Setting Up an Offshore Company in Singapore

A business registered and run from a region different from its principals and investors or primary business operations is considered an offshore company. Generally, these offshore companies are incorporated outside the country of central operations (which is often outside the country where the company was formed).

Offshore can also refer to a specific jurisdiction or physical territory in a country that affords specific business regulations such as simpler corporate reporting and governance, low or reduced tax schemes and company asset protection. These offshore regions can make foreign company incorporation an attractive and beneficial prospect for entrepreneurs. Now we've covered the definition, let's explore what else you need to know about setting up a Singapore offshore company.

1 Low taxes and tax benefits

One of the main reasons many business owners think about setting up a Singapore offshore company is the flexible tax system and appealing incentives for foreigners. Not only is it flexible, but Singapore's standard corporate tax is also one of the lowest in all of Asia, with a flat rate of 17%.

2 Easy offshore company incorporation

Another benefit of setting up a Singapore offshore company is that the incorporation process is simple and straightforward. An outside citizen can complete the incorporation of a new offshore business in Singapore in just days because there's no red tape, and the entire process is focused on efficiency. No wonder this city-state is known as one of the easiest places to do business and why there are so many offshore companies!

Singapore offshore companies complete their incorporation process digitally, laid out in two important streams of activity (which we explore further down). The first is selecting and approving your new company name; the other involves the more administrative side of submitting the necessary documents. Business registration and company incorporation are our specialities, so reach out to our team if you're looking to set up a Singapore offshore company, need help with business licenses, or just want to learn more about the process.

3 Political and economic stability

Singapore has been rated as one of Asia's least bureaucratic and most politically stable countries. The government of this Asian city-state has a reputation for being transparent, corrupt-free, and pro-business, with a just and reliable legal system. Sound legal parameters reduce the risk of setting up a Singapore offshore company which may infringe upon society and the country's integrity. This is made possible through regulations and strict rules of adherence regarding business licenses and operations, IP protection, commerce, HR and asset management.

4 Eligibility for Singapore offshore companies

Singapore offshore company formation requires the services of a corporate secretary, a nominee director, and a registered address. The foreign ownership policies are liberal and open, so business owners considering setting up a company in Singapore will be glad to know there are no restrictions on the permitted fields of business activity. You also won't need prior approval from authorities in Singapore. Some other key benefits include the fact that 100% foreign shareholding is allowed, and you can also have corporate bodies or individuals as shareholders.

Opening a business bank account is a must when you start an offshore company to keep your accounting in order. We have partnered with a few business bank account providers that enable you to open a company and a business account in Singapore within the same day from anywhere in the world. No visits to the bank and no paperwork is required at all.

5 Strong and stable Singapore dollar

For any business owner, the ability to trade is important, making Singapore's strong and stable dollar so attractive. It's one of the strongest currencies in Asia and within the top 15 of the most traded currencies globally. Setting up a Singapore offshore company in Singapore could put you in a good position to tackle future prospects like investments and growth opportunities. There's also been an assuringly low rate of inflation recorded over the decades, which has further instilled confidence in businesses looking to explore a Singapore offshore company as an avenue.

6 Venture capital and funding options

Private Equity Funding

The government actively encourages private equity funding in Singapore as they want private investors to also invest in the various startups in this region. Along with the tax incentive schemes, you can see why Singapore is considered an attractive region for venture capitalists and private equity activities. In this case, you would sell your company's ownership equity to get a cash investment injection.

Angel Investors

Capital is not the only thing contributing to this business funding model. Along with financial support, angel investors will often offer their related skill sets to contribute hands-on business expertise. This exchange is also based on a startup handing over a substantial company share to access these ongoing benefits. Not all angel investors are the same, and you can select whether you'd like to go for an investor who is more actively involved or, alternatively, a sleeping partner who's less actively involved. A common trait is that all angel investors seek companies who look, sound, and sell themselves as promising entities.

Private Funds

Private funds are more likely to be released or accessible to more established businesses with a track record of high revenue. They could also forecast high growth potential or provide evidence of a good credit track record. Private funds are, therefore, an option better suited to businesses that are not just starting out. Smaller Singapore offshore company startups can seek other options to get loans from institutions like OCBC, DBS, UOB, and the Standard Chartered Bank through the Singapore government.

Venture Capital

Venture Capitalists are professional investors with a more direct role in your business. When these investors agree to a stake in your Singapore offshore company, they do so with the vested interests of their own clients. It's worth knowing that the timeframe of partnering with a venture capitalist is generally limited to a timeframe. They are usually only involved for a period of between 2 and 5 years, with a 25% return rate sought to manage the delivery of profits to their clients.

As a foreign investor, you'll have the same rights as residents but will be granted different types of incentives for setting up an offshore company in Singapore.

Here are the key steps involved in offshore company setup:

1. Company name: This should follow the legal requirements, which outline that it has to be different from any existing company's name and does not contain offensive or sensitive phrasing or conflict with any Singaporean government agency. This will be public on the government's company registrar.
2. Company structure and profile submission: You'll need to decide what type of company structure you will open (sole proprietorship vs private limited liability company, or subsidiary/branch/representative office). Make sure you understand the difference between a branch and a subsidiary office and choose the best option for your future plans.

For offshore companies, the private limited structure is usually chosen because of the ease of raising capital, limited liability, credibility as a corporate structure, and tax benefits and incentives available in Singapore.

What you need to prepare before the offshore company set up

The following are the requirements for setting up an offshore private limited company in Singapore. These ensure your business operations remain legal and aligned with Singapore's regulations.

• At least one shareholder (100% of foreign ownership shareholding is allowed, and the shareholders you choose can be both foreign or local individuals or companies.
• At least one ordinarily resident director who resides in Singapore.
• At least one company secretary appointed within six months of setting up your offshore company who is a permanent resident or Singaporean citizen.
• At the time of your offshore company incorporation, a minimum of $1 as initial paid-up share capital.
• A registered physical office address in Singapore (a P.O. Box address is not valid; it must be registered as a commercial or residential address).

Steps to take after you've set up an offshore company

After you've registered your company, further documents may be required for submission by the registered filing agent. This is all an online process, which you can register and complete digitally on the Singapore government's website, BizFile+. Setting up an offshore company in Singapore requires you to have a digital identity, which is assigned to residents and citizens. This digital identity is called a SingPass and is used to log in to the BizFile+ website.

After the incorporation of your offshore Singapore company is approved, you'll be provided with a Unique Entity Number (UEN), which will serve as your new company's standard identification number.

When setting up your offshore company, you are also required toregister with different authorities, such as:

1. Registration for Singapore Goods and Services Tax, aka GST or value-added tax
2. Registration for the Skills Development Levy, aka SDL (requirement for paying taxes associated with hiring employees)
3. Application for required business licences, depending on the nature of your operations
4. Opening a corporate bank account
5. Registration for the Central Provident Fund (CPF)

Administrative things you have to do annually

• All annual unaudited financial statements should be submitted to the IRAS, together with the tax filing.
• An offshore business incorporated in Singapore must update the details of its company to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority(ACRA) public register. Names and addresses of all directors, addresses of the principal place of business, and details of all shareholdings should be updated yearly.
• The company must appoint a resident company secretary and a resident director and maintain a legally registered Singapore offshore business address. Professional agencies would offer these services.

The process of deregistering a Singapore-based offshore company will take at least six months, during which you'll need to maintain the resident company secretary and the legally registered office.