You need a company registration number (the UEN) to prove your business is legally recognised in Singapore and to complete filings, banking, and contracts. The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is the single identifier you use for all official transactions with ACRA and other government agencies.
This post will explain what the UEN reveals about a business, how to verify it quickly through ACRA’s BizFile+ and other official portals, and what compliance responsibilities attach to that number so you can act with confidence.
Understanding Company Registration Number in Singapore
A Company Registration Number Singapore uniquely identifies a registered business and links to its legal and filing records. You will use it for compliance, banking, contracts, and due diligence.
Definition and Importance
A Company Registration Number, commonly called the Unique Entity Number (UEN), is a fixed alphanumeric identifier issued by ACRA or another government agency when you register a business. It appears on statutory documents, tax filings, and business profiles.
You need the UEN to open corporate bank accounts, register for Goods and Services Tax (GST), file annual returns with ACRA, and correspond with government agencies such as IRAS. The UEN reduces ambiguity between similarly named entities and provides a quick way to verify legal status and filing history.
Keep the UEN on official letterheads, invoices, and contracts to ensure counterparties can confirm your entity’s existence. If the UEN changes due to restructuring or re-registration, update all statutory and commercial records promptly.
Where to Find Your Company Registration Number
You can retrieve your UEN from the ACRA BizFile+ portal by searching your company name or by logging into your registered BizFile+ account. The Business Profile available on BizFile+ lists the UEN, incorporation date, entity type, and current officers.
Other documents that display the UEN include the Certificate of Incorporation, Notice of Registration, income tax correspondence from IRAS, and business bank account documentation. You’ll also find it on invoices, GST registration notices, and stamped contracts.
If a third party asks for verification, provide a link to your BizFile+ Business Profile or a recent ACRA extract. For lost company documents, request an official company extract from ACRA; this serves as an authoritative source of the UEN.
Entities That Require a Company Registration Number
All companies incorporated in Singapore — private limited companies (Pte Ltd), public companies, and foreign branches registered locally — receive a UEN at incorporation or registration. Sole proprietors, partnerships, and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) also receive UENs when they register with ACRA.
Statutory boards, societies, and charities typically obtain UENs or similar identifiers from the relevant registering authority. Government agencies, trusts, and foreign entities that register a local presence (for example, as a representative office) will likewise be assigned a UEN or equivalent.
When engaging suppliers, customers, or regulators, request the other party’s UEN for verification. Using the UEN helps you confirm registration status, identify the correct legal entity type, and check filing compliance through ACRA records.
Procedures and Compliance Related to Company Registration Number
You need a Unique Entity Number (UEN) assigned at incorporation and must use it consistently across filings, contracts, banking, and tax matters. Keep records accurate, display the number where legally required, and comply with ongoing ACRA and IRAS obligations.
How to Obtain a Company Registration Number
Register your company with ACRA via BizFile+ to obtain the UEN (company registration number). Prepare a company name, at least one local resident director, a registered office address in Singapore, and details of shareholders and the company secretary before you start the online application.
The typical steps are:
- Reserve and approve the company name (instant if no conflict).
- File incorporation particulars on BizFile+ and pay the incorporation fee (variable; nominal).
- Receive the UEN immediately upon successful incorporation.
If you use a corporate service provider, they can submit the application for you but must be authorised. Foreign companies registering a branch receive a UEN after submitting registered office details and appointing a local authorised representative.
Using Company Registration Number in Business Operations
Use your UEN on all formal documents: invoices, contracts, letterheads, websites, and official correspondence. Government agencies, banks, and clients will rely on this number for identity, verification, tax filings, CPF submissions, and procurement.
Register for GST with IRAS once your taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million in a 12‑month period; you will use your UEN for GST registration and filings. Provide the UEN when opening local bank accounts and when submitting employment and CPF records for employees. Display the number on your company’s public-facing documents where statutory disclosure is required.
Legal and Regulatory Obligations
You must file annual returns and statutory documents with ACRA under the UEN; late or inaccurate filings attract penalties. Maintain proper accounting records and prepare audited or unaudited financial statements as required by your company type and size.
Comply with tax obligations via IRAS using the UEN for corporate tax filing and notices. Keep your registered office, directors’ particulars, and shareholdings updated on BizFile+ within the prescribed timeframes. Noncompliance—such as failing to update changes or to file annual returns—can result in fines, prosecution, or strike‑off actions.