{"id":691,"date":"2025-11-20T06:55:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T06:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sg.blog.razorpay.in\/sg\/blog\/?p=691"},"modified":"2026-01-20T06:02:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T06:02:24","slug":"unique-entity-number-uen-in-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/unique-entity-number-uen-in-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Unique Entity Number (UEN): A Guide for Singapore Businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you <\/span><b>start a business in Singapore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you will be issued a Unique Entity Number, or <\/span><b>UEN<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This number is the single most important identifier for your company, acting as its official registration and identity number for all legal and administrative purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think of it as the &#8220;NRIC for your business.&#8221; From opening a bank account and signing an office lease to paying taxes and setting up payment systems, your UEN is the key that unlocks your ability to operate legally in Singapore.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This guide will provide a clear, business-focused breakdown of what a UEN is, its format, why it&#8217;s essential, and how to get and search for one.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"border-left: 4px solid #007BFF; background: #f0f8ff; padding: 25px; margin: 30px 0; border-radius: 8px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top: 0; color: #007bff; font-size: 22px;\">Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n<ul style=\"margin: 15px 0; padding-left: 20px; color: #333; line-height: 1.6;\">\n<li><strong>What It Is:<\/strong> The UEN (Unique Entity Number) is the standard, 9- or 10-digit identification number for any entity registered in Singapore.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Issuing Body:<\/strong> It is issued by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) or other government agencies upon successful business registration.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why It&#8217;s Essential:<\/strong> Your UEN is mandatory for all interactions with government agencies, including IRAS (for taxes) and the CPF Board. It is also required for opening corporate bank accounts and applying for licenses.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How to Get It:<\/strong> You don&#8217;t apply for a UEN separately. It is automatically issued when you incorporate a company or register a business with ACRA.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How to Search:<\/strong> You can instantly search for any business&#8217;s UEN for free using the ACRA BizFile+ portal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2><b>What is a Unique Entity Number (UEN)?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A UEN is a unique alphanumeric identifier issued to any &#8220;entity&#8221; operating in Singapore. This includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Local Companies (e.g., Pte. Ltd.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Businesses (e.g., Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Societies, Charities, and other legal entities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This &#8220;One UEN&#8221; initiative was launched by the government to simplify interactions between businesses and government agencies. Instead of juggling different ID numbers for IRAS, CPF, and ACRA, your UEN is now the single primary identifier used across all platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why is the UEN Essential for Your Business Operations?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your UEN is not just a registration number; it is a functional tool required for almost every business activity:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Interacting with Government Agencies:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You will use your UEN for filing corporate taxes with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and making employee contributions to the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Opening a Corporate Bank Account:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A bank will require your company&#8217;s ACRA BizFile and UEN to open a corporate bank account.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Applying for Licenses and Permits:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> All government forms and applications for business licenses (e.g., food licenses, import\/export permits) will require your UEN.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Legal and Commercial Documents:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your UEN must be displayed on all official business documents, including invoices, contracts, and letterheads.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>PayNow Corporate Registration:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> To accept PayNow payments, you must link your corporate bank account to your UEN, allowing customers to pay you instantly using this identifier.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>UEN Format &amp; Examples<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The format of your UEN depends on the type of entity you register. There are two main formats:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. The 9-Digit ACRA-Registered UEN<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the most common format, issued to all companies, businesses, and LLPs registered with ACRA on or after 1 January 2009.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Format:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> YYYYMMDD# (9 digits, where the last character is an alphabetical check digit)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Example:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 202401001A<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Breakdown:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This is now the standard format for all new local companies, businesses, and LLPs, typically composed of the year of registration followed by a unique serial number and check digit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>2. The 10-Digit UEN for All Other Entities<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This format is used by various other entities, including societies, charities, and older businesses registered before 2009.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Format:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> T##PQ####C (10 characters)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Example:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> T08SS0001B (A society registered in 2008)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Breakdown:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">T##: Year of issuance (e.g., T08 = 2008).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PQ: Entity type (e.g., SS = Society).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">####: Serial number.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">C: Check digit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How to Get Your UEN (Registration)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the simplest part: <\/span><b>you do not apply for a UEN separately.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your UEN is issued to you <\/span><b>automatically and instantly<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> upon the successful registration of your business with ACRA.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>For Companies (Pte. Ltd.):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You will receive your UEN as part of your &#8220;Notice of Incorporation&#8221; email after successfully incorporating on the <\/span><b>BizFile+ portal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>For Sole Proprietorships\/Partnerships:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You will receive your UEN immediately upon registering your business name on the BizFile+ portal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UEN is permanent and will remain the same for the entire lifespan of your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to Search for a UEN in Singapore<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you need to verify a supplier, client, or your own UEN, you can do so for free in seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 1: Go to the official ACRA BizFile+ portal (www.bizfile.gov.sg).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 2: On the homepage, use the &#8220;Search&#8221; bar.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 3: Type in the full or partial name of the business you want to find.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 4: The portal will display a list of matching businesses, showing their full name, UEN, and entity status (e.g., &#8220;Live,&#8221; &#8220;Struck Off&#8221;) in the search results.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"background: #f9fbff; border-left: 4px solid #007BFF; padding: 22px 25px; margin: 30px 0; border-radius: 8px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #333; line-height: 1.6;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin: 0 0 12px 0; color: #007bff; font-size: 20px; display: flex; align-items: center;\">Did You Know?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin: 0; font-size: 16px;\">Your company&#8217;s <strong>UEN<\/strong> also functions as its official <strong>Tax Identification Number (TIN)<\/strong>.<br \/>\nThe <strong>Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)<\/strong> uses the UEN for all corporate tax matters,<br \/>\nmaking it the single identifier businesses need for tax filing and compliance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><b>The UEN&#8217;s Role in Modern Digital Payments<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your UEN is a critical component of Singapore&#8217;s digital payment infrastructure, especially for <\/span><b>PayNow<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>PayNow Corporate:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Businesses register for PayNow Corporate by linking their UEN to their corporate bank account.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How it&#8217;s used:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Customers can pay your business instantly by simply entering your UEN into their banking app. This is a common and highly efficient method for B2B payments and invoicing. A modern payment platform can automate this process, generating PayNow UEN payment requests and automatically reconciling them when paid.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #f0f8ff; padding: 30px; margin: 35px 0; border-radius: 8px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #D6E9FF;\">\n<h2 style=\"margin-top: 0; color: #007bff; font-size: 24px;\">Ready to Streamline Your Business Payments?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0; color: #333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6;\">Accept payments seamlessly, manage your finances efficiently, and provide a secure checkout experience.<br \/>\nDiscover how a modern payment platform can support your growth in Singapore.<\/p>\n<p><!-- CTA Button --><br \/>\n<a style=\"display: inline-block; margin-top: 20px; background: #007BFF; color: #fff; padding: 14px 28px; border-radius: 6px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; box-shadow: 0 3px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);\" href=\"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/\">Explore Payment Platform Solutions from Razorpay Singapore<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is the foundational identifier for all legal, financial, and administrative activities for your business in Singapore. It is issued automatically upon registration with ACRA and is essential for everything from paying taxes to getting paid. Understanding and using your UEN correctly is the first step in operating a compliant and successful Singaporean company.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Singapore Businesses<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Is my UEN the same as my Tax ID number?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes. For companies, LLPs, and businesses registered with ACRA, the <\/span><b>IRAS uses your UEN<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as your Tax Identification Number for all corporate income tax and GST purposes. This simplifies the process, as you only need to use one number.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Do freelancers or sole proprietors get a UEN?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A freelancer operating under their own personal name (NRIC) does not have a UEN. However, if that freelancer registers a business name with ACRA (as a sole proprietorship), they <\/span><b>will<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> be issued a <\/span><b>UEN<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for that business.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Can I change my UEN?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. A UEN is a permanent number assigned to a specific entity. It does not change, even if you change your business name or address. If you close your business (e.g., cease registration) and open a new one, you will be issued a new UEN for the new entity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Where must I display my UEN?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the Companies Act, registered businesses must display their company name and UEN on all official business correspondence. This includes letterheads, invoices, receipts, official notices, and any form of business communication.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Is my UEN the same as my Tax ID number?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Yes. For companies, LLPs, and businesses registered with ACRA, the IRAS uses your UEN as your Tax Identification Number for all corporate income tax and GST purposes. This simplifies compliance because you only need to use one number.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Do freelancers or sole proprietors get a UEN?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"A freelancer operating under their own personal name (NRIC) does not have a UEN. However, if the freelancer registers a business name with ACRA as a sole proprietorship, they will be issued a UEN for that business.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Can I change my UEN?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"No. A UEN is a permanent number assigned to a specific entity. It does not change even if you update your business name, address, or owners. If you close your business and register a new one, a new UEN will be issued.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Where must I display my UEN?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"According to the Companies Act, registered businesses must display their company name and UEN on all official business correspondence. 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Think of it as the &#8220;NRIC for your business.&#8221; From opening a bank [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":875,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-payments"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=691"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":693,"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691\/revisions\/693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}