After registering a company in Singapore, it may sometimes be necessary to change company information for various reasons, such as changing the company name, or updating director or auditor information.
According to Section 142(1) of the Singapore Companies Act, all companies in Singapore must have a valid registered address for receiving all correspondence related to company affairs, such as tax forms or various notices from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). Unless the registered address is changed, a business cannot receive mail at a correspondence address other than its current registered address. If a company does not have a valid registered address, the company and its officers will be deemed in breach of the Companies Act and face a fine of up to S$5,000.
The following article will outline the specific steps for changing a company’s address in Singapore.
Table of Contents
1. Select a New Company Address
When selecting a new company address, the following factors should generally be considered:
- Location and accessibility. For example, considering that clients may visit the company, the address should not be too remote. Additionally, from a talent recruitment perspective, better accessibility is more conducive to attracting potential employees;
- All costs associated with the office address. This includes rent and whether it covers building maintenance or utility fees (such as cleaning services or electricity), and be aware of any potential hidden costs;
- Surrounding amenities. For instance, if you need to visit a bank or post office during work hours, it’s best to check for such conveniences when choosing an office location;
- Whether other services are provided. For example, whether infrastructure services such as telephone and WIFI networks that meet business needs are available.
If it’s unnecessary or not within the budget to rent a physical office, you might consider registering a virtual office, or alternatively, renting a co-working space or working from home. However, in some cases, government approval may be required.
| Office Type | Is Government Approval Required? |
| HDB Flat
*Under the Home Office Scheme |
Yes
An application must be submitted to the Housing & Development Board (HDB) |
| Condominium or other private residential property
*Under the Home Office Scheme or Home-Based Business Scheme |
Yes
An application must be submitted to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) |
| Virtual Office | No |
Note: The business address must be a valid physical address; a P.O. Box address cannot be used as a registered address.
2. Prepare and Pass a Board Resolution to Change the Company Address
After deciding on a new address, the company’s board of directors needs to approve the change of address in a board resolution.
The specific steps for such a board resolution include:
- Prepare a written resolution regarding the change of company address.
- Set a date for the board meeting and notify all directors in advance of the meeting date and the content of the resolution.
- During the meeting, the resolution can only be passed with the approval of a majority of all directors.
3. Company Relocation
When changing the company’s registered address, a relocation plan should also be prepared in advance. Factors to consider include:
- Reviewing the lease agreement for the new address
- Reviewing and terminating the current lease agreement
- Checking contracts for any services used at the current office (such as communication or utility services) and preparing for contract termination or service transfer
4. Notify the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)
Once the new company address is confirmed, you must submit an application through the “Change in Company Information” module on ACRA’s online information and filing system, BizFile+. This must be completed within 14 days of the address change.
Any director or the company secretary can log into the BizFile+ website using the company’s CorpPass account to submit the application online.
There is no fee for submitting this application, but late submission will incur a penalty of up to S$350.
The information required when submitting the application to ACRA includes:
- The new company address information
- The date of the company address change
- Any other supporting documents, such as the corresponding HDB or URA application form under the Home Office Scheme.
The online application takes approximately 4 to 15 minutes to complete, and ACRA’s processing time is typically 3 business days. If the application needs to be referred to other government agencies for approval or further review, it may take from 14 business days to 2 months.
For more information, you can refer to the step-by-step guide for submitting a change of company registered address on the BizFile+ website.
5. Notify Other Stakeholders
After updating the company address on ACRA, there is no need to separately notify the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), as IRAS synchronizes information with ACRA weekly. Subsequently, IRAS will send tax-related notices or letters to the new company address.
However, you must separately notify other government agencies, such as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) or the Central Provident Fund Board (CPF Board), to continue receiving any correspondence related to the company or its employees, such as CPF contribution statements or issues related to Work Permits.
To notify MOM, you need to submit an online application on the MOM website.
To notify the CPF Board, you need to submit an online application on the CPF Board website.
In addition to notifying relevant government agencies, you should also inform suppliers, banks, and clients, and update the company address on your company website or social media to ensure the smooth continuation of business operations.
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