There are many reasons to close the company. One of the options available is to strike off the company.
A company may apply to ACRA to strike its name off the Register under Section 344 of the Companies Act. ACRA may approve the application if it has reasonable cause to believe that the company is not carrying on business and the company is able to satisfy the criteria for striking off.
Before you proceed to apply to strike off the company, you are advised to find out whether your company meets the criteria and requirements for striking off.
Criteria for ACRA to consider approval of striking off
Criteria for ACRA to consider approval of striking off if your company has:
- Stopped business operations, or has not started business operations since incorporation.
- No outstanding tax liabilities with IRAS. You may refer to IRAS website for a checklist on things to do before applying for striking off.
- No outstanding employers’ CPF contributions owing to Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB).
- No debts owed to government agencies (for e.g. loan, arrears, rental etc).
- No outstanding charges in your company’s charge register.
- No involvement in any court proceedings (within or outside Singapore).
- Written consent of the majority of the shareholders.
- No current/ possible assets and liabilities.
- Prepared the accounts made up to the date of business cessation indicated in the application.
- Submit the last set of audited accounts (for Company Limited by Guarantee).
Other requirements:
- If the company has been dormant since incorporation, to submit a covering letter that the company had:
(a) No business transaction since incorporation(b) Not opened a bank accounts or the bank account has been closed(c) Not held an AGM or the first AGM to be held within l8 months from the date of incorporation is not due - If the company has submitted its last audited accounts, the accounts should have no assets and liabilities.
However, if the accounts show that the company has assets and liabilities, the applicant must submit documentary evidence to show that the assets have been disposed off and that the liabilities have been settled or waived.
Objection against striking off
Lodgement of objection
Any interested person can lodge an objection against a company via BizFile. If the interested person suspects that a company (i.e. debtor) intends to apply for striking off, he may lodge a “Notice of Intention to Lodge Objection to Future Striking Off Application”. This is a notification service which is valid for 1 year. During the 1 year period, if the company submits an application for striking off, we will notify the objector via email.
To object to a striking off application, any interested person can submit “Lodgement of an Objection against Striking Off”. ACRA will withhold the striking off and send letter to inform the company to clear the outstanding matter within 2 months from the date of the objection.
The fee payable is $10 for either transaction.
Clearance of objection
If the company is able to resolve the matter within the 2 months period, the objector is required to lodge “Clearance of an Objection to Striking Off” via BizFile before ACRA can proceed with the striking off application. There is no fee required for this transaction.
If the company is unable to resolve the matter within the 2 months period, the striking off application will lapse and revert to live. The company will have to submit a fresh striking off application if it still wishes to be struck off the register
Withdrawal of strike off application
A company can write in to ACRA to apply for withdrawal of its application for striking off at least 5 working days before the company is scheduled to be struck off the Register. The reason(s) for withdrawal should be clearly stated in the letter.
The fee for the withdrawal application is $30.
After a company has been strike off
A company can be restored within 15 years from the date of striking off. You need to obtain a Court Order to restore the struck off company. Upon receiving the Court Order, you are to file “Notification of Restoration of Company that has been Struck Off / Dissolved” via BizFile.