Post-Incorporation Checklist: What to Do After Registering Your Singapore Company

You’ve successfully registered your Singapore company with ACRA. Now what? Many new business owners are unsure about the next steps. This guide walks you through everything you need to do after incorporation.

Immediate Post-Incorporation Tasks (Week 1)

1. Receive and Save Your Documents

After ACRA approves your application, you’ll receive:

Unique Entity Number (UEN)
Business Profile (download from BizFile)
Certificate of Incorporation (email)

Important: Store these securely - you’ll need them frequently.

2. Appoint a Company Secretary

By law, every Singapore Pte Ltd must appoint a qualified company secretary within 6 months of incorporation. The secretary is responsible for:

Maintaining statutory registers
Filing annual returns
Ensuring compliance with ACRA requirements

3. Set Up Your Registered Address

Ensure your company has a valid Singapore address for official communications. This can be:

Your own office or co-working space
A virtual office service
Your registered agent’s address

Note: P.O. boxes are not acceptable.

Financial Setup (Weeks 1-2)

4. Open a Corporate Bank Account

Most banks in Singapore require:

ACRA Business Profile
Certificate of Incorporation
Director identification (NRIC/Passport)
Company constitution
Board resolution for account opening

Popular banks for startups:

DBS SME Account
OCBC Business Account
UOB Business Account
Digital banks (Wise, Aspire)

5. Set Up Accounting Records

Establish proper bookkeeping from day one:

Choose accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks, Wave)
Set up a chart of accounts
Configure invoicing templates
Establish expense tracking procedures

6. Determine GST Registration Status

GST (Goods and Services Tax) registration is:

Mandatory when annual revenue exceeds S$1 million
Voluntary if below S$1 million (recommended for B2B businesses)

Regulatory Compliance

7. Obtain Necessary Licenses

Depending on your SSIC code, you may need specific licenses:

Food business license (F&B)
Employment agency license
Travel agency license
Financial advisory license

Check with relevant regulatory bodies:

Singapore Food Agency (SFA)
Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

8. Set Up CPF for Employees

If you plan to hire Singapore citizens or PRs:

Register as an employer with CPF
Open a CPF Submission Number (CSN)
Set up GIRO for CPF payments

Tax Obligations

9. Understand Your Tax Timeline

Key tax deadlines for Singapore companies:

Obligation	Deadline
Estimated Tax (ECI)	3 months from FY end
Corporate Tax Return	November 30 annually
GST Return	Quarterly
Annual Return	Annually (within 7 months of FY end)

10. Apply for Tax Exemption Schemes

New companies can enjoy:

Partial Tax Exemption (PTE): First S$200K at reduced rates
Startup Tax Exemption: Additional relief for qualifying startups

Operations Setup

11. Draft Employment Contracts

For each employee, prepare:

Letter of appointment
Employment contract (comply with Employment Act)
Confidentiality agreement
IP assignment clause (for tech companies)

12. Set Up Business Insurance

Essential covers to consider:

Work Injury Compensation Insurance (mandatory)
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Property and Contents Insurance
Cyber Insurance (for tech companies)

13. Establish Internal Processes

Create policies and procedures for:

Procurement and vendor management
Expense approval workflows
Leave and attendance tracking
Data protection (PDPA compliance)

Digital Presence

14. Register Your Domain

Protect your brand online:

Register your .com.sg domain with SIC
Consider common variations
Set up email hosting

15. Implement Data Protection

Under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA):

Draft a Privacy Policy
Set up data protection procedures
Appoint a Data Protection Officer (if required)
Register with the PDPC

Summary Checklist

Here’s a quick reference of your post-incorporation tasks:

Need Help?

The post-incorporation process can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our team offers comprehensive post-incorporation services to ensure your business starts on the right foot.