A Singapore company can be the base from which you hold, finance and grow your business in Asia. Find out how the form works, what the holding company can expect from the tax system, and which officers it needs from the first day.
Most companies come to Singapore with a commercial plan: a regional headquarters, a holding company for subsidiaries in Asia, or a vehicle to raise capital from international investors. Each plan leads to a different structure, and the structure chosen at the start affects your tax position, your bankability and your options years later (Choosing among them).
The usual form is the private company limited by shares under the Companies Act 1967. It needs at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore (section 145), a resident company secretary within six months (section 171), a registered office, a share capital of at least S$1 and a register of registrable controllers from the day of incorporation (The private company limited by shares).
A Singapore holding company pays no tax on gains of a capital nature, subject to section 10L, and no withholding tax arises on the dividends it pays. Section 13W gives a safe harbour for a holding of 20 per cent kept for 24 months, and foreign dividends may be exempt under section 13(8) if its conditions are met (The Singapore holding company for Asian operations). Treaty relief depends on the partner: there is a comprehensive agreement with China, for example, and only a limited one with Hong Kong.
Officers can be liable where they consented to or connived in a company's offence (Corporate and officer liability). Insolvency rules are in the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (Directors' duties in the zone of insolvency).
Group and Holding Structures
A Singapore holding company is a common choice for groups in Asia. The articles collected here explain the vehicles, from the private company to the company limited by guarantee, the limited liability partnership and the registered foreign company, the Singapore holding company for Asian operations, the allocation of functions between entities, intra-group services and transfer pricing. They also cover funds, custody, succession, banking and exit. The worked cases concern digital-asset groups between Switzerland and Singapore, and the reasoning carries over. To the articlesCapital Raising
An offer of securities in Singapore follows the Securities and Futures Act 2001. The articles collected here explain when a product is a capital markets product, when a token is not, prospectus requirements and exemptions, the licensing of intermediaries, approved exchanges and recognised market operators, and the MAS case examples. They also cover tokenised capital markets products under the 2025 Guide. To the articlesBankability and Onboarding
Opening and keeping a bank account in Singapore requires preparation. The articles collected here explain why the account is the bottleneck for many businesses, how account opening works in Singapore and in Switzerland, which banks engage with digital-asset clients, how a treasury is off-ramped and what a bank wants to see as the relationship goes on. The cases come from digital-asset businesses, the most closely examined applicants, and the lessons on documents and substance carry over to other companies. To the articlesWhite-Collar Crime and Corporate Liability
Singapore pursues dishonesty and market misconduct under general statutes. The articles collected here explain cheating, criminal breach of trust, fraud under section 424A of the Penal Code 1871, computer misuse, money laundering under the 1992 Act, unlicensed activity, market misconduct and corporate and officer liability. They also describe the enforcement agencies and how an investigation actually runs. The cases concern tokens, and the offences are general. To the articlesRegulation and Supervision
Financial regulation in Singapore is concentrated in one institution. The articles collected here explain the Westminster model in a city-state, the sources of law, the legal force of MAS notices, guidelines and FAQs, MAS's mandate and philosophy, the licensing categories, the Payment Services Act 2019, the Securities and Futures Act 2001, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2022, stablecoins, tokenisation and the steps of a licence application. The colonial origins of the legal order are told in the financial centre book. To the articlesDigital Assets: Structuring Between the Hubs
Structuring Between the Hubs — a part of the book Digital Assets Law in Singapore and Switzerland by Dr Alexander Ressos. To the articles