regulations. The deregistration application is made via myTax Portal. Final GST F5 must be filed for the deregistration period. See our GST Registration Singapore 2026 guide for the deregistration mechanics.

3. Cancel CPF account (if applicable)

If the company employed staff, the CPF Submission Number (CSN) must be deactivated. Final CPF contributions must be settled and the company must update CPFB that it has ceased operations.

4. Settle any bank loans, leases, and contracts

Close all corporate bank accounts. Discharge any registered charges (under section 131 of the Companies Act, charges are entered on the company’s register of charges; outstanding charges will block striking off). Terminate any office lease, shared-services agreement, software subscription, or insurance policy.

5. Distribute or write off any remaining assets

The company must have no assets at the time of striking off. Any cash should be distributed to shareholders (as a dividend or capital reduction), any equipment sold or transferred, and any prepaid expenses written off. If significant assets remain, MVL is the correct route — striking off is not.

6. Hold final directors’ resolution and obtain shareholder consent

The directors should pass a resolution authorising the striking-off application. A majority of shareholders must give written consent. Read our board resolutions guide for the standard format.

The Bizfile application process

Once the pre-clean-up is complete, the formal application is made on Bizfile:

  • Login to Bizfile using Singpass / Corppass.
  • Navigate to “Apply for Striking Off” under the company’s profile.
  • Confirm all eligibility criteria are met (the platform has a checklist).
  • Specify the cessation date — when the company stopped carrying on business.
  • The system will route the application for confirmation by all / majority of position holders (directors, secretary).
  • Submit. The application is free.

If any position holder fails to confirm within the prescribed window, the application lapses and must be re-submitted.

The gazette timeline

Once ACRA accepts the application, the public-notice clock starts:

  • Day 0 (application accepted) — ACRA reviews the application against its database. If satisfied, the company is marked “pending striking off”.
  • Around Day 30 — First Gazette Notification — published in the Government Gazette giving public notice of the intention to strike off. Creditors and other interested parties may object during this window.
  • Around Day 90 (60 days after First Gazette) — Final Gazette Notification — published if no objection has been received. The company is struck off the register on the date stated in the Final Gazette.

The complete process from application to striking off typically takes about four months, sometimes five. ACRA may write to the directors during the period requesting clarification — these letters must be answered promptly or the application will be discontinued.

What if there are objections?

Any creditor, member, or interested party may object to the striking off during the First Gazette period. Common grounds for objection include:

  • Outstanding debt owed by the company.
  • Pending litigation involving the company.
  • An undisclosed contingent liability (e.g., a potential warranty claim or tax assessment under appeal).
  • A shareholder dispute over the company’s assets or distributions.

If an objection is upheld, ACRA discontinues the striking off and the directors must resolve the underlying issue — typically by paying the creditor, settling the litigation, or withdrawing the application and pursuing MVL instead.

Restoration: bringing a struck-off company back to life

A struck-off company can be restored to the register within six years of striking off, but only by court order under section 344C of the Companies Act. Common reasons to seek restoration include:

  • Recovery of an asset (typically a bank balance or property) that was overlooked when the company was struck off.
  • A creditor or claimant who needs the company to exist to pursue a claim.
  • A shareholder who needs the company restored to receive a refund, dividend, or judgment.

The restoration application is filed in the General Division of the High Court of Singapore. Once granted, the order is filed on Bizfile and the company status reverts to “Live”. The directors must then bring all statutory filings up to date.

Striking off by ACRA on its own initiative

Separately from voluntary striking off, ACRA may also strike a company off on its own initiative under section 344 if it has reason to believe the company is not carrying on business and has not filed annual returns for an extended period. This is the route by which abandoned companies are removed from the register.

Owner-managed companies should not rely on this involuntary route. Once a company is in default, late-filing penalties accrue against the directors personally — and disqualification proceedings under section 155 of the Companies Act can apply if the company has multiple breaches. See our guide to maintaining proper statutory records for the obligations to keep current even on a dormant company.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Forgetting the IRAS final filing. Without it, IRAS will object to the striking off — even if the company is dormant.
  • Leaving cash in the bank. Distribute or write off all cash before applying. ACRA does not strike off companies with assets.
  • Outstanding charges on the register. Discharge any registered charge under section 131 before applying.
  • Late annual return filings. Bring all annual returns and AGM filings up to date — see our AGM guide.
  • Not informing the bank. Banks do not automatically close corporate accounts. Close all bank accounts before applying — outstanding accounts can complicate striking off.

Conclusion

Striking off is the most efficient route to close a dormant or surplus Singapore company — but only if the eligibility checklist is genuinely met. The pre-application clean-up is the work; the Bizfile submission and four-month gazette cycle is the easy part. Companies with surplus assets, undischarged creditors, or active disputes should pursue members’ voluntary winding up instead.

For end-to-end company closure — final tax filings, IRAS clearance, deregistration of GST and CPF, ACRA striking-off application, and management of the gazette period — Raffles Corporate Services manages the entire process for clients shutting down dormant subsidiaries or surplus companies.

— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services