The short answer
- Government fees to incorporate are S$315: S$15 for the name and S$300 for incorporation. The annual return costs S$60.
- Most of the cost is services: company secretary, registered address, accounting, tax filing, and audit if required.
- The biggest variable is whether you need an audit. A subsidiary of a large group usually does.
- Ask every provider for a fixed annual fee covering the same scope, with government fees listed separately at cost.
Government fees
Exhibit 1
Government fees
| Item | Fee | When |
|---|---|---|
| Name application | S$15 | Once |
| Incorporation | S$300 | Once |
| Annual return | S$60 | Every year |
| Corppass | Free | Once |
| Late filing penalties | Avoidable | If you miss ACRA or IRAS deadlines |
Service costs to compare
Exhibit 2
Service costs to compare
| Service | Needed? | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporation filing | Unless you file yourself | Number of shareholders, corporate shareholders, due diligence |
| Company secretary | Yes, within six months | Number of resolutions, AGMs, changes during the year |
| Registered office address | If you have no office | Mail handling and scanning |
| Resident director | If no one in your team qualifies | Risk the director carries, the checks required, deposit or guarantee |
| Bookkeeping | Yes | Transaction volume, currencies, number of bank accounts |
| Financial statements and XBRL | Yes | Complexity, group structure, framework |
| Corporate tax (ECI and Form C-S or C) | Yes | Adjustments, incentives, losses, group relief |
| GST | If registered | Quarterly returns, InvoiceNow set-up |
| Payroll and CPF | If you employ staff | Headcount |
| Statutory audit | Unless exempt | Size, group reporting, the auditor's firm |
| Transfer pricing documentation | Above thresholds | Number of related party flows |
How to read a quote
- Is it a fixed annual fee, and what scope does it cover?
- Are government fees shown separately, at cost?
- What triggers extra charges: share transfers, director changes, extra resolutions?
- Is the audit included, or quoted by a separate audit firm?
- Who is the named person responsible for your file?
Some items you can do yourself on government portals. See DIY, platform or firm.
Costs people forget
- Stamp duty on share transfers: 0.2% of the higher of the price and the net asset value of the shares transferred. It applies to transfers between existing shareholders, not to new shares issued.
- Work pass costs: application and issuance fees for each Employment Pass, and the salary needed to qualify. See Employment Pass and COMPASS.
- CPF: employer contributions for Singapore citizen and permanent resident staff, on top of salary.
- Bank fees: minimum balance charges at traditional banks, and FX margins on every currency conversion.
- Software: accounting software, payroll, and InvoiceNow capability if registering for GST.
- Nominee director deposit: often a refundable deposit or guarantee on top of the fee, because the nominee carries legal risk.
- Insurance: work injury compensation insurance is compulsory for many employees; directors' and officers' cover is worth considering.
- Closing costs: striking off or winding up has its own fees, final accounts and tax clearance. It is cheaper to plan than to rush.
Three profiles, three budgets
Exhibit 3
Three profiles, three budgets
| Profile | Main cost drivers | What usually is not needed |
|---|---|---|
| Local founder, service business, no staff | Secretary, bookkeeping, Form C-S, registered office if working from home | Audit, GST (until the threshold), transfer pricing |
| Foreign founder relocating, two to five staff | All of the above, plus payroll and CPF, work passes, possibly GST | Audit, if the company is small and stand-alone |
| Subsidiary of a large foreign group | Audit, group reporting, transfer pricing, Form C, intercompany work | Start-up tax exemption, which it will not qualify for |
The set-up cost estimator lists the items that apply to your profile.
Questions people ask
What are the government fees to start a company?
S$15 for the name application and S$300 for incorporation. The annual return costs S$60 a year. Corppass is free.
What drives the ongoing cost?
Services: company secretary, registered address, bookkeeping, financial statements and XBRL, tax filing, and above all whether a statutory audit is required.
Talk it through with an adviser
Tell us your structure and deadlines. We reply with what applies to you and a fixed-fee proposal.
Related service: Incorporation and company secretarialFree tool: Set-up and first-year cost estimatorFree tool: Compliance plan chooser
Sources
- ACRA: Submitting your application to set up a local company
- ACRA: Audit exemptions and the small company concept
- IRAS: Corporate income tax rates, exemptions and rebates
General information only, last reviewed 11 November 2026. It is not advice for your situation. Laws and practice change, and the official sources linked above prevail. Speak to a qualified adviser before you act.
