These new legislation sets out the registration and renewal requirements for persons who wish to become Filing Agents (FAs) and Qualified Individuals (QIs). The new legislation will also impose terms and conditions on FAs and QIs, and set out the range of sanctions that ACRA may impose on errant FAs and QIs who breach these terms and conditions.

Some of these terms and conditions will impose the Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) recommendations on FAs, including the requirements to establish internal policies, procedures and controls to prevent money laundering, to perform customer due diligence on their customers including establishing their beneficial owners, and to perform on-going monitoring during the course of  business relationships. FAs are also required to keep proper records of business relationships and transactions.

QIs will also be required by the terms and conditions to file transactions for customers properly and to supervise employees when they file these transactions.   

Important legal provisions applicable to registered Filing Agents  

Here are some important provisions of the ACRA (Amendment) Act and the new Regulations which will apply to FAs: 

(a) A FA is defined as a person who or which, in the course of his or its business, carries out on behalf of any other person any transaction with the Registrar using the electronic transaction system or any other means permitted or directed by the Registrar if the electronic transaction system is unavailable.  

(b) In order to be registered as a FA, you will need to (i) be a business entity registered with ACRA i.e. incorporated company, registered business, registered limited liability partnership or registered limited partnership; and (ii) employ, engage or appoint at least one QI who is already registered with ACRA (if you are already a registered as a QI, you may name yourself as the QI).

(c) From the time of your registration as a FA, you will be required to comply with the legal obligations contained in: 

  1. Part VIA of the ACRA (Amendment) Act;  
  2. The new Regulations, including the terms and conditions of registration contained in the First Schedule of the Regulations. The first set of terms and conditions cover the establishing of internal policies, procedures and controls to ensure the proper use of the filing number, and having oversight over your QIs and employees. The second set of terms and conditions cover the FATF’s requirements for the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing; and 
  3. Breach of these terms and conditions may subject you to sanctions imposed by the Chief Executive of ACRA under Part VIA of the ACRA (Amendment) Act. These sanctions are: cancellation or suspension of your registration, restriction of your use of enhanced BizFile, financial penalties up to $25,000 per breach, and censure.

Important legal provisions applicable to registered Qualified Individuals 

Here are some important provisions of the ACRA (Amendment) Act and the new Regulations which will apply to QIs:     

(a) In order to be registered as a QI you will need to fulfil any of the following:     

  1. an advocate and solicitor; 
  2. a public accountant registered under the Accountants Act; 
  3. a member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants; 
  4. a member of the Association of International Accountants (Singapore Branch); 
  5. a member of the Institute of Company Accountants, Singapore; 
  6. a member of the Singapore Association of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators; or  
  7. a corporate secretarial agent  

(b) From the time of your registration as a QI, you will be required to comply with the legal obligations contained in: 

  1. Part VIA of the ACRA (Amendment) Act;   
  2. The new Regulations, including the terms and conditions of registration contained in the Second Schedule of the Regulations; and  
  3. Breach of these terms and conditions may subject you to sanctions imposed by the Chief Executive of ACRA under Part VIA of the ACRA (Amendment) Act. These sanctions are: cancellation or suspension of your registration, restriction of your use of enhanced Bizfile, financial penalties to $10,000 per breach, and censure.
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