Singapore is a high-income economy with a gross national income of $54,040 per capita (Atlas Method), as of 2013. The country provides the world’s most business-friendly regulatory environment for local entrepreneurs and is ranked among the world’s most competitive economies

Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy. It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed countries.

Taking into account other factors, including business licensing, taxes, credit legal rights and investor protection, Singapore has about the most business-friendly regulation in the world.” 

In addition to a unique and fascinating lifestyle and culture, Singapore has a tremendous amount to offer the international business community. 

Of all the choices you make deciding on incorporating an entity in Singapore, one of the most important is the type of business structure (i.e. legal entity) you choose for your business. Your decision can affect how much you pay in taxes, image and perception of your business among your clients and suppliers, the amount of paperwork your business is required to do, the personal liability you face, ability to borrow money, and the ability to expand your business

In general, government approval is not required for foreigners to do business in Singapore and 100 percent foreign ownership is permitted. 

This guide provides a detailed overview of company registration requirements, procedure, and timeline for registering a company in Singapore. As with most other jurisdictions, Singapore has a set of initial and ongoing regulatory compliance requirements for starting and operating a company. Therefore, both local as well as foreign entrepreneurs are advised to engage the services of a professional firm for this purpose.

Step by step guide to company registration in Singapore

The Personal Income Tax Rate in Singapore stands at 20 percent. In February 2015, the government announced, for those with a chargeable income above SGD320,000, the marginal tax rate for the additional income will go up by 2 percentage points to 22 percent. It will apply starting with income earned in 2016, and on taxes to be paid in 2017. Personal Income Tax Rate in Singapore averaged 20.25 percent from 2004 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 22 percent in 2004 and a record low of 20 percent in 2006. Personal Income Tax Rate in Singapore is reported by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

Personal income tax rates in Singapore are one of the lowest in the world. In order to determine the Singapore income tax liability of an individual, you need to first determine the tax residency and amount of chargeable income and then apply the progressive tax rate to it.

The current rate of the Goods and Service tax (GST/VAT) is 7%

The Corporate Tax Rate in Singapore stands at 17 percent. Corporate Tax Rate in Singapore averaged 20.84 percent from 1997 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 26 percent in 1998 and a record low of 17 percent in 2010. Corporate Tax Rate in Singapore is reported by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

This World Bank site provides a detailed summary of the taxes and mandatory contributions that a medium-size company must pay or withhold in a given year, as well as administrative burden in paying taxes.

The Sales Tax Rate in Singapore stands at 7 percent. Sales Tax Rate in Singapore averaged 6.60 percent from 2006 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 7 percent in 2008 and a record low of 5 percent in 2007. Sales Tax Rate in Singapore is reported by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

This site list the countries from which visitors to Singapore will require a visa

Tourist visa requirements

This site list the countries from which visitors to Singapore will require a visa

All foreigners who intend to work in Singapore must have a valid pass (commonly known as a work visa) before they start work. 

Singapore has great public transportation. The MRT trains can get you close to any destination that you may want to visit. 

More than 600 telecommunications licences have been awarded by Singapore’s telecom regulator, the Infocomm Development Authority; around 5% of these come under the facilities-based operator category. The boom in licensing over the last decade has been the result of a hugely liberalised market and government policy that has strongly supported a progressive regulatory regime. – See more at: http://www.budde.com.au/ Research/Singapore-Major-Telecom-Operators.html#sthash.7hcoq0AT.dpuf

Public and private transportation information

Singapore’s telecom services market is a consolidated market dominated by three integrated players. The top three operators, SingTel, StarHub and M1, offering fixed, broadband, pay-TV and mobile services account for 98.0% of total service revenue

A Q&A guide to employment and employee benefits law in Singapore.

The Employment Act is Singapore’s main labour law. It provides for the basic terms and working conditions for all types of employees, with some exceptions. 

The Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) lets employees make claims for work-related injuries or diseases, without having to take legal action

A brief commentary on Singapore’s lack of entitlements

Cost of living information includes price indices for rent, food, utilities, transportation restaurants, clothing and more

The cost of living in Singapore is on the rise. The Mercer Cost of Living Survey for 2014 ranked it the fourth most expensive city in the world, just after Hong Kong but well ahead of cities like London and New York. 

Located just north of the equator, Singapore has a tropical climate and stays hot and humid throughout the year. Temperatures average around 31º C (88º F) during the day with little seasonal variation

US Department of State – Go to Safety and Security for updates from the Singapore government

Singapore is an extremely safe and clean city. You can travel to any parts of Singapore alone anytime of the year, regardless of gender. However, do keep a lookout for foreigners in Singapore, the locals are safe. 

The Ministry of Education has been moving in recent years towards an education system that is more flexible and diverse. The aim is to provide students with greater choice to meet their different interests and ways of learning.

As a nation whose only resource is its people, education in Singapore is taken very seriously. It is assuring to know that the quality of schooling here is among the best in the world

The dos and don’ts of business etiquette in Singapore

Top tips for business etiquette

The main variable of Singapores climate is not temperature or air pressure, but rainfall. Singapores climate can be described as tropical climate, with an annual average temperature around 28°C, with daytime Temperatures of 35°C and more, and minima around 20°C. The area’s relative humidity is quite high, and range between 70 and 90 percent, the high humidity can make it quite uncomfortable.

2015 and 2016 public holidays

Demographic information includes population, quality of life, health, sports, technology, energy and the environment

This site is about the demographic features of the population of Singapore, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Schedule of national holidays and observances

The IMPORT of goods into Singapore is regulated under the Customs Act and the Regulation of Imports and Exports Act as well as their relevant subsidiary legislations. The EXPORT of goods from Singapore is regulated under the Customs Act and the Regulation of Imports and Exports Act as well as their relevant subsidiary legislations. Generally, all goods (controlled or non-controlled) exported from Singapore are not subjected to GST and/or duty payment.

Singapore has, since 1999, pursued a dual track of negotiating multilateral trade agreements as well as bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Singapore’s key interest lies in establishing FTAs that are WTO-consistent, with WTO-plus commitments with our key trading partners, thus complementing the multilateral process of advancing global free trade.

FTAs are superhighways that connect Singapore to major economies and new markets. With FTAs, Singapore-based exporters and investors stand to enjoy a myriad of benefits like tariff concessions, preferential access to certain sectors, faster entry into markets and Intellectual Property (IP) protection. 

Accommodation in Singapore is of a high standard, and is available in a number of shapes and sizes.

From glitzy luxury hotels to quirky budget accommodation, there’s a bed somewhere in the city made just for you.

The main island of Singapore is shaped like a flattened diamond, 42 km (26 miles) east to west and 23 km (14 miles) north to south. Near the northern peak is the causeway leading to West Malaysia—Kuala Lumpur is less than four hours away by car. It is at the southern foot where you will find most of the city-state’s action, with its gleaming office towers, working docks, and futuristic “supertrees,” which are solar-powered and serve as vertical gardens

Long dismissed as little more than a sterile stopover, Singapore has reinvented itself as one of the world’s hotlist destinations.