Business Names Registration Act 2014

Source: Singapore Statutes Online | Archived by Legal Wires

Business Names Registration
Act 2014
2020 REVISED EDITION
This revised edition incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 December 2021 and comes into operation on 31 December 2021
An Act to provide for the registration of persons carrying on business in Singapore and their business names.
[3 January 2016]
PART 1
PRELIMINARY
Short title
1.  This Act is the Business Names Registration Act 2014.
Interpretation
2.—(1)  In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
[Deleted by Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
“ACRA administered Act” means the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004 or any of the written laws specified in the Second Schedule to that Act;
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
“authorised representative” means an authorised representative appointed under section 11(1);
“Authority” means the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority established under the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004;
“business” includes every form of trade, commerce and profession, and any other activity, that is carried on for the purposes of gain, but does not include any office, employment or occupation;
“business name” means the name under which a person carries on business;
“certificate of confirmation of registration” means a certificate issued under section 8(2);
“company” has the meaning given by section 4(1) of the Companies Act 1967;
“contact address”, in relation to an individual, means an address that meets all of the following conditions:
(a)it is a physical address at which the individual can be physically found or contacted by post;
(b)it is not a post office box number;
(c)it is located in the same jurisdiction as the individual’s residential address;
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
“corporation” means any body corporate formed, incorporated or existing in Singapore or outside Singapore and includes —
(a)any company;
(b)any limited liability partnership registered under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005; and
(c)any foreign company;
“document” means —
(a)any application, form, report, certification, notice, confirmation, declaration or other document to be filed or lodged with or submitted to the Registrar; or
(b)any certificate, notice or other document to be issued by the Registrar;
“electronic transaction system” means the electronic transaction system mentioned in section 29(1);
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
“firm” means an unincorporated body of —
(a)2 or more individuals;
(b)one or more individuals and one or more corporations; or
(c)2 or more corporations,
who have entered into partnership with one another with a view to carrying on business for profit;
“foreign company” has the meaning given by section 4(1) of the Companies Act 1967;
“full name” or “name” means —
(a)in the case of an individual registered under the National Registration Act 1965 — the name as it appears in the latest identity card issued to that individual under section 9 of that Act; or
(b)in the case of an individual not registered under the National Registration Act 1965 — the name as it appears in the latest passport issued to that individual or such other similar evidence of identification as is available;
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
“individual” means a natural person and, where appropriate, includes —
(a)an administrator, an executor, a liquidator, a trustee, a nominee, or a guardian of the individual; or
(b)a donee or deputy appointed under the Mental Capacity Act 2008 in respect of the individual,
having direct control or management of the business carried on by the individual;
“individual proprietor” means an individual carrying on business as a sole proprietor;
“inspector” means a person authorised in writing by the Registrar under section 32(1) to be an inspector for the purposes of this Act;
“notice of registration” means a notice issued under section 8(1)(b);
“register” means the register kept under this Act;
“registered” means registered under this Act;
“registered business name” means the business name in respect of which a person is registered under section 8;
“Registrar” means the Registrar of Business Names appointed under section 3(2) and includes any Deputy Registrar or Assistant Registrar of Business Names appointed under that section;
“residential address”, in relation to an individual, means the individual’s usual place of residence.
(2)  A person who has a place of business in Singapore is to be treated as carrying on business in Singapore for the purposes of this Act.
(3)  Despite subsection (2), a foreign company is not to be treated as carrying on business in Singapore for the reason only that in Singapore it —
(a)is or becomes a party to any action or suit or any administrative or arbitration proceeding, or effects settlement of an action, a suit or a proceeding or of any claim or dispute;
(b)holds meetings of its directors or shareholders or carries on other activities concerning its internal affairs;
(c)maintains any bank account;
(d)effects any sale through an independent contractor;
(e)solicits or procures any order that becomes a binding contract only if the order is accepted outside Singapore;
(f)creates evidence of any debt or creates a charge on movable or immovable property;
(g)secures or collects any of its debts or enforces its rights in regard to any securities relating to such debts;
(h)conducts an isolated transaction that is completed within a period of 31 days, but not being one of a number of similar transactions repeated from time to time;
(i)invests any of its funds or holds any property;
(j)establishes a share transfer or share registration office in Singapore;
(k)effects any transaction through its related corporation licensed or approved under any written law by the Monetary Authority of Singapore established under the Monetary Authority of Singapore Act 1970, and under an arrangement approved by that Authority; or
(l)carries on any other activity that may be prescribed.
(4)  In subsection (3), “related corporation” has the meaning given by section 4(1) of the Companies Act 1967.
(5)  A reference to a document being filed or lodged with the Registrar is a reference to the document being filed or lodged with the Registrar in such manner and form as the Registrar may determine.
(6)  For the purposes of sections 8(7), 12(4), 16(5) and 17(9) and (10), any reference to the Minister includes a reference to such Minister of State for his or her Ministry who is authorised by the Minister for the purposes of hearing an appeal under that provision.
Administration of Act and appointment of Registrar of Business Names, etc.
3.—(1)  The Authority is responsible for the administration of this Act, subject to the general or special directions of the Minister.
(2)  The Minister may, after consulting the Authority, appoint —
(a)an officer of the Authority to be the Registrar of Business Names; and
(b)such numbers of Deputy Registrars and Assistant Registrars of Business Names from among the officers of the Authority, public officers and the officers of any other statutory body,
for the proper administration of this Act.
(3)  The Registrar is responsible for keeping a register of registered persons and their registered business names, generally for the carrying out of the provisions of this Act, and for the collection of the fees payable under this Act and payment of all amounts so collected into the funds of the Authority.
(4)  The Authority may give to the Registrar such directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as to the exercise of the Registrar’s powers, functions or duties under this Act, and the Registrar is to give effect to such directions.
(5)  The Registrar may, subject to such conditions or restrictions as the Registrar thinks fit, for the purposes of the administration of this Act, delegate to any Deputy Registrar or Assistant Registrar of Business Names all or any of the powers, functions and duties vested in the Registrar by this Act except the power of delegation conferred by this section.
Persons not required to be registered under Act
4.—(1)  The following persons are not required to be registered when carrying on business in Singapore:
(a)any individual proprietor carrying on business under only the individual proprietor’s full name;
(b)any firm of 2 or more individuals carrying on business under only the full names of all the individuals;
(c)subject to subsection (2), any individual or firm of 2 or more individuals carrying on any business consisting solely of the exercise of any profession that, under the provisions of any written law, can be exercised only by those who possess certain qualifications prescribed by the written law and whose names are registered or otherwise recorded in the manner prescribed by any written law;
(d)a person (A) in respect of or for whom another person (B) carries on business wholly or mainly as nominee or trustee if B has provided the particulars required under section 7(1);
(e)any statutory authority or other body established by or under any public Act for a public purpose;
(f)any institution, authority, person or fund specified in the First Schedule to the Income Tax Act 1947;
(g)any society registered under the Societies Act 1966;
(h)any society registered under the Co‑operative Societies Act 1979;
(i)any mutual benefit organisation registered under the Mutual Benefit Organisations Act 1960;
(j)any trade union registered under the Trade Unions Act 1940;
(ja)any platform work association registered under the Platform Workers Act 2024;
[Act 30 of 2024 wef 01/11/2024]
(k)the Public Trustee or the Official Assignee of the property of a bankrupt;
(l)any foreign company carrying on business in Singapore that is registered under the Companies Act 1967 and carries on the business under its registered name;
(m)any company carrying on business under its corporate name;
(n)any limited liability partnership registered under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005 carrying on business under its registered name;
(o)subject to section 42(3) of the Limited Partnerships Act 2008, any limited partnership registered under that Act;
(p)any other person or class of persons for the time being exempted by the Minister under regulations made under section 43; and
(q)any individual proprietor who carried on any business specified in the First Schedule to the Business Registration Act (Cap. 32, 2004 Revised Edition) immediately before 3 January 2016 and who is alive and continues to carry on the same business on and after that date.
(2)  An individual or a firm of 2 or more individuals referred to in subsection (1)(c), is required to be registered when carrying on business in Singapore if regulations made under section 43 prescribe that the exemption under subsection (1)(c) does not apply to such individual or firm.
(3)  A person carrying on business in Singapore who is not required to be registered under subsection (1), other than a person who is specified in any of the provisions of subsection (1)(e) to (o), may choose to be registered.
(4)  A person who is not required to be registered but chooses to be registered is subject to and must comply with the provisions of this Act for the period of time that the person is so registered.
(5)  In this section, a reference to an individual or a person includes a class of individuals or a class of persons, respectively.
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
PART 2
REGISTRATION
Requirement to register
5.—(1)  Subject to the provisions of this Act, before a person carries on business in Singapore, the person and the person’s business name must be registered.
(2)  Where a person intends to carry on business in Singapore under more than one business name, there must be separate registrations in respect of the person and each of those business names, and any reference to registration in this Act is to be construed accordingly.
Manner and particulars of registration
6.—(1)  An application for registration —
(a)is to be lodged with the Registrar by an appropriate person; and
(b)is to contain the following particulars:
(i)the business name;
(ii)the general nature of the business;
(iii)the principal place of business;
(iv)where the business is to be carried on by an individual proprietor, the full name, identification, nationality, residential address and contact address of that individual proprietor;
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
(v)where the business is to be carried on by a sole proprietor that is a corporation, the corporate name, registration number and registered office of that corporation;
(vi)where the business is to be carried on by a firm —
(A)the full name, identification, nationality, residential address and contact address of every partner of the firm who is an individual; and
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
(B)the corporate name, registration number and registered office of every partner of the firm that is a corporation;
(vii)the full name, identification, nationality, residential address and contact address of every authorised representative, if any;
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
(viii)the date or proposed date of commencement of business; and
(ix)any other information concerning the person proposing to carry on business and the person’s business name that is prescribed.
(2)  The Registrar may, in any particular case, require the application referred to in subsection (1) to be verified in such manner as the Registrar considers fit.
(3)  In subsection (1) —
“appropriate person” means —
(a)where the registration to be effected is that of an individual proprietor, that individual;
(b)where the registration to be effected is that of a company, a director or a secretary of the company;
(c)where the registration to be effected is that of a limited liability partnership within the meaning of section 2 of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005, a manager of the limited liability partnership;
(d)where the registration to be effected is that of a foreign company registered under Division 2 of Part 11 of the Companies Act 1967, an authorised representative of the foreign company as defined in section 366 of that Act;
(e)where the registration to be effected is that of a firm, an individual who is either —
(i)a partner of the firm; or
(ii)an appropriate person specified in paragraph (b), (c) or (d) (as the case may be) in respect of any company, limited liability partnership or foreign company that is a partner of the firm; or
(f)a registered corporate service provider who is authorised by, and is acting for, the person seeking to be registered under this Act;
[Act 22 of 2024 wef 09/06/2025]
“identification” means —
(a)in the case of an individual issued with an identity card under the National Registration Act 1965, the number of the individual’s identity card; and
(b)in the case of an individual not issued with an identity card under that Act, particulars of the individual’s passport or any other similar evidence of identity that is acceptable to the Registrar;
[Act 22 of 2024 wef 09/06/2025]
“registered corporate service provider” has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Corporate Service Providers Act 2024.
[Act 22 of 2024 wef 09/06/2025]
Registration by nominee or trustee
7.—(1)  Where a person (B) carries on a business wholly or mainly as nominee or trustee of or for another person (A), for the general purposes of the business in Singapore, B must, in addition to the particulars required by section 6, provide such particulars as may be prescribed.
(2)  A person must not carry on business in Singapore as nominee or trustee of a foreign company.
Registration
8.—(1)  Subject to the provisions of this Act, upon receiving an application for registration under section 6, the Registrar must —
(a)register the applicant and the applicant’s business name; and
(b)issue the applicant a notice of registration stating the registered business name and date on which the applicant is registered.
(2)  The Registrar may, upon receiving an application lodged by a person registered under subsection (1) and the prescribed fee, issue a certificate of confirmation of the registration of the person and the person’s business name in such form as the Registrar may determine.
(3)  Every registration is valid for such period as the Registrar may specify and, subject to the provisions of this Act and upon payment of the prescribed fee, is renewable for such period as the Registrar may approve.
(4)  On receiving an application for the renewal of registration, the Registrar may require additional particulars or other information from the applicant and may refuse to renew the registration if the Registrar is not provided with those particulars or information.
(5)  The Registrar is not required to register any person and the person’s business name, or renew any registration, if the Registrar is not satisfied with the particulars or other information provided under the provisions of this Act.
(6)  The registration or renewal of registration of a person and the person’s business name is not to be taken to imply that the person, or any person employed by the person, has complied with the requirements of any law in relation to any business carried on by that person.
(7)  Subject to section 13(2), any person who is aggrieved by the Registrar’s refusal under this Act —
(a)to register the person and the person’s business name; or
(b)to renew the registration of the person and the person’s business name,
may, within 30 days after the date the person is notified of that refusal, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.
When registration must be refused
9.  Despite any provision in this Act or any other written law, but subject to a right of appeal under section 8(7) (if any), the Registrar must refuse to register a person and the person’s business name under this Act where the Registrar is satisfied that —
(a)the business is likely to be used for an unlawful purpose or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore;
(b)it would be contrary to the national security or interest for the person to be registered; or
(c)the person is a foreign company that is not registered under Division 2 of Part 11 of the Companies Act 1967.
Registration does not confer ownership
10.—(1)  The registration of a person in respect of any business name does not confer on the person any property in the registered business name, or in any word or expression that constitutes or is included in the registered business name.
(2)  The registration of a person is not to be taken as evidence that the person so registered owns any property or right or interest in any property held on account of, or used for the purposes of, the business.
Authorised representative
11.—(1)  Where an individual proprietor, all the partners of a firm or all the officers of a foreign company (as the case may be) does not or do not reside in Singapore (either at or after the time the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company was registered), the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company must appoint, within the time specified in subsection (3), (4) or (11), whichever is applicable, at least one authorised representative who must meet the criteria set out in subsection (2).
(2)  The authorised representative must be —
(a)a natural person;
(b)at least 18 years of age;
(c)otherwise of full legal capacity; and
(d)ordinarily resident in Singapore.
(3)  If at the time of registration the individual proprietor, all the partners of the firm or all the officers of the foreign company (as the case may be) does not or do not reside in Singapore, the authorised representative must be appointed —
(a)at the time the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company is registered; or
(b)if the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company will carry on business in Singapore on a date after the date of registration, not later than the date on which the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company commences to carry on business in Singapore.
(4)  If the individual proprietor, all the partners of the firm or all the officers of the foreign company (as the case may be) ceases or cease to reside in Singapore at any time after registration, the authorised representative must be appointed —
(a)in the case of the individual proprietor, within 30 days after the date on which the individual proprietor ceases to reside in Singapore;
(b)in the case of the firm, within 30 days after the date on which the last partner resident in Singapore ceases to reside in Singapore; and
(c)in the case of the foreign company, within 30 days after the date on which the last officer of the foreign company resident in Singapore ceases to reside in Singapore.
(5)  The authorised representative is personally responsible for the discharge of all obligations attaching to the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company that is registered from the date of his or her appointment.
(6)  In the case of any default in respect of any obligation referred to in subsection (5), the authorised representative is subject to the same responsibilities, liabilities and penalties as the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company (as the case may be) and all the penal and other provisions of this Act are to be construed accordingly.
(7)  The individual proprietor, firm or foreign company referred to in subsection (1) must lodge with the Registrar a notice of the appointment of the authorised representative, and a notice of the consent of the authorised representative to be so appointed, within 14 days after the date of appointment.
(8)  The notice of appointment must contain the authorised representative’s residential address and contact address.
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
(9)  Where an authorised representative appointed under subsection (1) —
(a)resigns, retires, dies or otherwise ceases to be an authorised representative for any reason; or
(b)ceases to be qualified as an authorised representative,
the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company referred to in subsection (1) must lodge with the Registrar a notice that the authorised representative has ceased to be, or ceased to be qualified to be, the individual proprietor’s, firm’s or foreign company’s authorised representative within 14 days after that event.
(10)  If the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company referred to in subsection (1) fails to lodge with the Registrar the notice under subsection (9), the former authorised representative may lodge a notice with the Registrar that he or she has ceased to be, or ceased to be qualified to be, the authorised representative for the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company.
(11)  Where the sole authorised representative of an individual proprietor, a firm or a foreign company appointed under subsection (1) —
(a)resigns, retires, dies or otherwise ceases to be the authorised representative for any reason; or
(b)ceases to be qualified as an authorised representative,
the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company must, within 30 days after the date on which the sole authorised representative ceases to be, or ceases to be qualified to be, the authorised representative, appoint a new authorised representative.
(12)  An individual proprietor, a firm or a foreign company that fails to comply with a requirement under subsection (1), (7) or (9) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
(13)  In this section, “officer”, in relation to a foreign company, includes any director, secretary, manager, office holder or person employed in an executive capacity.
(14)  For the purposes of determining whether a person (including a partner of a firm) resides outside Singapore —
(a)a corporation resides outside Singapore if the corporation is incorporated or formed outside Singapore; and
(b)an individual resides outside Singapore if the individual’s residential address is outside Singapore.
(15)  For the purpose of subsection (4)(b), a partner that is —
(a)a company; or
(b)a limited liability partnership registered under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005,
ceases to reside in Singapore when it is dissolved.
(16)  For the purposes of subsections (9), (10) and (11), an authorised representative ceases to be qualified to be an authorised representative if he or she ceases to have full legal capacity or ceases to be ordinarily resident in Singapore.
General power to cancel registration
12.—(1)  The Registrar may cancel the registration of a person and the person’s business name if —
(a)the Registrar is satisfied that —
(i)the business of the person is being used or is intended to be used for an unlawful purpose or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore; or
(ii)it would be contrary to the national security or interest for the person to continue to be registered;
(b)in connection with the person’s business, the person carrying on the business, or any other person appointed by that person to manage the business solely or substantially on that person’s behalf, has been convicted of an offence under the Charities Act 1994; or
(c)the person required to appoint an authorised representative under section 11(1) —
(i)fails to appoint an authorised representative within the period that the authorised representative is required to be appointed under section 11(3) or (4); or
(ii)fails to appoint a new authorised representative within 30 days after the date that the person’s sole authorised representative resigned, retired, died or otherwise ceased to be, or ceased to be qualified to be, the person’s authorised representative as required under section 11(11).
(2)  The Registrar may cancel the registration of a person and the person’s business name if the Central Provident Fund Board established under the Central Provident Fund Act 1953 has notified the Registrar that the person is a member of the Central Provident Fund established by section 6 of that Act and has failed to comply with section 9A of that Act relating to the payment of contributions by that person to the Central Provident Fund.
[Act 3 of 2024 wef 26/02/2024]
(3)  Before cancelling any registration under subsection (1) or (2), the Registrar must —
(a)give the person notice in writing of the Registrar’s intention to cancel the registration;
(b)specify in the notice a period of at least 30 days within which the person may make written representations to the Registrar; and
(c)consider the person’s written representations (if any) to the proposed cancellation that are received by the Registrar within the time specified in the notice.
(4)  Subject to section 13(3), any person aggrieved by the cancellation under subsection (1) or (2) may, within 30 days after the date the person is notified of the cancellation or such further period as the Minister may allow in any particular case, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.
Supplemental provision to sections 9 and 12
13.—(1)  For the purposes of sections 9(b) and 12(1)(a)(ii), a certificate issued under the hand of the Minister charged with the responsibility for internal security stating that the Minister is satisfied that it would be contrary to the national security or interest for the person named in the certificate to be registered or to continue to be registered is conclusive evidence of the matters so stated.
(2)  Section 8(7) does not apply in a case where the Registrar refuses to register a person under section 9(b) on the basis of a certificate issued under subsection (1).
(3)  Section 12(4) does not apply in a case where the Registrar cancels the registration of a person and the person’s business name under section 12(1)(a)(ii) on the basis of a certificate issued under subsection (1).
Cancellation for failure to renew registration
14.—(1)  If the registration of a person and the person’s business name expires, the Registrar is to give written notice to the person that the Registrar may cancel the registration unless the registration is renewed within the period stated in the notice.
(2)  The period stated in the notice under subsection (1) must be at least 30 days after the date of the notice.
(3)  The Registrar may cancel the registration of a person and the person’s business name if the registration is not renewed within the period stated in the written notice given under subsection (1).
(4)  A person and the person’s business name continue to be registered after the registration of the person and the person’s business name has expired unless the registration is cancelled.
Use of business names
15.—(1)  Subject to subsection (2), a person who is required to be registered and is registered under this Act must not carry on business under a business name other than the person’s registered business name.
(2)  Subsection (1) does not prevent a person from carrying on business under a business name if the person is not required to be registered in respect of the business name under section 4.
(3)  The registration of a business name under section 8(1) does not authorise the use of the registered business name if the use of the registered business name is otherwise prohibited under any written law or other law.
Reservation of business names
16.—(1)  A person may apply to reserve a name as the person’s proposed registered business name by lodging an application with the Registrar.
(2)  The Registrar may approve an application made under subsection (1) only if the Registrar is satisfied that —
(a)the application is made in good faith; and
(b)the business name to be reserved is one in respect of which the person may be registered having regard to section 17(1), (2) and (3).
(3)  The Registrar must refuse to approve an application to reserve a name under subsection (1) if the Registrar is satisfied that —
(a)the name is for a business that is likely to be used for an unlawful purpose or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore;
(b)it would be contrary to the national security or interest for the business name to be registered; or
(c)the application is by or on behalf of a foreign company that is not registered under Division 2 of Part 11 of the Companies Act 1967.
(4)  Where an application for a reservation of a name is made under subsection (1), the Registrar must reserve the proposed registered business name for a period starting at the time the Registrar receives the application and ending —
(a)if the Registrar approves the application, 60 days after the date on which the Registrar notifies the applicant that the application has been approved, or such further period of 60 days as the Registrar may, on application made in good faith, extend; or
(b)if the Registrar refuses to approve the application, on the date on which the Registrar notifies the applicant of the refusal.
(5)  A person aggrieved by a decision of the Registrar —
(a)refusing to approve an application under subsection (1); or
(b)refusing an application under subsection (4)(a) to extend the reservation period,
may, within 30 days after being informed of the Registrar’s decision, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.
Restrictions on registration of business names
17.—(1)  Except with the Minister’s consent or as provided in subsection (3), the Registrar must refuse to register a person under this Act to carry on business under a business name, or refuse to approve a change of registered business name under section 18 to a business name that, in the Registrar’s opinion —
(a)is undesirable;
(b)is identical to any other registered business name, or the name of any corporation or limited partnership;
(c)is identical to a name that is reserved under section 16 of this Act, section 27(12B), section 27(12B) as applied by section 357(2), or section 378(15) of the Companies Act 1967, section 23(4) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005 or section 17(4) of the Limited Partnerships Act 2008; or
(d)is a name of a kind that the Minister has directed the Registrar, by notification in the Gazette, not to accept for registration.
[15/2017]
(2)  In addition to subsection (1), the Registrar must, except with the Minister’s consent, refuse to register a person (A) under a business name, or refuse to allow A to change A’s registered business name to a business name, if —
(a)it is identical to the business name of a person (B) whose registration and registration of that business name has been cancelled under this Act or has ceased under section 22, unless a period of at least one year has passed after the date of cancellation or cessation;
(b)it is identical to the name of a company that was dissolved —
(i)unless, in a case where the company was dissolved following its winding up under Part 8 of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018, a period of at least 2 years has passed after the date of dissolution; or
(ii)unless, in a case where the company was dissolved following its name being struck off the register kept under the Companies Act 1967 under section 344 or 344A of that Act, a period of at least 6 years has passed after the date of dissolution;
(c)it is identical to the name of a foreign company notice of the dissolution of which has been given to the Registrar under section 377(2) of the Companies Act 1967, unless a period of at least 2 years has passed after the date of dissolution;
(d)it is identical to the name of a limited liability partnership that was dissolved —
(i)unless, in a case where the limited liability partnership was dissolved following its winding up under section 39 of, and the Fifth Schedule to, the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005, a period of at least 2 years has passed after the date of dissolution; or
(ii)unless, in a case where the limited liability partnership was dissolved following its name being struck off the register under section 63 of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005, a period of at least 6 years has passed after the date of dissolution; or
(e)it is identical to the name of a limited partnership that was cancelled or dissolved —
(i)unless, in a case where the registration of the limited partnership was cancelled under section 14(1) or 19(4) of the Limited Partnerships Act 2008, a period of at least one year has passed after the date of cancellation; or
(ii)unless, in a case where notice was lodged with the Registrar of Limited Partnerships that the limited partnership was dissolved under section 19(2) of the Limited Partnerships Act 2008, a period of at least one year has passed after the date of dissolution.
[40/2018]
(3)  Despite subsection (1), the Registrar may register a person under —
(a)a business name that is identical to the name of a foreign company registered under Division 2 of Part 11 of the Companies Act 1967 —
(i)in respect of which notice was lodged under section 377(1) of the Companies Act 1967 that the foreign company has ceased to have a place of business in Singapore or ceased to carry on business in Singapore, if a period of at least 3 months has passed after the date of cessation; and
(ii)the name of which was struck off the register under the Companies Act 1967 under section 377(8), (9) or (10) of that Act, if a period of at least 6 years has passed after the date the name was so struck off; or
(b)a business name that is identical to the name of a limited partnership in respect of which notice was lodged under section 19(1) of the Limited Partnerships Act 2008 that the limited partnership ceased to carry on business in Singapore, if a period of at least one year has passed after the date of cessation.
(4)  Despite this section and section 18, where the Registrar is satisfied that a person’s registered business name —
(a)is one that is not permitted to be registered under subsection (1)(a), (b) or (d);
(b)is one that is not permitted to be registered under subsection (2) until the expiry of the relevant period referred to in that subsection;
(c)is one that is permitted to be registered under subsection (3) only after the expiry of the relevant period referred to in that subsection;
(d)so nearly resembles the name of any corporation or limited partnership, or any registered business name, as to be likely to be mistaken for it; or
(e)is one the use of which has been restrained by an injunction granted under the Trade Marks Act 1998,
the Registrar may direct the person to change the person’s registered business name, and the person must comply with the direction within 6 weeks after the date of the direction or such longer period as the Registrar may allow in any case.
(5)  The Registrar’s power under subsection (4) to direct a person to change the person’s registered business name applies regardless of —
(a)whether the person’s business name was registered through inadvertence or otherwise; or
(b)when the person was registered, or treated as being registered, in respect of the business name.
(6)  Any person may apply, in writing, to the Registrar to give a direction to any other person, on a ground referred to in subsection (4), to change that other person’s registered business name.
(7)  The Registrar is not to consider any application under subsection (6) to give a direction to a person on the ground referred to in subsection (4)(d) unless the Registrar receives the application within 12 months after the date the person was registered in respect of the business name, or the date the change of registered business name was approved under section 18.
(8)  The Registrar may cancel the registration of a person and the person’s business name if the person fails to comply with a direction given under subsection (4).
(9)  A person aggrieved by —
(a)a direction of the Registrar under subsection (4); or
(b)the Registrar’s refusal to give a direction to a person under subsection (4) following an application under subsection (6),
may, within 30 days after being informed of the Registrar’s direction or refusal (as the case may be), appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.
(10)  To avoid doubt, where the Registrar makes a direction under subsection (4) or the Minister makes a decision on an appeal under subsection (9), the Registrar or the Minister (as the case may be) must accept as correct any decision of the General Division of the High Court to grant an injunction referred to in subsection (4)(e).
[40/2019]
Change of registered business name
18.—(1)  An application by a person to change the person’s registered business name is to be lodged with the Registrar.
(2)  Upon the approval of the application, the Registrar is to issue to the applicant a notice of change of registered business name stating the date of the change.
(3)  Any application for a change of a registered business name is subject to section 17.
Change of residential address
19.—(1)  An individual who —
(a)is a registered individual proprietor;
(b)is a partner of a registered firm; or
(c)is an authorised representative,
must lodge with the Registrar a notice of the individual’s new residential address within 14 days after the date of change.
(2)  Where the individual referred to in subsection (1) has changed his or her residential address and has made a report of the change under section 10 of the National Registration Act 1965, the individual is to be taken to have informed the Registrar of the change of residential address in compliance with subsection (1).
Registration of change in particulars
20.—(1)  Whenever a change is made or occurs in any of the particulars registered in respect of any person, that person must, within 14 days after the change, or such further period as the Registrar may on application allow, lodge with the Registrar a notice specifying the nature and date of the change, and containing such other information as may be prescribed.
(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), a change of particulars does not include —
(a)a change of the residential address of any —
(i)registered individual proprietor;
(ii)partner of a registered firm who is an individual; or
(iii)authorised representative; or
(b)a change of a registered business name.
(3)  Without limiting subsection (1), where a person ceases to be a partner of a registered firm, that person and the persons who continue to be registered as partners of the firm must, within 14 days after the cessation, lodge with the Registrar a notice of the cessation.
(4)  Where any person required to lodge the notice referred to in subsection (3) cannot be located or found, the Registrar may allow the other persons who are required to do so to lodge the notice.
(5)  The Registrar may require any notice required by this section to be verified in such manner and by such person as the Registrar considers fit.
Deceased registrants
21.—(1)  Where a registered individual proprietor or a partner of a registered firm who is an individual dies, the Registrar may permit the personal representative of the deceased, or a person who in the Registrar’s opinion would be entitled to apply to court for an order for the administration by the court of the deceased’s estate —
(a)to lodge any notice referred to in section 20(1) on behalf of the deceased person;
(b)to lodge any notice to be lodged under section 20(3) on behalf of the deceased partner, together with the other persons registered as partners; or
(c)to lodge the notice referred to in section 22(1).
(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), a person who claims to be the personal representative of a deceased or to be entitled to apply to court for the order for the administration by the court of the deceased’s estate must provide such evidence as may be acceptable to the Registrar.
Cessation of business
22.—(1)  Where a registered person stops carrying on business in Singapore under a registered business name, the registered person must, within 14 days after so stopping, lodge with the Registrar a notice that he or she has stopped carrying on business under that registered business name.
(2)  The Registrar may, if the Registrar thinks fit, allow a registered person to lodge with the Registrar a notice notifying the Registrar in advance that the registered person intends to stop carrying on business under a registered business name on the date specified in the notice.
(3)  Any registered person who fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
(4)  On receipt of the notice under subsection (1) or on the date specified in the notice under subsection (2) (as the case may be), the registration of the person and the person’s business name to which the notice relates ceases.
Cancellation of registration
23.—(1)  Where the Registrar has reasonable cause to believe that any registered person is not carrying on business in Singapore in respect of a registered business name, the Registrar may give that person a notice in writing stating —
(a)that the Registrar proposes to cancel the registration of the person and the person’s business name; and
(b)that any objection to the proposed cancellation must be in writing and delivered to the Registrar by a date specified in the notice, being a date at least 30 days after the date of the notice.
(2)  If the Registrar —
(a)receives an answer from the person referred to in subsection (1) to the effect that the person is not carrying on business under the registered business name; or
(b)does not, within 30 days after sending the notice referred to in subsection (1), receive a written objection to the proposed cancellation from the person referred to in that subsection,
the Registrar may cancel the registration of the person and the business name in question.
(3)  Where the registration of a person and the business name in question is cancelled under this section, any certificate or notice pertaining to that registration is also to be taken to be cancelled.
Restoration of registration
24.—(1)  A person whose registration and registered business name has been cancelled under section 12(2), 14 or 23, or whose registration and registered business name has ceased under section 22, may lodge an application with the Registrar to restore the registration.
[Act 3 of 2024 wef 26/02/2024]
(2)  An application to restore a registration under subsection (1) must be made —
(a)within 12 months after the date on which the registration was cancelled or had ceased; or
(b)within such longer time as the Registrar may in special circumstances allow.
(3)  Subject to any restriction against registration under section 9, upon payment of the outstanding renewal fees and any prescribed late renewal penalty, the Registrar may grant the application for restoration subject to such conditions as the Registrar may impose.
(4)  If the Registrar grants the application under subsection (3), the registration of the person and the person’s business name is to be treated as if it had not been cancelled or had not ceased, as the case may be.
(5)  Subsection (4) does not prevent the person from being prosecuted and punished for an offence under section 35(1)(a).
Rectification by General Division of High Court
25.—(1)  Where it appears to the General Division of the High Court, as a result of evidence adduced before it by an applicant, that any particular recorded in the register is erroneous or defective, the General Division of the High Court may, by order, direct the Registrar to rectify the register on such terms and conditions as seem to the General Division of the High Court just and expedient.
[40/2019]
(2)  The Registrar must upon receipt of the order of the General Division of the High Court under subsection (1) rectify the register accordingly.
[40/2019]
(3)  An order of the General Division of the High Court made under subsection (1) may require that a fresh document, showing the rectification, is to be filed by the applicant with the Registrar together with a copy of the order of the General Division of the High Court, and a copy of the application for that order.
[40/2019]
Rectification by Registrar on application
26.—(1)  Despite section 25, a registered person or the registered person’s authorised representative may lodge a notice with the Registrar of —
(a)any error contained in any document relating to the person’s particulars filed or lodged with the Registrar; or
(b)any error in the filing or lodgment of any document relating to the person with the Registrar.
(2)  The Registrar may, upon receipt of any notification referred to in subsection (1) and if satisfied that —
(a)the error referred to in subsection (1)(a) is typographical or clerical in nature; or
(b)the error referred to in subsection (1)(b) is, in the Registrar’s opinion, unintended and does not prejudice any person,
rectify the register accordingly.
(3)  In rectifying the register under subsection (2), the Registrar must not expunge any document from the register.
(4)  The decision made by the Registrar on whether to rectify the register under subsection (2) is final.
Rectification or updating on Registrar’s initiative
27.—(1)  The Registrar may rectify or update any particulars or document in the register, if the Registrar is satisfied that —
(a)there is a defect or an error in the particulars or document arising from any grammatical, typographical, or similar mistake; or
(b)there is evidence of a conflict between the particulars of a person and —
(i)other information in the register relating to that person; or
(ii)other information relating to that person obtained from such department or Ministry of the Government, or statutory body or other body corporate as may be prescribed.
(2)  Before the Registrar rectifies or updates the register under subsection (1), the Registrar must, except under prescribed circumstances, give written notice to the person whose document or particulars are to be rectified or updated of the Registrar’s intention to do so, and state in the notice —
(a)the reasons for and details of the proposed rectification or updating to be made to the register; and
(b)the date by which any written objection to the proposed rectification or updating must be delivered to the Registrar, being a date at least 30 days after the date of the notice.
(3)  The person notified under subsection (2) may deliver to the Registrar, not later than the date specified under subsection (2)(b), a written objection to the proposed rectification or updating of the register.
(4)  The Registrar must not rectify or update the register if the Registrar receives a written objection under subsection (3) to the proposed rectification or updating by the date specified under subsection (2)(b), unless the Registrar is satisfied that the objection is frivolous or vexatious or has been withdrawn.
(5)  The Registrar may rectify or update the register if the Registrar does not receive a written objection under subsection (3) by the date specified under subsection (2)(b).
(6)  The Registrar may include such notation as the Registrar thinks fit in the register for the purposes of providing information relating to any error or defect in any particulars or document in the register, and may remove the notation if the Registrar is satisfied that it no longer serves any useful purpose.
(7)  Despite anything in this section, the Registrar may, if the Registrar is satisfied that there is any error or defect in any particulars or document in the register, by notice in writing, request that the registered person to whom the particulars or document relates, or the registered person’s authorised representative, take such steps within such time as the Registrar may specify to ensure that the error or defect is rectified.
Request for copy of notice of registration, etc.
28.—(1)  A person may, upon payment of such fees as may be prescribed, require a copy of a notice of registration, or a copy of or an extract from any document filed or lodged with the Registrar, to be given or certified by the Registrar.
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
(2)  Any copy or extract given under subsection (1) that is certified to be a true copy or an extract by the Registrar is, in any proceedings, admissible in evidence as of equal validity with the original document.
(3)  The Registrar is not required to issue, under subsection (1), a copy of or an extract from a document forming part of the register where that document has been destroyed under section 38.
(4)  Subsection (1) does not apply to any document prescribed as an excluded document for the purposes of this subsection.
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
(5)  Where a document is submitted on or after the date of commencement of section 24 of the ACRA (Registry and Regulatory Enhancements) Act 2024 using a form on the electronic transaction system, the reference to a document in subsection (1) excludes the following entries in the form:
(a)a means of notification provided by a person for the purposes of section 28A(1)(b) of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004;
(b)an individual’s date of birth obtained under this Act or section 28(1A) of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004;
(c)any other prescribed information.
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
(6)  Where —
(a)a document is filed or lodged with the Registrar under this Act by submitting a form on the electronic transaction system on or after the date of commencement of section 24 of the ACRA (Registry and Regulatory Enhancements) Act 2024; and
(b)an individual’s residential address is entered in that form,
the Registrar must cause the individual’s residential address to be excluded from every copy or extract of that document given or certified by the Registrar under subsection (1).
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
Electronic transaction system
29.—(1)  The Registrar may —
(a)require or permit any person to carry out any transaction with the Registrar under this Act; and
(b)issue any approval, certificate, notice, determination or other document pursuant or connected to a transaction referred to in paragraph (a),
using the electronic transaction system established under Part 6A of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004.
(2)  If the Registrar is satisfied that a transaction should be treated as having been carried out at some earlier date and time than the date and time that is reflected in the electronic transaction system, the Registrar may cause the electronic transaction system and the register to reflect such earlier date and time.
(3)  The Registrar must keep a record whenever the electronic transaction system or the register is altered under subsection (2).
(4)  In this section, “transaction”, in relation to the Registrar, means —
(a)any filing, lodging, submission, production, delivery, provision or sending of any document with or to the Registrar;
(b)any making of any application, submission or request to the Registrar;
(c)any provision of any undertaking or declaration to the Registrar; and
(d)any extraction, retrieval or accessing of any document, record or information maintained by the Registrar.
Transitional provision for contact address
30.—(1)  Where an individual maintained an alternate address with the Registrar under this Act immediately before the commencement date, that address is taken to be the individual’s contact address for the purposes of this Act until notice of a change in the individual’s contact address is lodged under any ACRA administered Act on or after that date.
(2)  Where an individual did not maintain an alternate address with the Registrar under this Act immediately before the commencement date, the individual’s residential address is taken to be the individual’s contact address for the purposes of this Act until notice of a change in the individual’s contact address is lodged under any ACRA administered Act on or after that date.
(3)  An individual’s contact address mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) is deemed, for the purposes of section 20(1), to be a particular registered in respect of the person concerned.
(4)  In this section, “commencement date” means the date of commencement of section 25 of the ACRA (Registry and Regulatory Enhancements) Act 2024.
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
Disability of persons in default
31.—(1)  Subsection (2) applies where a person (the defaulter) who is required to be registered —
(a)carries on business under a business name without being registered under this Act in respect of that business name;
(b)carries on business under a business name —
(i)after the person’s registration in respect of the business name has been cancelled and has not been restored under section 24; or
(ii)after the person’s registration in respect of the business name has ceased and has not been restored under section 24; or
(c)fails to lodge any notice required under section 19(1) or 20(1) or (3).
(2)  Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the defaulter may not enforce by action or other legal proceeding (whether in the business name or otherwise) any right under or arising out of any contract in relation to the business carried on by the defaulter under the business name if the contract was made or entered into by or on behalf of the defaulter at a time when —
(a)the defaulter was not registered as carrying on business under the business name;
(b)the defaulter’s registration under the business name had been cancelled or had ceased, and has not been restored under section 24; or
(c)the defaulter was, in respect of the defaulter’s registration under the business name, in breach of section 19(1) or 20(1) or (3).
(3)  A defaulter under subsection (2)(b) is not prevented from enforcing any right referred to in subsection (2) if the defaulter’s registration under the business name is restored under section 24.
(4)  The defaulter may apply to the court for relief against the disability imposed by this section.
(5)  The court, on being satisfied —
(a)that the default was accidental or due to inadvertence or some other sufficient reason; or
(b)that on other grounds it is just and equitable to grant relief,
may grant such relief either generally, or as respects any particular contract, on such conditions (if any) as the court may impose.
(6)  This section does not affect the rights of any other party as against the defaulter in respect of a contract mentioned in subsection (2).
(7)  If any action or proceedings is commenced by any party against the defaulter to enforce the rights of the party in respect of a contract referred to in subsection (2), this section does not prevent the defaulter from enforcing in that action or proceedings (by way of counterclaim, set‑off or otherwise) such rights as the defaulter may have against that party in respect of that contract.
(8)  In this section, “court” means any court before which proceedings to enforce a contract referred to in subsection (2) are commenced or before which an issue relating to subsection (2) arises.
PART 3
MISCELLANEOUS
Inspection
32.—(1)  The Registrar may authorise in writing any employee of the Authority or public officer to be an inspector for the purposes of this Act.
(2)  For the purposes of ascertaining whether the provisions of this Act are being complied with, the Registrar or any inspector may at all reasonable times enter any premises at which the Registrar or inspector has reason to believe any person is carrying on business, and may make such examination and inquiry as may be necessary for those purposes.
(3)  The Registrar and every inspector when exercising any power under this Act are required to declare their office and produce their written authority to any person affected by the exercise of that power.
(4)  Any person who fails to comply with a request made by or resists or obstructs the Registrar or an inspector in the performance of his or her duties under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
(5)  It is not an offence for any person to refuse to comply with any request made by the Registrar or an inspector, or to resist or obstruct the Registrar or an inspector in the performance of any of his or her duties under this Act, if the Registrar or inspector (as the case may be) fails to comply with subsection (3).
Power of Registrar to obtain further information
33.—(1)  In order to obtain such information as the Registrar may consider necessary for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act, the Registrar may —
(a)require any person carrying on business (A), any employee of A, any person apparently employed at A’s place of business, or any person apparently managing A’s business, to answer any question in writing that the Registrar considers necessary; or
(b)summon any person referred to in paragraph (a) to appear before the Registrar or an inspector or any other public officer whom the Registrar may designate to answer any question orally.
(2)  The Registrar may further require a person referred to in subsection (1) to make such further declaration or supply such further particulars as the Registrar may require.
Restriction on undischarged bankrupt carrying on business
34.—(1)  Any undischarged bankrupt (whether adjudicated bankrupt by a Singapore court or a foreign court having jurisdiction in bankruptcy) —
(a)who is required to be registered and who carries on any business in Singapore; or
(b)who, directly or indirectly, takes part in or is concerned in the management of any business carried on by any person required to be registered,
without the permission of the General Division of the High Court or the written permission of the Official Assignee, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
[40/2019]
[Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022]
(2)  On an application by an undischarged bankrupt under subsection (1) to the General Division of the High Court or the Official Assignee (as the case may be), the General Division of the High Court or the Official Assignee may refuse the application or approve the application subject to such conditions as the General Division of the High Court or the Official Assignee (as the case may be) may impose.
[40/2019]
(3)  The permission of the General Division of the High Court for the purpose of this section is not to be given unless notice of intention to apply for permission has been served on the Official Assignee and the Official Assignee is heard on the application.
[40/2019]
[Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022]
Offences and penalties
35.—(1)  Subject to subsection (2), any person who —
(a)being a person required to be registered —
(i)carries on business in Singapore without being registered;
(ii)carries on business in Singapore under a business name that is different from the person’s registered business name; or
(iii)carries on business under a business name —
(A)after the person’s registration in respect of the business name has been cancelled; or
(B)after the person’s registration in respect of the business name has ceased;
(b)without lawful excuse, fails to comply with any summons or requisition of the Registrar under section 33; or
(c)makes any statement or provides any information to the Registrar under the provisions of this Act that is false in any material particular or by reason of the omission of any material particular, and that the person either knows or has reason to believe is false,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
(2)  It is not an offence for a person to carry on business under a business name if the person is not required to be registered in respect of the business name under section 4.
(3)  Any person who fails to comply with section 19(1) or 20(1) or (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Evidence of carrying on business under business name
36.  If, in any proceedings for an offence under this Act —
(a)proof is given that a business name has been displayed in any premises; and
(b)evidence is given from which the court may infer that the business name has reference to any business carried on at the premises,
the person carrying on the business is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, presumed to be carrying on the business under that business name.
Composition of offences
37.—(1)  The Registrar may compound any offence under this Act which is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding the lower of the following:
(a)one half of the amount of the maximum fine that is prescribed for the offence;
(b)$5,000.
(2)  On payment of the sum of money, no further proceedings are to be taken against that person in respect of the offence.
Destruction or transfer of old records
38.  If the Registrar is of the opinion that it is no longer necessary or desirable to retain any document filed or lodged with, submitted to or issued by the Registrar and which has been microfilmed or converted to electronic form, the Registrar may —
(a)destroy the document with the authorisation of the National Library Board under section 17 of the National Library Board Act 1995; or
(b)transfer the document to the National Archives of Singapore under section 16 of that Act.
Enforcement of duty to make returns
39.—(1)  If a person —
(a)having failed to comply with —
(i)any provision of this Act; or
(ii)any provision of any other written law which requires any return, account, notice or other document to be filed or lodged with, or submitted to, the Registrar,
fails to make good the non‑compliance within 14 days after service of the Registrar’s notice to comply with the provision;
(b)fails to comply with the Registrar’s request to amend or complete, and resubmit any document or to submit a fresh document within 14 days after service of the Registrar’s request; or
(c)fails to comply with the Registrar’s request under section 27(7) to take such steps within such time as the Registrar may specify to ensure that any error or defect in any particulars or document in the register is rectified,
a District Court or Magistrate’s Court may, on the Registrar’s application, make an order directing the relevant person to make good the failure within such time as is specified in the order.
(2)  Any such order may provide that all the costs of and incidental to the application are to be borne by a relevant person.
(3)  Nothing in this section limits the operation of any other provision of this Act or any written law imposing penalties on a relevant person in respect of any such default referred to in this section.
(4)  In this section, “relevant person” means —
(a)in the case of an individual proprietor, that individual;
(b)in the case of a firm, all or any of its partners;
(c)in the case of a corporation, the corporation, any of its officers as defined in section 40(5) or both; and
(d)in the case of a person who carries on a business wholly or mainly as nominee of or trustee for another person, the firstmentioned person.
Offences by bodies corporate, etc.
40.—(1)  Where an offence under this Act committed by a body corporate is proved —
(a)to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer; or
(b)to be attributable to any neglect on the officer’s part,
the officer as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(2)  Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with the member’s functions of management as if the member were an officer of the body corporate.
(3)  Where an offence under this Act committed by a firm is proved —
(a)to have been committed with the consent or connivance of a partner; or
(b)to be attributable to any neglect on the partner’s part,
the partner as well as the firm shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(4)  Where an offence under this Act committed by an unincorporated association (other than a firm) is proved —
(a)to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer of the unincorporated association or a member of its governing body; or
(b)to be attributable to any neglect on the part of such an officer or member,
the officer or member as well as the unincorporated association shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(5)  In this section —
“body corporate” includes a limited liability partnership;
“officer”  —
(a)in relation to a body corporate, means any director, partner, member of the committee of management, chief executive, manager or secretary of the body corporate and includes any person purporting to act in any such capacity; or
(b)in relation to an unincorporated association (other than a firm), means the president, the secretary, or any member of the committee of the unincorporated association, or any person holding a position analogous to that of president, secretary or member of a committee and includes any person purporting to act in any such capacity;
“partner” includes a person purporting to act as a partner.
(6)  Regulations may modify the application of any provision of this section to apply to any body corporate or unincorporated association formed or recognised under the law of a territory outside Singapore.
Authority and its employees not liable
41.  The Authority, the Registrar or any other officer or employee of the Authority is not liable for any error or inaccuracy in the register or for any error or inaccuracy (whether in the copying or otherwise) in any certificate, certified extract, copy or other document made or issued under this Act if the error or inaccuracy was not due to the lack of reasonable care and good faith on the part of the Registrar or any other officer or employee of the Authority.
Service of documents, etc.
42.—(1)  Subject to subsection (3), any document, other than a document to be served in proceedings in court or a summons issued by a court in connection with any offence under this Act, that is required or authorised to be served under this Act or any regulations made under this Act may be served —
(a)in the case of an individual —
(i)by delivering it to the individual personally;
(ii)by leaving it with an adult person apparently resident at, or by sending it by ordinary post or prepaid registered post to, the usual or last known address of the place of residence of the individual;
(iia)by leaving it with an adult person apparently resident or employed at, or by sending it by ordinary post or prepaid registered post to, the individual’s contact address;
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
(iii)by leaving it with an adult person apparently employed at, or by sending it by ordinary post or prepaid registered post to, the usual or last known address of the place of business of the individual;
(iv)by affixing a copy of the document in a conspicuous place at the contact address or usual or last known address of residence or business of the individual;
(v)by sending it by fax to the fax number given to the Registrar by the individual as the fax number for the service of documents on the individual; or
(vi)by sending it by email to the last email address given to the Registrar by the individual as the email address for the service of documents on the individual;
(b)in the case of a firm —
(i)by delivering it to any one of the partners or the secretary or other like officer of the firm;
(ii)by leaving it at, or by sending it by ordinary post or prepaid registered post to, the principal or last known place of business of the firm in Singapore;
(iii)by sending it by fax to the fax number given to the Registrar by the firm as the fax number for the service of documents on the firm; or
(iv)by sending it by email to the last email address given to the Registrar by the firm as the email address for the service of documents on the firm; and
(c)in the case of a corporation or an unincorporated association —
(i)by delivering it to the secretary or other like officer of the corporation or unincorporated association or, in the case of a corporation that is a limited liability partnership, the manager of the limited liability partnership;
(ii)by leaving it at, or by sending it by ordinary post or prepaid registered post to, the registered office or principal office of the corporation or unincorporated association in Singapore;
(iii)by sending it by fax to the fax number given to the Registrar as the fax number for the service of documents on the corporation or unincorporated association; or
(iv)by sending it by email to the last email address given to the Registrar by the corporation or unincorporated association as the email address for the service of documents on the corporation or unincorporated association.
(2)  Where any document to be served by, or on behalf of, the Registrar or the Minister is —
(a)served personally in accordance with subsection (1), the document is deemed to have been served on the date that it is delivered;
(b)sent by ordinary post in accordance with subsection (1), the document is deemed to have been served on the person to whom it is addressed on the day after it would in the ordinary course of post be delivered, unless it is returned undelivered;
(c)sent by prepaid registered post in accordance with subsection (1), the document is deemed to have been served on the person to whom it is addressed 2 days after the day it was posted, whether or not it is returned undelivered;
(d)sent by fax to the fax number in accordance with subsection (1), the document is deemed to have been served on the person to whom it is addressed on the day of the transmission, subject to the receipt on the sending fax machine of a notification (by electronic or other means) of a successful transmission to the fax machine for that fax number; or
(e)sent by email to an email address in accordance with subsection (1), the document is deemed to have been served on the person to whom it is addressed at the time the email becomes capable of being retrieved by the person.
(3)  A document may be served on a person under this Act by email only with that person’s prior written consent.
(4)  Every summons issued by a court in connection with any offence under this Act may be served on the person concerned —
(a)by delivering it to the person;
(b)by delivering it to any adult person residing at the person’s last known place of residence; or
(c)by sending it by prepaid registered post in a cover addressed to the person at the person’s last known place of residence or business or at any address provided by the person (including the person’s contact address).
[Act 21 of 2024 wef 09/12/2024]
(5)  In proving service by prepaid registered post of a summons referred to in subsection (4), it is sufficient to prove that the cover containing the summons was properly addressed, stamped and posted by prepaid registered post.
Regulations
43.—(1)  The Minister may make regulations for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act.
(2)  Without limiting subsection (1), regulations may be made under that subsection for or with respect to all or any of the following matters:
(a)the powers and duties of the Registrar;
(b)the forms for the purposes of this Act, including the form of the register to be kept and the places at which the register is to be kept;
(c)all matters connected with or arising from the restrictions as to the business name which may be used by a registered person (including rules for determining when a business name falls within those restrictions);
(d)requiring the display of any particulars relating to a person’s registration on the person’s correspondence, invoices, publications and other documents (in any medium) made or used for the purposes of the person’s business;
(e)the persons or classes of persons exempted from the requirement to register under this Act;
(f)the fees to be charged in respect of anything filed or lodged with the Registrar, or done under or by virtue of this Act, and the method of payment of such fees;
(g)the penalties to be charged for the late lodgment of any document under this Act;
(h)the waiver, refund or remission, whether wholly or in part, of any fee or penalty chargeable under this Act;
(i)the persons or classes of persons who are to be exempted from the payment of any fee or part thereof;
(j)the offences which may be compounded under section 37;
(k)all matters and things which are required or permitted to be prescribed under or for the purposes of this Act.
(3)  Regulations made under subsection (1) may provide that a contravention of any of the provisions of the regulations shall be an offence punishable with a fine not exceeding $5,000 or with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or with both.
Saving for other written law
44.  Unless expressly provided, nothing in this Act is to be construed so as to limit or in any way affect any other written law.
Saving and transitional provisions
45.—(1)  Any person who, immediately before 3 January 2016, was the Registrar, a Deputy Registrar or an Assistant Registrar of Businesses appointed under section 3(2) of the repealed Act is to be treated as the Registrar, a Deputy Registrar or an Assistant Registrar of Business Names, respectively, appointed under section 3(2) of this Act until his or her appointment is revoked, the term of his or her appointment expires, or he or she dies, retires or otherwise vacates his or her office before the expiry of his or her term of appointment.
(2)  Any person who, immediately before 3 January 2016, is registered or deemed to be registered under the repealed Act is to be treated as registered under section 8 of this Act in respect of the business name for which he or she is registered or deemed to be registered under section 8 of the repealed Act and the registration of that person and the person’s business name expires on the date that the registration would have expired if this Act had not been enacted.
(3)  The Registrar is to transfer to the register kept under this Act the names, addresses and other particulars of such persons which appear, immediately before 3 January 2016, in the register kept under the repealed Act.
(4)  Any person (A) who, under regulations made under the repealed Act before 3 January 2016, was registered as a local manager appointed by a person carrying on business (B) is to be treated as having been appointed the authorised representative of B on 3 January 2016 unless either A or B, within 30 days after 3 January 2016, lodges a notice with the Registrar that —
(a)A has not been appointed as the authorised representative of B; or
(b)A does not meet the criteria set out in section 11(2).
(5)  Where an individual proprietor, a firm or a foreign company is treated as registered under subsection (2) and the individual proprietor, all the partners of the firm or all the officers of the foreign company resides or reside outside Singapore within the meaning of section 11(14) on 3 January 2016, the individual proprietor, firm or foreign company (as the case may be) must, unless subsection (4) applies, appoint at least one authorised representative in accordance with the provisions of section 11 within 30 days after 3 January 2016, failing which —
(a)the Registrar may cancel the registration of the individual proprietor, the firm or the foreign company; and
(b)the individual proprietor, the partners of the firm or the foreign company (as the case may be) shall each be guilty of an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
(6)  Any person who was a prescribed person for the purposes of section 20(2) of the repealed Act before 3 January 2016 may, on and after that date but before such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, prescribe, continue to carry out any transaction with the Registrar using the electronic transaction system which was permitted or required to be done by the prescribed person in relation to the service referred to in section 20(1) of the repealed Act immediately before 3 January 2016.
(7)  The service referred to in section 20(1) of the repealed Act immediately before 3 January 2016 is, on and after that date, to be treated as the electronic transaction system referred to in section 29 of this Act.
(8)  Any application for registration under the provisions of the repealed Act before 3 January 2016 which was pending immediately before that date is, where applicable, to be treated as an application for registration under the corresponding provisions of this Act.
(9)  Any reservation of name under section 13(3) of the repealed Act which has not expired before 3 January 2016 is to be treated as a reservation of name under the corresponding provisions of this Act but the reservation expires on the date on which the reservation would have expired if the repealed Act were still in force.
(10)  Where an appeal has been made to the Minister under the repealed Act and the appeal has not been dealt with or disposed of immediately before 3 January 2016, the appeal may be dealt with in accordance with that repealed Act as if this Act had not been enacted.
(11)  This Act does not affect —
(a)any investigation commenced or pending under the repealed Act before 3 January 2016, and every such investigation may be continued and everything in relation to such investigation may be done in all respects after that day as if this Act had not been enacted;
(b)the continued operation or force of any order or decision of the Registrar of Businesses made under the repealed Act before 3 January 2016; and
(c)any right of appeal accrued before 3 January 2016 in respect of any order or decision referred to in paragraph (b).
(12)  Any subsidiary legislation made under the repealed Act and in force immediately before 3 January 2016 is, so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, to continue in force as if made under this Act until it is revoked or repealed.
(13)  Any written law or document referring to the repealed Act or any provision thereof is, as far as may be necessary for preserving its effect, to be construed as referring or as including a reference to this Act or the corresponding provision in this Act, as the case may be.
(14)  In this section, “repealed Act” means the Business Registration Act (Cap. 32, 2004 Revised Edition) repealed by this Act.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Business Names Registration Act 2014

 

This Legislative History is a service provided by the Law Revision Commission on a best-efforts basis. It is not part of the Act.
1.  
Act 29 of 2014—Business Names Registration Act 2014
Bill
:
26/2014
First Reading
:
8 September 2014
Second and Third Readings
:
8 October 2014
Commencement
:
3 January 2016
2.  
Act 15 of 2017—Companies (Amendment) Act 2017
(Amendments made by section 53(2) of the above Act)
Bill
:
13/2017
First Reading
:
28 February 2017
Second and Third Readings
:
10 March 2017
Commencement
:
11 October 2017 (section 53(2))
3.  
Act 40 of 2018—Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018
(Amendments made by section 456 of the above Act)
Bill
:
32/2018
First Reading
:
10 September 2018
Second and Third Readings
:
1 October 2018
Commencement
:
30 July 2020 (section 456)
4.  
Act 40 of 2019—Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Act 2019
(Amendments made by section 28(1) read with item 15 of the Schedule to the above Act)
Bill
:
32/2019
First Reading
:
7 October 2019
Second Reading
:
5 November 2019
Notice of Amendments
:
5 November 2019
Third Reading
:
5 November 2019
Commencement
:
2 January 2021 (section 28(1) read with item 15 of the Schedule)
5.  
2020 Revised Edition—Business Names Registration
Act 2014
Operation
:
31 December 2021
6.  
Act 25 of 2021—Courts (Civil and Criminal Justice) Reform Act 2021
(Amendments made by Part 7 of the above Act)
Bill
:
18/2021
First Reading
:
26 July 2021
Second and Third Readings
:
14 September 2021
Commencement
:
1 April 2022
7.  
Act 3 of 2024—Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2024
(Amendments made by the above Act)
Bill
:
36/2023
First Reading
:
6 November 2023
Second and Third Readings
:
9 January 2024
Commencement
:
26 February 2024
8.  
Act 30 of 2024—Platform Workers Act 2024
Bill
:
26/2024
First Reading
:
6 August 2024
Second and Third Readings
:
10 September 2024
Commencement
:
1 November 2024
9.  
Act 21 of 2024—ACRA (Registry and Regulatory Enhancements) Act 2024
Bill
:
17/2024
First Reading
:
7 May 2024
Second and Third Readings
:
2 July 2024
Commencement
:
9 December 2024
10.  
Act 22 of 2024—Corporate Service Providers Act 2024
Bill
:
18/2024
First Reading
:
7 May 2024
Second and Third Readings
:
2 July 2024
Commencement
:
9 June 2025

Abbreviations

 
(updated on 29 August 2022)
G.N.
Gazette Notification
G.N. Sp.
Gazette Notification (Special Supplement)
L.A.
Legislative Assembly
L.N.
Legal Notification (Federal/Malaysian)
M.
Malaya/Malaysia (including Federated Malay States, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya and Federation of Malaysia)
Parl.
Parliament
S
Subsidiary Legislation
S.I.
Statutory Instrument (United Kingdom)
S (N.S.)
Subsidiary Legislation (New Series)
S.S.G.G.
Straits Settlements Government Gazette
S.S.G.G. (E)
Straits Settlements Government Gazette (Extraordinary)

COMPARATIVE TABLE

Business Names Registration Act 2014

This Act has undergone renumbering in the 2020 Revised Edition. This Comparative Table is provided to help readers locate the corresponding provisions in the last Revised Edition.

2020 Ed.
Act 29 of 2014
[Omitted as having had effect]
45
45
46
[Omitted as spent]
    (13)
    (13)
    (14)
    (14)
    (15)
[Omitted as having had effect]
47
[Omitted as having had effect]
THE SCHEDULE

Archived for legal research. Authoritative version at sso.agc.gov.sg.