A serious Asian base for international entrepreneurs.
Singapore can combine a locally incorporated company, an Employment Pass, respected banking infrastructure and one of the world's strongest treaty and business environments into a single international structure.
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Company formation, Employment Pass, personal tax, banking and treaty positioning considered together.
Low enough tax. Exceptional credibility.
Singapore operates a competitive corporate tax system with exemptions and incentives potentially reducing the effective rate.
Qualifying founders can potentially obtain residence through genuine employment by their Singapore company.
Singapore generally does not tax genuine capital gains, although trading income remains taxable.
Singapore maintains an extensive network of double-tax agreements with major international economies.
Not a tax haven. That is part of the appeal.
Singapore is particularly interesting for entrepreneurs who want an efficient tax position without building their international structure around a traditional offshore jurisdiction.
You are establishing a real company in one of the world's major financial centres, paying legitimate local tax where applicable and gaining access to a highly respected legal, banking and treaty environment.
Singapore is recognised globally by banks, counterparties, investors and tax authorities.
The residence strategy can be tied to genuine employment, salary, company management and local tax compliance.
Singapore provides a strategically located base for entrepreneurs operating throughout Asia.
Company first. Residence through employment.
The structure is built around a genuine Singapore company employing the founder in a qualifying executive or managerial position.
Establish a Singapore private limited company with the required locally resident director and corporate officers.
The company employs the founder in a genuine role with compensation appropriate for the Employment Pass application.
Subject to eligibility and approval, the founder receives an Employment Pass allowing them to live and work in Singapore.
Once appropriate local-residency requirements are satisfied, the founder may be appointed as a resident director of the company.
Every Singapore company needs local directorship.
A Singapore company must maintain at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore.
For a foreign founder who has not yet obtained their own qualifying Singapore status, the structure can begin using an appropriate resident director.
The exact directorship transition should be coordinated with the company's corporate-services and immigration team.
The residence component is merit-based.
Singapore's Employment Pass is designed for foreign professionals, managers and executives.
The company must offer genuine employment, the salary needs to satisfy Singapore's qualifying thresholds and most applicants also need to pass the COMPASS assessment.
Why we may structure around S$100,000 per year.
For certain founder profiles, an annual salary around S$100,000 can provide a clean combination of genuine Singapore employment and relatively modest personal income tax.
It is not a universal Employment Pass requirement. The actual required salary depends on the founder's age, role, sector and COMPASS profile.
*Before applicable deductions and reliefs, assuming the individual qualifies as a Singapore tax resident.
Immigration residence and tax residence are separate.
Obtaining an Employment Pass gives you the right to live and work in Singapore. It does not automatically make you a Singapore tax resident for every tax year.
Physical presence, employment periods and the specific Singapore tax-residency rules still need to be satisfied.
Other multi-year rules can also apply, so every case should be reviewed according to the individual's actual presence and employment history.
Progressive rates, but modest at founder-level salaries.
Singapore does not use a flat personal income-tax rate. Resident taxpayers are taxed progressively.
The first portion of chargeable income falls within Singapore's zero-rate band.
Marginal rates increase as the individual's chargeable income rises.
The highest current resident personal income-tax rate is 24%.
The effective income-tax rate at S$100,000 of chargeable income is far below the headline maximum.
A 17% headline rate before available reliefs.
Singapore companies are generally subject to a flat 17% corporate income-tax rate on chargeable income.
Depending on the company, available exemptions, incentives and rebates can reduce the actual effective corporate tax burden.
Singapore's one-tier system keeps distributions simple.
Singapore operates a one-tier corporate tax system. Once tax has been paid at company level, dividends paid by a Singapore resident company are generally exempt in the hands of shareholders.
Genuine capital gains are generally not taxed.
Singapore does not impose a separate general capital gains tax on genuine investment gains.
This can be particularly attractive for internationally mobile investors holding shares, financial instruments and digital assets as personal investments.
Frequent or business-like trading can instead be treated as taxable income. Classification depends on the facts.
International income can receive favourable treatment.
For individuals, foreign-source income received in Singapore is generally not taxable, subject to important exceptions.
Income connected to Singapore employment, a Singapore trade or other locally performed activity can still be taxable.
The bank account receiving the money is not enough by itself. The underlying employment, business activity and income source need to be reviewed.
The real advantage is international recognition.
Singapore maintains an extensive double-tax treaty network, making it substantially different from using a jurisdiction whose principal attraction is simply a zero headline tax rate.
Singapore and Germany maintain a comprehensive double-taxation agreement covering taxes on income and capital.
Treaty benefits depend on actual treaty residence, income classification and the relevant tie-breaker provisions.One of Asia's leading financial centres.
A properly structured local company can access one of the world's most developed commercial banking ecosystems.
Establishing genuine Singapore residence can materially improve access to local personal banking.
A Singapore base can be particularly valuable for clients building substantial long-term Asian financial relationships.
Premium jurisdiction. Still reasonably efficient.
Singapore is not a bargain offshore company jurisdiction. The structure involves genuine corporate, immigration and compliance work.
For suitable clients, however, the cost can remain modest relative to the quality of the jurisdiction.
From incorporation to an operational Singapore base.
Assess business activity, age, qualifications, salary, nationality and Employment Pass feasibility.
Incorporate the Singapore entity with the required director, secretary and registered office.
Submit the Employment Pass application based on the genuine executive employment position.
Complete the company's banking, payroll, tax and ongoing corporate administration.
Best for entrepreneurs who value credibility over headline zero.
Entrepreneurs looking for a respected Asian corporate and personal base.
Individuals whose wealth includes substantial investment portfolios and genuine capital gains.
Clients who need a conventional, internationally recognised tax jurisdiction rather than a zero-tax base.
Singapore works best when there is real substance.
Salary alone is not enough. Age, qualifications, company profile and COMPASS can all influence approval.
Holding an Employment Pass does not automatically make someone a Singapore tax resident with no physical presence.
Singapore generally does not tax capital gains, but profits arising from a trade can be treated as taxable income.
Establishing Singapore residence does not automatically terminate existing residence or tax obligations elsewhere.
We structure the entire position, not just the company.
Singapore becomes most powerful when the company, salary, Employment Pass, personal residence, banking and existing home-country tax position are considered together.
We assess the complete international position and coordinate implementation with specialist corporate, immigration and tax professionals in Singapore.
Could Singapore become your international base?
We assess your company activity, personal profile, current tax residence, investment income and long-term plans before determining whether a Singapore company and Employment Pass structure is suitable.
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