Corporate Secretary Services in Singapore
In Singapore, the role of a Company Secretary is crucial for maintaining corporate compliance and advising directors on governance issues. This position is essential for helping companies meet their obligations under the Singapore Companies Act and maintain good corporate governance.
Starting and building a successful business in Singapore includes choosing the right corporate secretarial services partners for the business.
Before engaging any qualified company secretary in Singapore, it is important that you go through Your checklist for selecting the right person as your Corporate Secretarial partner in Singapore when doing business in Singapore. We provide all kinds of company secretary services that can meet all your Company’s needs.
When to appoint a company secretary in Singapore?
When incorporating a company in Singapore, it is mandatory to appoint a company secretary (Corporate Secretary Agent) within six months of incorporation as per the Singapore Companies Act.
The company secretary must be a Singapore resident, which includes Singapore citizens, permanent residents, or holders of Singapore Employment Pass, EntrePass, or Dependent Pass.
Why You Need to Hire a Company Secretary
Under Section 171 of the Companies Act, every company in Singapore must appoint a company secretary, responsible for ensuring compliance with corporate regulations.
The company secretary plays a crucial role in the corporate structure, functioning not only as an administrative officer but also as a key figure overseeing governance, supporting the board, and safeguarding the interests of stakeholders.
What are the responsibilities of a Company Secretary in Singapore?
In addition to monitoring and ensuring compliance with relevant legal requirements, a qualified company secretary Singapore who support the Company Secretarial Services also has the following responsibilities:
Board Meetings
Co-coordinating the operation of the company’s formal decision making and reporting machinery; formulating meeting agendas with the chairman and /or the chief executive; attending meetings, taking minutes; maintaining minute books; certifying copies of minutes and ensuring that correct procedures are followed.
General Meetings
Originating and obtaining internal and external agreements to all documentation for circulation to shareholders; co-coordinating the administration and attending meetings, taking minutes and ensuring that correct procedures are followed.
Company Constitution
Ensuring that the company complies with its constitution and drafting/incorporating amendments in accordance with correct procedures.
Maintaining Statutory Registers and Books:
Statutory Returns
Updating ACRA on:
- Any changes in the director(s) of a company or particulars relating to the director(s)
- Changes to a directors name or residential address
- Removal from office in accordance with the Singapore Companies Actor the constitution
- Disqualification from holding office
- Appointments/resignations/deaths
- Annual return
- Change of company name
- Adoption, alteration and revocation of a constitution
- Issue of shares
- Any other changes that require updating with ACRA
Report and Accounts
Coordinating the publication and distribution of the company’s annual report, accounts and interim statement, and the preparation of the directors’ report.
Share Registration
Maintaining the company’s register of members, dealing with transfers and other matters affecting shareholdings and dealing with queries and requests from shareholders.
Shareholder Communication
Communicating with the shareholders (i.e. through circulars), payment of dividends and interest, issuing documentation regarding rights issues and capitalization issues, general shareholder relations and relations with institutional shareholders and their investment protection committees.
Shareholder Monitoring
Monitoring changes within the register of members to identify an apparent ‘stake-building’ in the company’s shares by potential takeover bidders and making enquiries of members as to beneficial ownership of holdings.
Share and Capital Issues, Transfers and Restructuring
Implementation of changes in the structure of the company’s share and loan capital and devising, implementing and administering directors’ and employees’ share participation schemes.
Acquisitions and Disposals
Participating as a key member of the company team established to implement corporate acquisitions and disposals, protecting the company’s interests by ensuring the effectiveness of all documentation and that due diligence disclosures enable proper commercial evaluation before completion of a transaction.
Corporate Governance
Reviewing developments in corporate governance and advising and assisting the directors with respect to their duties and responsibilities, compliance with their personal obligations under company law and, if applicable, stock exchange requirements.
Non-Executive Directors
Acting as a channel for communication and information with non-executive directors.
Company Seal
Ensuring the safe custody and proper use of the company seal if provided for in the company constitution.
Read our detail guide How Do You Choose the Right Company Secretarial Service Provider in Singapore?
ACRA Compliance Alert and Reminders
3E Accounting will send you reminders on filing deadlines and compliance matters.
3E Accounting offers complimentary cloud-based accounting software (Supported by AI Account) to clients who engage our secretarial services.
Package Fees for Company Secretary Service
| Packages Available | Fee (SGD) |
| Annual Company Secretary Service Including – Acting as named Corporate secretary – Maintaining the Minutes and Register Books – Monitoring and ensuring compliance with relevant legal requirements via email (ACRA, IRAS, etc) – Preparation of Annual General Meeting (Standard) – Annual return submission to ACRA for Private Limited Company – Government Fee $60 – Updating of Change in Personal Particulars of Company Officers / Shareholders with ACRA | $300 (W/GST $327) |
| Routine Corporate Secretarial Services included Including – Corppass Registration and Maintenance – Company digital stamp – Approval of Director Fees in AGM for Private Limited Company – Maintaining and Updating of Register of Registrable Controller with ACRA – Updating of Data Protection Officer with ACRA | $200 (W/GST $218) |
Our Full Company Secretary Services Package provides:
- Acting as named Corporate secretary and Corppass administrator by our qualified staff
- Safekeep company common seal, if any
- Maintaining the Minutes and Register Books
- Updating of Change in Personal Particulars of Company Officers / Shareholders with ACRA
- Updating of Register of Registrable Controller with ACRA
- Updating of Data Protection Officer with ACRA
- Drafting of standard directors resolutions and minutes (indicated as free below)
- Advice on secretarial / statutory / compliance / accounting / tax matters
- Monitoring and ensuring compliance with relevant legal requirements, particularly under the Companies Act and Income Tax Act. Regular compliance alert via email.
- FREE Preparation of Annual General Meeting minutes
- FREE Submit annual return and XBRL to ACRA when due
Contact us today at info@3ecpa.com.sg for a no-obligation consultation on corporate secretarial services by our qualified company secretary Singapore!
Basic Package Fee for Non-Routine Secretarial Service
| Basic Packages Available | Fee (SGD) |
| Approval of Director Fees in EGM | from $200 (W/GST $218) |
| Appointment of first Auditor | S$200 (W/GST $218) |
| Change in Auditor | S$200 (W/GST $218) |
| Out-going for a signing of documents/bank resolution by Company Secretary | from $250 (W/GST $272.50) per trip |
| Completion of bank forms by Company Secretary | from $300 (W/GST $327) per account |
| Change in Bank Signatory | from S$100 (W/GST $109) |
| Preparation of resolution for Opening of Bank Account | S$100 (W/GST $109) |
| Preparation of resolution for Closing of Bank Account | from S$150 (W/GST $163.50) |
| Resolution for Declaration of Dividend | S$100 (W/GST $109) for the first shareholder S$50 (w/GST $54.50) per shareholder for subsequent shareholders |
| Change of Business Activities | S$150 (W/GST $163.50) |
| Change in Secretary | S$150 (W/GST $163.50) |
| Change in Where Register Member Kept | S$150 (W/GST $163.50) |
| Change in Registered Address | S$150 (W/GST $163.50) |
| Change in Directorship | from S$150 (W/GST $163.50) per individual |
| Change in Beneficial owners, Registrable controllers and Nominator of nominee director | from S$100 (W/GST $109) per individual |
| Change in Financial Year End | S$150 (W/GST $163.50) |
| Resolution for Purchase of Property | S$200 (W/GST $218) |
| Share Transfer of Ordinary Shares from/to individual (includes Share Certificate) | from S$200 (W/GST $218) per transfer agreement / transferor / transferee |
| Share Transfer of Ordinary Shares from/to the corporate shareholder (includes Share Certificate) | from S$250 (W/GST $272.50) per transfer agreement/transferor/transferee |
| Share Transfer of Preference Shares from/to individual (includes Share Certificate) | from S$300 (W/GST $327) per transfer agreement/transferor/transferee |
| Share Transfer of Preference Shares from/to corporate shareholder (includes Share Certificate) | from S$350 (W/GST $381.50) per transfer agreement/transferor/transferee |
| Witness for Share Transfer Agreement | from S$50 (W/GST $54.50) per signature |
| Allotment of Ordinary Shares in cash (includes Share Certificate) | from S$200 (W/GST $218) per shareholder |
| Update of paid-up capital (includes Share Certificate) | from S$200 (W/GST $218) per shareholder |
| Change in Company Name and Adoption of Common Seal (Free 1 Company stamp and 1 Common Seal) | S$500 (W/GST $545) |
| Change in Company Name (Free 1 Company stamp) | S$400 (W/GST $436) |
| Change in Memorandum and Article of Association (EGM is required) | from S$500 (W/GST $545) |
| Certified True Copy of documents | S$10 (W/GST $10.90) per page |
| The signing of bank resolutions or other documents (in our office) | from S$100 (W/GST $109) |
| Liaise with the auditor for annual statutory audit on secretarial records / Statutory records file inspection | S$250 (W/GST $272.50) per visit |
| Termination processing fee (secretarial services) | S$250 (W/GST $272.50) |
| Termination processing fee (nominee director and secretarial services) | S$500 (W/GST $545) |
| Purchase of update business profile | S$20 (W/GST $21.80) per copy |
| Purchase of update People profile | S$100 (W/GST $108) per copy |
| Extension of Time for AGM and filing Annual Return (2 months) | S$500 (W/GST $545) |
| Access to the register book in ACRA | S$50 (W/GST $54.50) per register |
| Add on one company seal inclusive of resolution (companies no longer required by law to have a common seal) | S$100 (W/GST $109) |
* If the total number of directors, shareholders, beneficial owners, registrable controllers and nominators of nominee directors is more than three persons or entities, a one-off $100 (W/GST $109) per person or entity due to diligence review fees will apply
***For the Company with more than 10 directors/shareholders or with a complex structure, an extra charge may apply for the annual secretarial fee ***
***Please note that all the above does NOT include stamping fees ***
Conclusion
When incorporating a company in Singapore, you are required to appoint a company secretary (Corporate Secretary Agent) within six months of incorporation in accordance with the Singapore Companies Act.
3E Accounting offers reliable and professional Corporate Secretary Services in Singapore, providing your company with a dedicated company secretary who is a Singapore resident and fully qualified to manage your statutory and compliance obligations.
