Outline
Businesses and local firms are granted a unique alphanumeric code upon company registration with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), similar to how individuals are given an identification number. This is called the Unique Entity Number (UEN). With the UEN, entities can easily interact with numerous government bodies using this one number.
What Is UEN and Who Needs It
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is a permanent alphanumeric identifier issued by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) upon successful company incorporation in Singapore. Every local company, limited liability partnership (LLP), society, representative office, healthcare institution, and other registered entity is assigned a UEN that replaces multiple legacy identifiers. This singular business registration number streamlines interactions across government agencies, such as IRAS for tax filings, the CPF Board for employee contributions, and ACRA for annual compliance, ensuring consistency and efficiency in all administrative processes.
Entities exempt from UEN registration include individuals operating sole proprietorships without staff, foreign-incorporated companies with no local transactions, and official branches of Singapore-incorporated companies. Despite these exemptions, any business engaging with government bodies—from opening a corporate bank account to applying for GST registration—must possess a valid UEN. Sole proprietorships and partnerships must renew their BizFile+ registration term to maintain their UEN, whereas companies enjoy perpetual succession, retaining the same UEN for as long as they remain active on the company register.
Understanding who needs a UEN and why it matters is crucial for entrepreneurs and expat businesses planning market entry. A UEN is not only your company’s official registration number but also serves as your tax ID and filing reference. Whether you’re comparing LLP vs Pte Ltd Singapore structures or evaluating corporate secretary Singapore services, securing your UEN early in the incorporation process lays the foundation for smooth regulatory compliance and uninterrupted business operations.
Those who are exempted from having a UEN in Singapore are:
- Individuals who own a sole proprietorship in Singapore
- Foreign incorporated companies with no relations to local authorities
- Branch of a Singapore Incorporated company
How Do I Find Out My Entity’s UEN?
If you are looking for another company’s UEN that has been registered with ACRA, you can use the directory search here to find it. When you search for a UEN, the website will provide the UEN, company name, UEN status, UEN issuance agency, entity type, and partial location.
How Do I Get a UEN in Singapore?
The steps of getting a UEN in Singapore are as follows:
Step 1: Choosing what type of business entity you would like to establish
Depending on your requirements, you can choose from a variety of business structures. Incorporating a company and creating a limited partnership or a limited liability partnership are two examples.
Partnerships are smaller-scale businesses in which the partners control the company directly. Therefore, they are subject to fewer and more sophisticated legal regulations, allowing them greater flexibility in corporate operations. Annual General Meetings, for example, are unnecessary, and partners just need to declare personal income and pay taxes on it.
Companies, on the other hand, are better equipped for future expansion and capital raising. As companies, they must adhere to more stringent regulatory compliance norms, such as audit requirements, filing of returns, and the holding of general meetings, among other things.
Step 2: Registering your business
The BizFile+ website is used for registration. Unless your company is in a regulated industry like design, real estate, or defence, it is a reasonably simple process that can usually be finished in one sitting.
The registration charge for sole proprietors, partnerships, and LLPs is $115 for a one-year registration and $175 for a three-year registration. If business continues, the registration must be renewed.
A one-time incorporation fee of $315 is charged for businesses, which covers the registration of a business name.
Step 3: Decide if you want to get a special UEN
ACRA reserves Special Unique Entity Numbers (SUNs) for businesses that want “nicer-looking,” more memorable identifiers. You pay additional fees on top of the standard registration cost when you choose a SUN.
Step 4: Check your UEN after registration
Upon registration, you will receive a business profile that includes information about your company as well as your UEN. You may also use BizFile+ or UEN.gov.sg to look for your UEN (or the UEN of any other organisation that has one).
ACRA UEN Format and Structure
ACRA assigns UENs in two main formats: nine-digit codes for most businesses and ten-digit codes for local companies and certain other entities. The nine-digit format (e.g., 12345678B) consists of eight sequential digits followed by a checksum alphabet. Ten-digit numbers begin with either the four-digit year of issuance (e.g., 202412345X for a company incorporated in 2024) or a single-letter prefix “T” or “S” indicating the century followed by a two-digit year (e.g., T03LL2222C for an LLP formed in 2003). Subsequent alphanumeric characters identify the specific entity type—“LL” for LLP, “LP” for limited partnerships, or other codes for societies and representative offices.
This standardized UEN structure simplifies registry searches and regulatory parsing. Government agencies, banks, and service providers can instantly determine your entity type and year of incorporation by reading the UEN. For example, when submitting corporate tax filing or Annual Return documents via BizFile+, the UEN format signals whether your entity requires audited financial statements or can rely on simplified declarations. Corporate secretary Singapore firms and CFO services use this clarity to ensure that all statutory deadlines—such as annual general meetings and ECI filing—are met accurately.
Understanding UEN format also aids in spotting anomalies or potential fraud. Entities presenting invalid or incorrectly formatted UENs—missing the checksum letter or showing an impossible issuance year—can be flagged immediately. Before engaging a company incorporation service or initiating employment pass services Singapore applications, verify the UEN format via the ACRA directory search. This quick UEN lookup helps maintain due diligence, especially when evaluating subcontractors, expat businesses, or joint venture partners in cross-border transactions.
Do I Have to Renew Your UEN in Singapore?
Once a company is formed, it has a perpetual succession. As a result, company UENs do not need to be renewed. They will be valid for as long as the company is active and listed on the company registration.
Sole proprietorships and partnerships, on the other hand, are registered on a term basis. To keep the business running and keep the UEN, you must renew the registration when the term expires.
| Form | Entity type | Notes |
| 8 numbers followed by an alphabet, e.g. 11111111B | Business registered with ACRA | – |
| 9 numbers followed by an alphabet, e.g. 201311111C | Local company registered with ACRA | The first four numbers = year of issuance |
9 alpha-numeric digits followed by an alphabet, such as:
|
All other entities, but the fourth and fifth digits indicate their specific entity type.
For instance, LP = Limited Partnership; LL = Limited Liability Partnerships. For a complete list of such other entities,refer to the UEN.gov.sg website. |
The first 3 digits represent the year of issuance, where “T” represents “20” and “S” represents “19”, similar to NRIC numbers. |
UEN for Foreign Companies and Expat Businesses
Foreign companies that choose to establish a presence in Singapore—whether as a branch office, subsidiary, or representative office—must register with ACRA and will receive a Unique Entity Number like local entities. This UEN is essential for engaging in key transactions, from opening corporate bank accounts to filing Goods and Services Tax (GST). Expat businesses can leverage their UEN to apply for Employment Pass (EP) and Letter of Consent (LOC) services, streamlining immigration procedures with immigration authorities. Without a UEN, foreign entities cannot access essential government portals or complete regulatory filings.
UEN for expat businesses also underpins compliance with local tax regulations. Once your turnover exceeds the SGD 1 million threshold, you can register for GST using your UEN as the primary identifier. Accounting & bookkeeping Singapore providers and GST filing Singapore specialists rely on this UEN to prepare accurate tax invoices and file monthly or quarterly returns via myTax Portal. For CFO services, the UEN serves as the core reference across accounting software integrations, enabling centralized financial management and real-time reporting.
Moreover, having a UEN accelerates your applicant’s EP application process. When sponsoring foreign employees, you include the company’s UEN on all EP application forms and documents, reducing processing times and minimizing errors. Expat employees receive their work visas faster, allowing your business to onboard critical talent without delay. Whether you’re evaluating EP versus LOC requirements or coordinating with corporate secretary Singapore teams, having a valid UEN is the cornerstone of successful workforce planning and compliance.
Special UENs (SUNs): How to Buy and UEN Costs
Special UENs (SUNs) offer memorable sequences—such as repeating digits or auspicious numbers—and can enhance branding for high-profile businesses. Two tiers are available: Tier 1 SUNs (e.g., 20188888A or T18LL7777F) feature consecutive digits or the number “8” and cost SGD 3 000, while Tier 2 SUNs (e.g., 201812121R or T18LL1222N) use repeating patterns or three identical ending digits at SGD 1 000. Both tiers are available only during initial BizFile+ registration; you cannot convert an existing UEN to a SUN unless you re-incorporate under a new entity type.
Investing in a SUN may yield marketing benefits by making your UEN easier to recall in advertisements, invoices, and public communications. However, weigh the SUN cost against your branding budget and the expected return. For ventures that rely heavily on high-volume client outreach—such as e-commerce platforms or fintech startups—promoting a memorable UEN can reinforce brand recall and foster trust. Conversely, service providers with lower customer turnover may find the standard UEN sufficient for corporate secretary Singapore compliance.
Whether you opt for a SUN or a standard UEN, the purchase process is integrated into BizFile+ at the point of company registration. Your chosen SUN will appear on all official documentation—business profile, invoices, and government filings—immediately upon issuance. If you require guidance on securing a SUN or need clarification on UEN costs included in your incorporation package, consult our company incorporation service team for transparent pricing and expert advice.
Displaying and Renewing Your UEN
All businesses must display their UEN on statutory documents: business letters, statements of account, invoices, purchase orders, and official notices. This legal requirement ensures traceability of documents and facilitates audits by IRAS or other regulatory bodies. Incorporating your UEN into email footers, website footers, and corporate stationery maintains consistency across communications and demonstrates compliance to partners and clients. Corporate secretary Singapore services often include a checklist to ensure your UEN appears correctly on all required materials.
Private Limited companies benefit from perpetual succession. This means their UEN remains valid indefinitely. Sole proprietorships and partnerships must renew their BizFile+ registration term to retain their UEN. To renew your UEN in Singapore, you must pay the prescribed renewal fee before the expiry date. The fee is SGD 115 for a one-year term or SGD 175 for a three-year term. If you fail to renew, ACRA will deactivate your UEN. A deactivated UEN can disrupt your accounting and bookkeeping services, GST filing obligations, and client invoicing.
To avoid lapses, set calendar reminders or leverage our annual compliance packages, which include UEN renewal monitoring, annual return filing, and ECI (Estimated Chargeable Income) submission. By proactively managing renew UEN Singapore requirements, you ensure uninterrupted corporate tax filing, maintain good standing with ACRA, and safeguard your ability to transact with government agencies without administrative delays.
Common UEN Queries
Many entrepreneurs ask: “Do all businesses need UEN?” The answer is yes—except for exempt entities such as sole proprietorships without employees, foreign-based companies that never engage with local government agencies, and designated branches of Singapore-registered companies. Understanding which entities require UEN prevents compliance oversights and ensures accurate corporate secretary Singapore reporting.
Another frequent question is “How long to get UEN?” Typically, your UEN is issued immediately upon ACRA approval, often within the same working day if all incorporation documents are in order. Fast turnaround enables you to commence banking arrangements, apply for GST registration, or sponsor Employment Pass applications without delay. If issues arise—such as name approval conflicts or missing director signatures—address them promptly to avoid incorporation process hold-ups.
You might ask, “Can I change my UEN?” or “Is UEN free?” ACRA issues UENs permanently. You cannot modify your UEN. If you convert your sole proprietorship to a Pte Ltd, ACRA will assign you a new UEN. We include standard UEN issuance in our Singapore incorporation fee. You incur extra charges only if you purchase a Special UEN (SUN). Knowing these details helps you budget appropriately and align your incorporation strategy with your business goals.
FAQs
For entities, the Tax Identification Number in Singapore was formerly known as the Tax Reference number until January 2009. It is now known as the Unique Entity Number (UEN). This number is assigned by ACRA or other entities to identify the organization and provide a reference for registration and legal purposes.
To find out the UEN of a business entity, visit www.bizfile.gov.sg and type in the business name in the second search bar on the top right-hand corner.
Is UEN the same as the company registration number? UEN is previously known as the company registration number in Singapore. It was in 2009 when the Ministry of Finance and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) launched the UEN.
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is the standard identification number of an entity. The UEN is for registered entities while the NRIC is for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. The UEN uniquely identifies the entity.
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