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News & Updates
filing agent
May 17, 2023
Registered Filing Agent Traits and Qualifications to Look Out For
A filing agent is an essential member of every company in Singapore because they ensure easy compliance with business requirements mandated by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). While it can be a handful of things managing a business, a registered filing agent makes everything easier by taking care of some transactions on behalf of the company. That is why business owners should be hands-on in finding a filing agent to trust their business’s transactions, especially compliance with ACRA.
How to Choose the Registered Filing Agent That’s Right for You
When choosing a filing agent to work with in Singapore, certain qualities should be considered. Apart from the track record, other factors must be closely examined. Even if a filing agent excels based on paper, it does not guarantee anything but their work ethic and how good they are at doing the technicalities of the job. A true test of character reveals grace under pressure.
Find out below the characteristics a filing agent in Singapore should embody. Continue reading the list!
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Reputation Tells Many Things About a Registered Filing Agent
Simply put, a positive reputation attracts more customers, drives better employment, and leads to great profitability. Many companies overlook the process, even if it is easy to understand the relationship between a positive reputation and a successful business. In terms of a registered filing agent’s job, it is essential to recognize the how rather than the what. It means that assessing a registered agent must rely on the work they put into their craft that yields excellent outcomes, instead of the results only.
The thing about reputation is that it is established over time. When business owners look for filing agents in Singapore, they should take note of previous clientele experiences that are essentially the building blocks of reputation developed through the years. Get to know your agent by engaging with them and doing a background check. Talking to their clients is also an effective way to learn about who they are and what they can do to help your business.
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Experience Is Non-Negotiable When Looking for a Filing Agent
As mentioned, client experience is a testament to a registered filing agent’s range. It tells many things about what they can and cannot do. Amidst many options for filing agents for hire in Singapore, selecting the right one for your organisation must come from a place of need. Understand your business’s needs and requirements before investing some of your resources in business solutions.
In the case of startups, they must work with a seasoned filing agent. New businesses must start from scratch, making compliance with statutory requirements challenging. With an experienced filing agent at the helm, beating ACRA deadlines for filing becomes easier.
On the other hand, established businesses that found their way around the filing process may not need a filing agent’s service as much as smaller businesses. It is still necessary to have someone onboard that knows the ins and outs of Singapore’s business laws.
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Today’s Filing Agents Must Be Tech-Savvies
Today’s absolute measurement of competence in the business industry does not solely revolve around knowledge, skills, and experience. As the world progress, new technologies are also becoming more sophisticated. Companies should keep up and integrate innovations into their processes. Filing agents, too, have to be tech-savvies, so they won’t be left behind.
Apart from manually filing business documents with ACRA, a few automated platforms are used to submit papers online. Technologies make every business process faster and easier, saving you time and effort. Using the benefits of technology as an advantage can lead to more groundbreaking results. A Singapore business should look closely at technology proficiency when hiring a filing agent.
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The Ability to Reduce Costs Is the True Clincher
Service rates either make or break the deal. When it comes to the costs a filing agent incurs in the execution of services, do not second guess your way around it. Before closing the deal, ensure an open discussion with your provider. Transparency is non-negotiable because you must be part of every action your filing agent makes on behalf of your business.
As soon as you tick off all this from the list, everything about your business’s compliance will be more straightforward. With that, you can focus on growing your business more than ever. Entrusting your statutory filing with an agent is one of the most crucial steps when aiming for breakthroughs. Do not hesitate to take your time finding a suitable registered filing agent for you.
Talk to ContactOne Today for Reliable Corporate Solutions in Singapore
Are you looking for reliable corporate solutions in Singapore? ContactOne provides services that will help your business become its best version. Find out more about us and what we do on our website. You may also call us on +65 6333 0633 or +65 8666 3633. Talk to us now to get business consultation from experts.
November 17, 2022
All You Need to Know About Registered Filing Agents in Singapore
A business owner in Singapore must comply with certain legal obligations set out by the government to obtain orderliness from starting to growing a company. It includes submitting necessary documents to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and more. Otherwise, penalties may be charged against the evading business.
The last thing you want for your business is to be penalised for non-compliance, which is preventable at the beginning. Avoid missing statutory filing dates, and ensure compliance with all regulatory obligations by engaging in a registered filing agent in Singapore. They are experts that conduct transactions on behalf of your business in Singapore
Managing a business is a handful of things. Before you even know it, you could be behind deadlines for legal filings. Don’t compromise; tap an expert like a registered filing agent. They will make your life easier and allow you to focus on growing your business. Continue reading below for more!
What Is a Filing Agent?
In Singapore, a registered filing agent is an individual or service provider that takes care of any transaction with ACRA on behalf of the customer engaging in the registered filing agent’s services. It includes the following:
- File or lodge any document, or submit, produce, deliver, provide, or send any document required by ACRA
- Make any application, submission, or request to ACRA
- Provide any legal undertaking or declaration to ACRA
- Extract, retrieve, or access any document, record, or information maintained by ACRA
Qualifications of a Filing Agent
Before engaging with a filing agent, it is crucial to assess their legitimacy. The agent must be a registered individual, or if the filing agent is a business entity, at least one registered individual must act as a qualified individual. Besides that, here are the criteria a filing agent should satisfy:
Filing Agent Is Any of the Following
- An advocate or solicitor (i.e., lawyer) of the Supreme Court of Singapore
- A registered public accountant under the Accountants Act
- A member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants
- A member of Singapore’s Association of Internal Accountants
- A member of Singapore’s Institute of Company Accountants
- A member of Singapore’s Chartered Secretaries Institute
- A corporate secretarial agent
A Filing Agent Is Fit and Proper According to the Following Considerations
- Has satisfactory previous conduct and compliance history as a registered qualified individual or registered filing individual
- Has a reputable record of whether the agent has committed or was involved in someone else’s professional misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty, or severe negligence
- Has the capacity and capability to fulfil the obligations of a registered filing agent under the terms and conditions of registration
- Should not have a registration contrary to the public interest or that individual’s expected standards to hold will be compromised
When to Hire a Registered Filing Agent in Singapore?
Although an appointed company officer, such as a director or secretary, may carry on various statutory obligations, a registered filing agent’s services may also assist the company with the obligation.
One of the primary duties of the filing agent is to file the documents on ACRA’s online portal, BizFile+, on behalf of the company in light of the legal requirements. With a registered filing agent, you can ensure that your business complies with the obligations on time. A filing agent can also help avoid incurring late lodgement fees or penalties.
Because of the many obligations businesses in Singapore have to abide by, being on top of them can be challenging. For example, companies are mandated to hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and subsequently file an Annual Return (an electronic form lodged with ACRA containing crucial specifications of the company). It includes the names of the directors and secretaries and the date when the company’s financial statements are created.
All this information takes time to handle. But with a filing agent at the forefront, you are a step ahead of statutory compliance filings and deadlines.
Qualified Registered Filing Agents
If you are looking for a registered filing agent to work with, examining their qualifications thoroughly is a must. The first thing that you should keep an eye out for is an agent’s registration with ACRA. It may be an individual or partnership registered under the Business Names Registration Act.
A business entity incorporated under the Companies Act, a limited liability partnership under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, and a limited partnership under the Limited Partnership Act is also qualified.
Besides the criteria mentioned above, a registered filing agent must have accomplished a mandatory training program comprised of an Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Financing for Terrorism (AML/CFT) course and an AML/CFT Proficiency Test.
In case the filing agent is a business entity rather than an individual, the individual directly or indirectly involved in the management should have completed the same mandatory training program.
However, it should take at least two years if the registered filing agent has previously cancelled registration due to a breach of a prescribed requirement. After that, an individual can reapply as a qualified registered filing agent.
Reach Out to ContactOne to Learn More About Registered Filing Agents
Learn more about registered filing agents with ContactOne. You may call us on +65 6333 0633 or +65 8666 3633. Our website is also full of corporate solutions and tips to discover. Visit now!