How to verify Singapore company registration details in 2026

Why is it necessary to verify a business or a company in 2026

When you're conducting business transactions in Singapore, verifying the registration of companies isn't just a formality; it's a safeguard for your business.

Ensuring that your partners are legitimate can help you reduce risks, protect your investments, and establish strong, trustworthy relationships.

Here's why this step is critical for you as a business owner:

Confirm legal existence

Verifying a company helps ensure it is legally registered and recognised by authorities such as the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. This confirms that the business officially exists and operates within the legal framework.

Reduce the risk of fraud

Business scams and impersonation cases have increased globally, including fake vendors posing as legitimate companies.

By checking the company's UEN and registration details through ACRA, businesses can confirm whether the entity is genuine.

Verify directors and ownership

ACRA records provide information on directors, shareholders, and company status¹. This helps businesses understand who is behind the company before entering a partnership.

Avoid working with inactive or struck-off companies

Some companies may appear legitimate but are no longer active. ACRA records clearly indicate whether a company is:

• Active
• Struck off
• Under liquidation
• Dissolved

Doing business with an inactive entity could lead to contract enforcement problems or payment disputes.

Meet compliance and due diligence requirements

Financial institutions and government programmes in Singapore often require businesses to conduct proper due diligence on partners and vendors.

For example, companies applying for grants from Enterprise Singapore may need to ensure their vendors are legitimate, registered businesses. Similarly, banks perform verification checks when businesses open corporate accounts.

Where can you check a company's registration details in Singapore in 2026

If you're looking to verify a company's details in Singapore, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) has got you covered.

ACRA provides comprehensive Business Information Services to help you easily access accurate and up-to-date information about any registered business.

What is ACRA

ACRA, short for Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, is a Singapore government agency responsible for regulating businesses, public accountants, and corporate service providers.

This agency maintains detailed records on all companies registered in Singapore, including:

• Registration status (e.g., whether the company is "live")
• Details of directors and shareholders
• Types of business activities conducted
• The company's registered address

What tools does ACRA offer to verify a business entity in Singapore

When dealing with a business entity, it's crucial to verify its legitimacy before proceeding further.

ACRA offers several tools to help you access key information and perform background checks. Here's how you can do it:

1. Free directory search

Use ACRA's free online directory search to gather essential details about a business entity²:

• Ensure the entity's status is marked as 'live' on ACRA's register, confirming it is currently active and operational
• Verify the validity of the business's registered address
• If the entity cannot be contacted or appears to have suddenly moved, proceed with caution

This service is also accessible via BizQuery on OneMap, which integrates ACRA's directory search with SLA's OneMap for added convenience⁸.

2. Purchase a Business Profile

For a deeper analysis, you can purchase a Business Profile on ACRA's iShop for SGD $5.50 in 2026⁵. This document provides comprehensive information, such as:

• Incorporation date: Learn when the company was incorporated and its history
• Financial data: Understand issued and paid-up capital to assess its financial health
• Officers and shareholders: Check details of directors, secretaries, and shareholders

This profile helps you evaluate the legitimacy of businesses, including those offering solutions to problems involving other entities.

Note: Newly incorporated companies in 2026 receive one free Business Profile. Free profiles are also available after filing annual returns or renewing business registration. 

3. People Profile

If you need to investigate individuals linked to a business, the People Profile provides insights into:

• The business entities they are involved in
• Their roles within these entities
• The status of the entities

This is particularly useful for assessing the credibility of people behind a company.

Cost of ACRA documents in 2026

Here are the current fees for ACRA services in 2026:

Step-by-step guide on how to verify a company on BizFile:

Step 1: Go to ACRA's free online directory search platform⁷

Step 2: Key in the name of the company that you would like to verify under the 'Business Entity' search bar

Step 3: A CAPTCHA form verification will be prompted just to ensure that you're not a spam-sending computer

Step 4: You will then be presented with the company's information. Below is an example of company information as presented in BizFile (sensitive information blurred for privacy).

The information shown will include:

• Company name, business address, industry, and Unique Entity Number (UEN). This number is mandatory for all official documents, government transactions, and essential banking processes like GIRO or PayNow corporate transfers. 
• The current business status
• The date of the last filing of the annual return
• The dates when the Financial Statements (FS) were filed
• The date when the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held

What should you specifically look out for

A company's registration in Singapore is just one of the many things you need to check. Here are some things you should take note of.

1. Company status

This indicator shows whether a company is fully operational or has ceased operations.

The "live" status shown indicates whether the company currently exists.

It is mandatory for all registered companies in Singapore to regularly update their company status. Failure to do so may be a sign to look out for.

2. Address details

A valid registered business address is particularly useful when verifying a company in Singapore. An incorrect or suspicious address will definitely raise a red flag.

Furthermore, be sure to check whether their address is valid or just a nominal mailbox. If it's a nominal mailbox, you can request the mailbox provider's contact information to verify that this business partner is legitimate

Tip: If the registered address doesn't match the one listed on the company's website or invoices, or if the same directors appear linked to multiple failed companies, treat this as a warning sign.

3. Business activities

If a company seems to be jumping into all sorts of unrelated or questionable business activities, that’s not a great sign. A little diversification is fine—it’s smart, even—but if the company feels like it’s trying to do everything or keeps switching industries with no clear purpose, it’s worth pausing to dig deeper. It could mean they’re unstable or, worse, up to something shady.

4. Annual returns

Under the Singapore Companies Act, all companies are required to submit an annual report to ACRA within 30 days of their annual general meeting³.

This report should also indicate the date of the last filing and for which financial year end, which is only applicable for limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships.

5. Financial statements

This basically tells you if the company has complied with all the requirements and submitted its financial statements to ACRA. However, certain business entities are exempt from providing this information, such as Public Accounting Firms, Businesses, Limited Liability Partnerships, and Limited Partnerships.

Tip: If the company you’re checking is an exempt private company (EPC) in Singapore, don’t be alarmed if financial data is unavailable. Instead, look for strong director/shareholder credentials and confirm that the entity is marked as “Live” to assess credibility.

6. Annual General Meeting (AGM)

When you check a company's profile, if you see “N.A.” under the AGM section, that's a warning bell. It means they haven't held any recent Annual General Meetings—or worse, they just didn't bother telling ACRA about it.

AGMs are where companies lay everything out for their shareholders—updates, plans, finances. If a company skips this or doesn’t follow through with ACRA, it might mean they’re hiding something, or they’re just plain disorganised. Either way, it’s a sign to tread carefully.

Once you’ve conducted a thorough background check on potential partners, ensure the rest of the necessary requirements are in place, such as your Singapore company registration documents and business account opening.

Looking for a Singapore company registration process instead?

Registering a company in Singapore is generally straightforward and can be completed within a few hours to a few days, depending on the approvals required.

The best part? It can be done entirely online. You'll need to register your company with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) in Singapore.

In a nutshell, here's what you'll need to do:

1. Get your company name approved
2. Prepare the required incorporation documents
3. Submit your application through the BizFile+ portal
4. Pay the company registration fee

Once your company is successfully registered, you will receive your Unique Entity Number (UEN) and can download your Business Profile from BizFile+.

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