Business Names Registration Act 2014

Section 20(1)

Failure to notify the Registrar of changes made in any particulars registered in respect of any person or of the business carried on by him within 14 days after the change.

Section 34(1)

Being an undischarged bankrupt who directly or indirectly takes part in or is concerned in the management of any business carried on by any person required to be registered under this Act, without the leave of the High Court or the written permission of the Official Assignee.

Section 35(1)(a)

Any individual proprietor carrying on business under only the individual proprietor's full name is not required to be registered when carrying on business in Singapore. 

Subject to the above, a person who is required to be registered may not:

• Carry on business without being registered;

• Carry on business in Singapore under a business name that is different from the person's registered business name; or

• Carry on business under a business name after the person's registration in respect of the business name has been cancelled or ceased. 

Section 35(1)(c)

A person who makes any statement or furnishes any information to the Registrar under the provisions of this Act which is false in any material particular or by reason of the omission of any material particular and which he either knows or has reason to believe is false

Within 3 months

$50

More than 3 months

$200

Section 14

22 December 2024

30 December 2024

Within 3 months after the filing due date

$50

I am currently registered under the Business Registration Act.

Do I need to take any action to become registered under the Business Names Registration Act (BNRA)? 

A person registered under the Business Registration Act will be treated as registered under the BNRA with effect from 3 January 2016. No action is required to continue registration under the Business Names Registration Act. 

Individuals (sole proprietors or partners) carrying on business under only their full names as per NRIC need not register under the BNRA.

Can the public still obtain such details from ACRA?

No, such information will no longer be available from ACRA.   

I am registered under the Business Registration Act with a business name that is not my full name as per NRIC. Individuals (sole proprietors or partners) carrying on business under only their full names as per NRIC need not register under the BNRA.

How can I enjoy this exemption? 

You should cease your business registration under section 22 of the BNRA. To enjoy this exemption under the BNRA, you must carry on business under only your full name as per NRIC.

Individuals (sole proprietors or partners) carrying on business under only their full names as per NRIC need not register under the BNRA.

I am already registered under the Business Registration Act with a business name that is my full name as per NRIC.

How can I enjoy the new exemption under the BNRA? 

You should cease your business registration under section 22 of the BNRA.

Does the BNRA apply to online businesses? 

Yes, the BNRA applies to online businesses. However, there are exemptions under section 4 of the BNRA which may be applicable. 

I have been carrying on a business listed under the First Schedule of the Business Registration Act since 2015.

Am I exempted under the BNRA? 

Yes, there is a specific exemption under section 4(1)(q) of the BNRA for “individual proprietor who carried on any business specified in the First Schedule to the Business Registration Act (Cap. 32) immediately before the date of commencement of this Act and who is alive and continues to carry on the same business on and after that date.”

Please note that the First Schedule to the Business Registration Act is not reproduced in the BNRA.