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A company secretary is the officer who keeps your company's paperwork in order: registers, minutes, ACRA filings and the annual return. In Singapore the post is a legal requirement, not a service you can skip. Many owners hire a corporate secretarial firm so the post is held by someone who does this every day.
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is not ACRA and does not sell secretarial services. We are an independent guide that passes requests from this page to suitable providers, some of which pay us a referral fee on a signed client.
Do I need a company secretary in Singapore?
Yes. ACRA states that every company must have at least one director and one company secretary. The secretary must be appointed within six months of successful registration, and the position cannot be vacant for more than six months (checked ).
If you miss the deadline, ACRA lists a fine of up to S$1,000 for the director. The risk is bigger than the fine: without a secretary there is nobody to keep the registers up to date or prepare your annual return.
Who can be the company secretary?
ACRA sets out these conditions:
- A real person, not a company.
- A Singapore citizen, permanent resident or someone who meets the local residency rules.
- Not the same person as the sole director.
You can appoint a director as secretary when the board has more than one director. Many small companies prefer an outside secretary. The outside route is also where most of the demand for a corporate secretary comes from. Our guide to ACRA explains what the regulator does and how it communicates with you.
What does a corporate secretary do?
The tasks vary by provider, but a normal secretarial plan covers these:
- Acts as the named secretary on the ACRA record.
- Keeps the statutory registers, including directors, secretaries, members and the register of nominee directors.
- Prepares board and shareholder resolutions and the annual general meeting papers.
- Files the annual return and officer changes on Bizfile.
- Reminds you of due dates.
On deadlines: non-listed companies must hold the AGM within six months after the financial year end and file the annual return within seven months. A company with share capital or overseas branch registers has eight months. Late filing penalties are up to S$600. Our guide to the annual return and AGM has the full picture.
How much does a corporate secretary cost?
ACRA does not set a fee. The one provider page we read in that publishes plans is Leftright Corporate:
| Plan | Price | What it states |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | S$328 per year | Named secretary, registers and minute books, AGM documents, annual return filing |
| Suite | S$568 per year | Essential, plus unlimited standard resolutions (S$240 more) |
| Registered office address | S$245 per year | Billed separately |
| Nominee director | Quoted on request | Billed separately |
Both plans include the S$60 ACRA annual return fee, according to the provider. Other firms mix the secretary fee with accounting, address or incorporation bundles. Ask for a list of what is excluded, especially extra resolutions, changes of director and changes of share capital.
What should I ask a secretarial provider?
Since the Corporate Service Providers Act took effect on , firms that provide corporate services by way of business must be registered with ACRA and follow anti-money laundering duties. ACRA's CSP register is the place to check. Our page on choosing a corporate service provider lists questions to put to each firm.
Also ask:
- Which named person will act as your secretary?
- Is the registered office part of the price? See registered address rules.
- What is the cost of resolutions outside the standard set?
- How do you give up the appointment if you leave?
- Do they keep your registers and release them if you move?
If the company has no resident owner, you will probably need a nominee director as well. Providers often bundle the two.
How do I change my company secretary?
Appoint the new secretary, let the old one resign and file the change through Bizfile within 14 days. ACRA applies the same 14 days to changes of directors, the CEO and the auditor. The register of secretaries must be updated at the same time.
Want a provider to take over the filings? Use the quote form on this page and tell us your financial year end and whether you already have a secretary.
Where can I see the prices side by side?
See what firms charge for the service in the corporate secretary price comparison.
Sources
- ACRA: choosing company directors and other key officers: secretary rules, six-month deadline, fine, 14-day filing.
- ACRA: annual return deadlines: seven and eight months, penalties up to S$600.
- ACRA: AGM due dates: six months after year end.
- ACRA: corporate service providers: CSP rules in force from 9 June.
- Leftright Corporate: company secretary services: published plan prices, read .
