Corppass vs Singpass: Which One Does Your Company Need?

In short: Singpass is a person’s own digital identity for government services. Corppass is the authorisation system that controls which corporate transactions that person can carry out for a business, such as filing taxes with IRAS or annual returns with ACRA. You log in with Singpass, then act for the company under the roles its Corppass Admin has given you. Foreign directors without a Singapore NRIC or FIN can be given a Singpass Foreign user Account. Paul Hype Page sets this up as part of incorporation and corporate secretary work.

Singpass vs Corppass at a glance

Who sets up Corppass for a company?

1. The company’s Registered Officer (a director or secretary registered with ACRA, for a company) approves the Corppass Admin online, or the Admin is verified with documents if the RO can’t approve.
2. The Corppass Admin creates user accounts and assigns digital service roles, such as “Corporate Tax (Filing and Applications)” with Preparer or Approver access.
3. Each user logs in to the government service with their own Singpass.

Foreign directors and foreign entities

• A foreign director without an NRIC or FIN can be added as a Corppass user. They receive a Singpass Foreign user Account and activate it in the Singpass app with an emailed one-time password.
• A foreign entity without a UEN can register for Corppass as a Foreign Entity by submitting its home-country registration and the Admin’s identity documents.
• This lets overseas founders approve filings themselves instead of sharing logins, which they should never do.

Setting up Corppass access and fixing common problems (merged from /guides/understanding-corppass-for-singapore-entities/)

1. Registered Officer (RO): a director, partner or owner, as recorded with ACRA. The RO appoints and approves the company’s Corppass Admin.
2. Corppass Admin: logs in with their own Singpass, then assigns digital services (IRAS, ACRA Bizfile, MOM, CPF) to each user.
3. Users: for example an accountant for IRAS filings, or HR for work passes. Give each user only the services they need, and review access regularly.

Common myths:
– Corppass isn’t only for large companies, and isn’t only for tax.
– It isn’t only for directors: Admins can assign access to staff and service providers.
– Foreign-owned companies and branches registered in Singapore need it too.

Troubleshooting:
– Access denied: check the user has been assigned the right digital service.
– Entity details won’t match: check them against the ACRA Business Profile.
– A new company can’t set up Corppass: wait until ACRA has finished processing the incorporation.
– Sole proprietors’ customers, and individuals such as hawkers and taxi drivers, transact with Singpass and don’t need Corppass.

How Paul Hype Page helps

When we incorporate your company (S$800 plus the S$315 ACRA fee), we can help you set up Corppass and assign roles. As your corporate secretary (S$600 a year), we file ACRA returns under the roles you authorise, and our accounting team (S$1,200; excludes corporate tax filing) works the same way with IRAS. Founders can sign documents remotely.

FAQ

Do I need both Singpass and Corppass?

Yes, to act for a company. You log in with your Singpass, and Corppass controls which transactions you can carry out for the business.

Can a foreign director use Corppass without living in Singapore?

Yes. The company’s Corppass Admin adds the director as a user, and a director without an NRIC or FIN receives a Singpass Foreign user Account to log in with.

Who is the Registered Officer for Corppass?

For a company, it’s a director or company secretary registered with ACRA. They approve the company’s Corppass Admin.

Which Corppass role do I need to file corporate tax?

“Corporate Tax (Filing and Applications)”. A Preparer can draft the return, but only an Approver can submit it.

Who is the Registered Officer for Corppass?

A person recorded with ACRA as authorised to act for the entity, such as a director, partner or sole proprietor. The RO appoints and approves the Corppass Admin.

Questions about your company? WhatsApp us or contact us. Free EP eligibility check, and you can sign documents remotely.