The Singapore Parliament passed the ACRA (Registry and Regulatory Enhancements) Bill on 2 July 2024. As such, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) will introduce the Contact Address regime by the end of 2024.
This regime will replace residential addresses in ACRA’s public registers with a Contact Address to boost privacy. In this blog, we give you a quick and informative update on this change.
Who Will the Change Affect?
| Stakeholders and Entities | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| For Position Holders and Public Accountants | Presently, there is an option to provide an Alternate Address charged at S$40. This address will be displayed in ACRA’s public records instead of the residential address.
By end-2024, the Alternate Address regime will be replaced by the Contact Address regime. To facilitate this change, all existing Alternate Addresses filed with ACRA will automatically be converted to Contact Addresses by end-2024. Individuals who have previously not opted for an Alternate Address are strongly advised to consider providing one to ACRA before the new regime starts by the end of the year. The S$40 fee for filing an Alternate Address has been waived since 23 August 2024. |
| Shareholders | Shareholders may want to engage their company secretaries or corporate service providers to check the address currently registered with ACRA.
If it is a residential address, they can decide whether they want to provide another address to ACRA. |
| Corporate Service Providers (CSPs) | CSPs are advised to check their clients’ preferred addresses and update ACRA accordingly. |
Updating the Alternate Address for Position Holders or Public Accountants
Existing position holders or public accountants can use the various e-services in BizFile+ to provide an Alternate Address. New position holders and public accountants must provide this address during registration.
| Entity Type/Professional | Individual Who Can Provide Alternate Address |
|---|---|
| Local Company |
|
| Foreign Company |
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| Business |
|
| LLP |
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| LP |
|
| Public Accounting Firm |
|
| Public Accountant |
|
Updating the Alternate Address for Individuals Who Are Both Position Holders and Shareholders
Individuals who are both position holders and shareholders can only provide or update their Alternate Addresses as position holders through the respective e-services when filing changes to personal particulars.
Updating the Contact Address for Individuals Who Are Only Shareholders
Those who are only shareholders cannot file an Alternate Address. However, they are eligible for the Contact Address regime; hence, a shareholder’s address presently displayed in ACRA’s public records will be automatically converted to a Contact Address once the Contact Address regime takes effect by end-2024.
Shareholders who want to do this can engage their company secretaries or corporate service providers to file the update through ACRA’s Change in Particulars of Shareholders e-service.
Other Commonly Asked Questions About ACRA’s Contact Address Regime
Here are some popular questions asked about the upcoming regime:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Will ACRA issue refunds for fees paid for Alternate Address applications lodged before 23 August 2024? | No, the application fees paid are non-refundable for applications submitted before 23 August 2024. |
| Is it compulsory to provide a Contact Address? | Yes, providing a Contact Address is mandatory for all position holders, public accountants and shareholders. |
| When do I need to provide a Contact Address? | You are required to provide a Contact Address when the Contact Address regime commences at the end of 2024. |
| Since I cannot amend my shareholder’s address, how can I submit a different location to prevent my residential address from becoming the Contact Address? | If you are a position holder and a shareholder, you can register or update an Alternate Address via the e-services intended for position holders. If you are solely a shareholder, you must engage your company secretaries or CSP. If the address can be used as the Contact Address, no action is required. |
InCorp is Here to Help With Your Contact Address Replacement
At InCorp, our trusted professionals can seamlessly assist with the Contact Address replacement for your Alternate Address. We provide valuable advice to help you manage this change with ease. Get in touch with us today to find out more!
FAQs about ACRA Contact Address
Is there a difference between Alternate Address and Contact Address?
- Although they are similar, there are a few differences:
- A Contact Address must be provided
- There is no additional fee to provide a Contact Address
Is it compulsory to provide an Alternate Address?
- It is optional to provide an Alternate Address.
Will ACRA send official correspondences to the Contact Address or residential address?
- ACRA will keep sending these correspondences to the residential address.
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