Your Go-to Guide for Selecting UEN For Businesses in Singapore
All businesses and companies legally operating in Singapore share one essential feature: they are each assigned a Unique Entity Number (UEN). This unique identifier, mandated by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), is required for all registered businesses and serves as their official identification for interactions with government agencies. If you’re setting up a new business or managing an established business, understanding how to obtain UEN and use your UEN is vital. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the UEN, equipping you to navigate Singapore’s corporate landscape with confidence.
What is the UEN number?
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is a government-issued 9 or 10-digit identification number assigned to all registered business entities, including companies, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and limited liability partnerships. It is a permanent, unique identifier that simplifies interactions with government agencies. Your UEN is your one number for convenient interaction with government agencies. Whether it is filing your corporate tax returns or applying for import and export permits, you will no longer need to use different numbers to interact with different government agencies.
An UEN Identification Number in Singapore is a mandatory requirement because businesses, local companies, LLPs, societies, and similar entities will need to rely on it when transacting and dealing with government agencies.
Once a company has been incorporated and registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) in Singapore, a UEN number will be generated and this is the number which will be used to identify the registered business entity moving forward. This number is generated free of charge for all businesses.
How did the UEN came about?
UEN is an iGov2010 initiative to delight customers and connect citizens through infocomm. It is a multi-agency initiative, co-led by the Ministry of Finance and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, and managed by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, in partnership with other government agencies.
The proposal of having a UEN was mooted in 2005. A public consultation exercise was carried out from December 2005 to January 2006. Currently, government agencies do not have a common identification number for entities. Entities have to use different identification numbers to interact with different government agencies. This is inconvenient for the entities, and inefficient for the government.
The UEN, being a single identification number for interactions with the government, will bring convenience, simplify and reduce possible errors caused by the use of multiple numbers, thus speeding up transactions with government agencies.
How to Obtain a UEN Number in Singapore?
After registering business in Singapore, you can find your Unique Entity Number (UEN) on your business profile. However, if your business is not yet registered, you will not have a UEN. Here’s a step-by-step process on how to register your business and obtain your UEN:
1. Choose Your Business Structure
Singapore offers various business structures, each tailored to different needs. Most business owners opt for either a Private Limited (Pte Ltd) company or a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), each with distinct advantages and requirements.
2. Register Your Business in Singapore
You can easily register your business through the BizFile+ portal. The registration process is quick and typically completed in one session, except for certain regulated industries like architecture, real estate, and defense.
3. Consider a Special UEN (SUN)
If you wish, you can opt for a Special UEN (SUN), which is a unique, memorable number with an aesthetically pleasing design. Acquiring a Special UEN comes with an additional cost beyond the regular business registration fees. Since February 9, 2018, business owners have the option to choose their preferred UEN number. For a small fee, you can select from a list of reserved UENs during the registration or conversion process.
A Special UEN(SUN) is optional; if you don’t feel the need for a personalized number, you can stick with the system-generated UEN, which is assigned automatically.
- Note that you can only request a Special UEN at the time of business registration. If you wish to change your UEN to a SUN later, you must register a new business or change your business type. For example, if you convert a sole proprietorship into a company, you can select a SUN for your new entity.
4. Verify Your UEN After Registration
Once your registration is complete, you will receive a business profile containing your UEN. You can verify your UEN or check the UEN of any other entity by conducting a free search on BizFile+ or UEN.gov.sg.
What is the Purpose of a Special UEN (SUN)?
Special UEN (SUNSs) are used by business owners to easily identify their number and more importantly, remember the number whenever they are required to perform any transactions with government agencies. Remembering a number you choose is easier than remembering a series of randomly generated digits which possibly hold no significant meaning for you.
How Would I Apply for a Special UEN ( SUN)?
A SUN can be applied by business owners during the incorporation and registration process or during the conversion to another type of business entity.
The option to select your own SUN will be available during the payment stage for transactions in BizFile.
There are two tiers of SUNs which business entity owners can choose from:
- Tier 1: For a fee of $3,000 per SUN, your SUN would be a number with either the same consecutive numbers or any combination of numbers which involves the number 8.
- Tier 2: For a fee of $1,000 per SUN, your SUN number would consist of a repetitive pattern which excludes the number 8. The number would end with the same three identical numbers, for example, 222, 555 or 777.
Examples of SUN under each tier:
| Category | Criteria | Company | Business | Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) | Limited Partnership (LP) | Public Accounting Firm (PAF) |
| Tier 1 | Consecutive same number | 201888888A | 53499999V | T18LL7777F | T18LP2222J | T18PF1111P |
| Any number combination involving ‘8’ | 201800800K | 53480008L | T18LL8000O | T18LP0008H | T18PF8800X | |
| Tier 2 | Repetitive Pattern (excluding ‘8’) |
201812121R | 53410101G | T18LL7070F | T18LP3535J | T18PF1010R |
| Ending with triple identical number | 201801777W | 53415666P | T18LL1222N | T18LP5222S | T18PF1666M |
Note: The underlined parts are prefixes and suffixes of UEN which are system-generated and cannot be changed.
How Does UEN Affect Business in Singapore?
– UEN shall be your entity’s single identification number for interaction with government agencies.
– UEN replaces all other identification numbers issued to them by different government agencies.
For example, you can use it for filing your corporate tax returns, applying for import and export permits or submitting the employee’s CPF contribution.
– Businesses and local companies currently registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) will retain their ACRA Registration Number as their UEN. The reason for this is to minimise impact of UEN as these two entity-types constitute 85% of all registered entities in Singapore.
