ACRA Rule Changes from 16 June 2025: What Every Singapore Business Needs to Know
Key Regulatory Updates and Deadlines
Singapore has introduced significant amendments under the Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2024 (CLLPMA), effective 16 June 2025. These changes are designed to enhance corporate governance, transparency, and AML/CFT standards.
1. Register of Controllers (RORC)
- Mandatory from day one: Newly incorporated companies and LLPs must maintain a Register of Controllers (also known as registrable controllers) from the date of incorporation or registration. Previously, there was a 30-day grace period.
- Annual verification required: Each controller must confirm, in writing with a signed, dated statement, that their details are accurate.
- Extended update timeline: Companies now have 7 calendar days (instead of 2 business days) to update controller information upon confirmation of changes—or 7 days following a 30-day non-response window.
2. Registers of Nominee Directors (ROND) & Nominee Shareholders (RONS)
- New filing requirement: Companies and foreign entities must keep private registers of nominee directors and nominee shareholders—then file them with ACRA’s central register.
- Deadline for existing entities: By 31 December 2025, submit details of current nominee arrangements.
- Immediate filing for new entities: All newly incorporated companies, including foreign companies and LLPs (from 16 June 2025), must submit nominee and controller information upon incorporation or registration.
- Public visibility: Nominee status appears in business profiles (publicly accessible), while complete nominator details remain restricted to law enforcement agencies.
- Filing process: Use the “Update Registers of Nominee Directors and Nominee Shareholders” eService on BizFile. Only authorised position holders or registered CSPs may lodge filings.
- Ongoing updates: Any changes to private registers must be filed with ACRA within 2 business days via the eService.
3. Increased Penalties
- Fines raised to S$25,000: For failure to comply with register maintenance and filing obligations across all registers (RORC, ROND, RONS). Previously, fines were up to S$5,000.
- Offences include: False or misleading information, failure to verify or file on time.
4. CSP Oversight
- Mandatory registration: All Corporate Service Providers (CSPs) must now be registered with ACRA and follow enhanced AML/CFT obligations.
- More scrutiny and penalties: Significant fines—and even imprisonment—may apply for breaches.
What Should Businesses Do?
- Review existing records: Identify controllers, nominee directors, and nominee shareholders.
- Set up or update your RORC, ROND, RONS immediately if incorporating post-16 June 2025.
- Submit required filings either upon incorporation or by 31 December 2025.
- Establish a documentation process for annual controller verifications and timely filings of changes.
- Ensure CSP compliance: Work only with registered CSPs, or register your firm and adopt new AML/CFT practices.
How WLP Can Assist
At WLP, we specialise in helping businesses navigate complex compliance requirements with ease:
- Register Setup & Templates: We help you establish and maintain RORC, ROND, and RONS with professionally designed templates.
- Annual Verification Coordination: We manage controller confirmations—sending notices, tracking responses, and maintaining documentation.
- Timely Filings with ACRA: Rely on us to file nominee and controller information accurately, whether at incorporation or during updates.
- Watchlist Monitoring: We’ll keep track of deadlines, changes, and future regulatory developments, so you’re always ahead.