OVERVIEW

 

A Singapore Representative Office provides a foreign company interested in establishing operation in Singapore an avenue to assess business opportunities in Singapore market prior to making any long term or large scale commitment.

 

A Representative Office cannot engage in commercial revenue-generating activities.

 

Foreign commercial entity must fulfill the following criteria

 

• Sales Turnover of the foreign entity must be more than  US$250,000

• No. of years of establishment of the foreign entity must be more than 3 years

• Proposed No. of staff for RO should be less than 5 people

   

 

Taxation of Singapore Representative Office

 

A Singapore representative office cannot engage in commercial revenue-generating activities, and therefore need not file for annual tax returns. However, income paid to the staff of the Representative Office including the Chief Representative is subject to Singapore personal income tax.

 

 

If you choose to set up a Singapore Representative Office, you must take the following steps:

 

1. Submit an application to register the Representative Office. Beaufort will assist you to register your Representative Office.

2. You can apply for an Employment Pass only after you have succeeded in registering the Representative Office.

3. The Employment Pass application is for the Chief Representative who is the appointed staff member from the foreign company.  The Employment Pass will allow the Chief Representative to relocate to Singapore to run the Representative Office.

4. You will require a Local Registered Office Address. Beaufort can provide you with the use of our corporate registered address on a temporary or long term basis, as needed.

    

 

Representative Office Notes

 

If you are a foreign company who wishes to setup a Singapore Branch Office and relocate to Singapore, the following must be fulfilled:

 

1. Engage Beaufort to Register your Singapore Representative Office.

2. Apply for your Employment Pass and for your employees.

3. Engage Beaufort for a Local Registered Office Address. 

 

Representative Office registration and Employment Pass application can be processed without you having to be in Singapore.