List of common offences committed by businesses under the 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
Penalties for late lodgements/renewal
Penalties for Late Lodgements/Renewal
| Length of Default (Months) | Late Lodgement Fee |
| Within 3 months | $50 |
| More than 3 months | $200 |
Applicable for filing due date on or after 9 December 2024
Below are examples of when penalty will be imposed for late lodgements or renewals.
Example 1
The business owner of Bee Partnership has changed his principal place of business from 123 Yarra Road Singapore 561342 to 987 Aroozoo Lane Singapore 847652 on 10 December 2024. Section 14 of the Business Registration Act requires the business owner to notify the change of principal place of business within 14 days of the change. The business owner lodged the prescribed form online via Bizfile on 30 December 2024. The penalty imposed on the business owner is:
| Legal Requirement | Due Date to File Notification | Date of Notification | Period of Default | Penalty |
| Section 14 | 24 December 2024 | 30 December 2024 | Within 3 months after the filing due date | $50 |
Example 2
The business owner of Bee Partnership has changed his principal place of business from 123 Yarra Road Singapore 561342 to 987 Aroozoo Lane Singapore 847652 on 10 December 2024. Section 14 of the Business Registration Act requires the business owner to notify the change of principal place of business within 14 days of the change. The business owner lodged the prescribed form online via Bizfile on 30 March 2025. The penalty imposed on the business owner is:
| Legal Requirement | Due Date to File Notification | Date of Notification | Period of Default | Penalty |
| Section 14 | 24 December 2024 | 30 December 2024 | More than 3 months after the filing due date | $200 |
Notice: The above guide is intended to provide broad guidance. As it avoids legal language wherever possible, it might contain some generalisations about the applications of the law. Professional advice should be sought on how the relevant laws may apply to your specific case or circumstances.
