Legal obligations of branches of foreign companies operating in Singapore

This guideline provides a general outline of the legal requirements that branch office in Singapore must comply with

One

Accounting Records

It is mandated that all financial transactions of branches operating in Singapore to be properly recorded and kept. Such records must contain the profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow and all other relevant information related to the branch operations. Such record must be preserved for at least five years and must be open for inspection by the company’s agents at any given period.

    two

    Appointment of Auditors

    Auditing is compulsory for every branch of a foreign company. Auditor must be appointed within 3 months of the registration.

      three

      Company Registration Number Disclosure

      All companies are mandated by the Singapore Companies Act to include their registration numbers along with their company names in the following:

      1. Business letters;
      2. Statements of Account;
      3. Invoices;
      4. Official notices;
      5. Publications;
      6. Any relevant documents that need the company’s name and registration number

      This requirement applies to branches of foreign companies also

        four

        Yearly Account Filing

        Within two months after the parent company’s AGM or Annual General Meeting, the Singapore branch must submit the following documents to the Registrar:

        1. Copy of the parent company’s financial account covering the operation’s financial year;
        2. Relevant documents filed by the parent company in its country of operation;
        3. Copy of the branch’s audited financial account.
          five

          Business Licenses

          When mandated, a branch must secure a license for any or all of the activities it is engaged in. Many businesses in Singapore can be done without a license. However it is still important to check if your business is subjected to licensing requirements.

            six

            Financial Year End

            Financial year-end of the branch has to be same as that of parent company.

              seven

              Local Resident agents

              Every branch of a foreign company must have 2 resident agents. The duties, roles and authorities must be clarified by a memorandum

                eight

                Goods and Services Tax (GST) Registration

                GST, also known as Value Added Tax, is a form of levy on goods, services, and imports in Singapore. It is an indirect tax equivalent to 7% of a company’s price on their goods and services. A quarterly GST return must be submitted by all GST- registered companies. There are two criteria that require GST registration, namely:

                1. Prospective basis – a company expects a one-year turnover exceeding $1 million;
                2. Retrospective basis – a company’s one-year turnover exceeded $1 million
                  nine

                  Registered Address

                  All companies must have a local Singapore addresses that can be accessed by the public during normal operating hours. This requirement applies to branches of foreign companies also

                    ten

                    Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI)

                    It is mandatory that every company must report its ECI and revenue amount with the Tax Authority by completing the ECI Form. This must be done three months from the end of accounting year

                      eleven

                      Filing of Income Tax Return

                      Deadline for submission of income tax return is every 30th of November and non-compliance to this legal requirement may result to penalties or prosecution. Income generated in previous year must be reported by this period

                        twelve

                        Notification of Changes

                        Any changes affecting a branch operation, including changes to parent company structure and hierarchy, must be properly filed to the Registrar of Companies. Non-compliance to this procedure will merit appropriate penalties

                          thirteen

                          CPF registration

                          In case you plan to hire any Singapore Citizen or Singapore permanent resident then the branch will have to register for CPF (Central provident Fund – Similar to Super, superannuation, pensions). Moreover you are liable to deduct relevant part of employee contribution, add to it employer contribution and the total sum must be paid to government account within 14 days

                            fourteen

                            Payroll records

                            Payroll records consisting of monthly salary, bonus, variable compensation, any CPF, employer’s contribution to CPF and other deductions must be kept properly as mandated by Law. Moreover employers are liable to issue IR8A form to every employee within 3 months from the calendar year end. This form is similar to salary certificate which lists down the salary received by the employee during the year. Any business which employees more than 14 employees must submit IR8A for all of its employees to IRAS in electronic format