1. Form and register
UK Ltd incorporated in 24–48 hours, London registered office, Corporation Tax registration, year end aligned to your group. Company formation
Singapore
Setting up a UK company from Singapore
For a Singapore company the UK is usually the first step into Europe: English-speaking, common-law, familiar company law, and a market that expects to buy from a local entity. The set-up is fast; the differences are in tax rates, social security and time zones.
1,020Investment projects landed in the UK in 2025–26 from all countries, 453 of them from investors new to the UK — DBT inward investment results.
24–48 hrsTo incorporate once directors have verified identity. No UK-resident director is required.
0%UK withholding tax on dividends paid to a Singaporean parent. Singapore exempts foreign-sourced dividends received by a Singapore company where the headline foreign tax rate is at least 15%.
What changes for Singaporean businesses
Five things we handle differently for you
01
Tax: 25% versus 17%, and what it means for pricing
UK corporation tax is 25% (19% small profits, diluted by group size) against Singapore’s 17% headline and partial exemptions. A UK subsidiary remunerated on cost-plus keeps most of the group margin in Singapore legitimately, provided the intercompany agreement and mark-up are at arm’s length and the UK company genuinely performs routine functions. We draft it that way from the start.
02
Dividends: no UK withholding, exempt in Singapore
No UK withholding on dividends to the Pte Ltd. Singapore exempts foreign-sourced dividends where the foreign headline rate is at least 15% and tax was paid — the UK qualifies. Interest and royalties paid to Singapore carry UK withholding at treaty rates (10% and 8%) unless reduced further; claim in advance.
03
People: no social security agreement
There is no UK–Singapore social security agreement. Staff seconded from Singapore pay UK National Insurance from day one (employer 15%), and CPF contributions generally stop for employees working abroad. UK hires go on UK payroll with auto-enrolment. Visa sponsorship for Singaporean staff requires a sponsor licence, handled with an immigration adviser.
04
Time zones and a working day that overlaps
Singapore is seven or eight hours ahead of London. Our 7am–7pm UK hours give you an overlap from 3pm Singapore time; monthly close and payroll are scheduled so approvals fall in your afternoon.
05
Companies House versus ACRA
Familiar, with differences: no company secretary requirement, no resident-director requirement, identity verification for every director and PSC (we do it as an ACSP), public accounts for every company, and a confirmation statement instead of an annual return. Nominee directors are not used and not needed.
The route
What we do, in order
2. Bank and VAT
Revolut Business account set-up, VAT and EORI where needed, intercompany agreement in writing. Bank account · VAT
3. Run and report
Monthly Xero bookkeeping, payroll, quarterly VAT, annual accounts and CT600, every deadline tracked. Packages from £750 a month
The full sequence, with timings: how it works.
Common questions from Singapore
Your FAQs answered
Do we need a UK resident director?
No. Unlike Singapore’s resident-director rule, UK company law has no residence requirement. Some banks prefer a UK-resident signatory; it is a consideration, not a rule.
Should the UK company be owned by the Singapore company or by the founders?
By the Singapore company in almost every case: dividends flow up exempt, and a later sale is of one group. Individual ownership brings UK close-company rules and personal-tax questions.
Is UK VAT like GST?
Similar in mechanics, at 20%. A UK company run from Singapore is usually non-established and must register before its first UK sale rather than at the £90,000 threshold.
Which bank?
Revolut Business is our default route and opens in days for a Singapore-owned UK company. Subject to eligibility. High-street banks are slower with Asian ownership and we run one in parallel only where needed.
Fixed quote
Get a fixed quote for your Singaporean group’s UK company
Tell us where the parent company is and what the UK operation has to do. You’ll get a written fixed fee — set-up and the first year’s running costs — within one UK working day.
No obligationAnswered by an accountantFee agreed before work starts
Peter Allen — Director, City SolutionAnswers these personally. More than a decade running UK books for founders who aren’t in the UK.
General information about UK company law and tax for businesses based in Singapore; not advice for your circumstances. Home-country tax and regulatory points are outlined so you can brief your local advisers — they, not we, confirm them. Bank account opening is subject to eligibility; approval cannot be guaranteed. FDI figures: Department for Business and Trade, inward investment results 2025 to 2026.