Majority of our overseas SME (small and medium enterprise) clientele prefers to incorporate a Singapore Subsidiary rather than set up a Foreign Branch. A subsidiary has several advantages over a branch office, including:
- The liabilities of a Singapore subsidiary company are not extended to its parent company;
- A Singapore subsidiary company is not restricted to the business activities of its parent company;
- A subsidiary is considered a local entity and is therefore eligible for tax breaks and incentives that are available to local companies;
- A subsidiary is not obligated to file financial accounts of its parent company
Furthermore, a Singapore Subsidiary will be considered a tax resident in Singapore whereas a Foreign Branch, on the other hand, is not a tax resident. The management and control of a Foreign Branch are wholly under the purview of the parent company overseas.
To view the features of a Singapore Subsidiary as well as a Branch Office, refer to our Comparison Chart: Branch Office vs Subsidiary Company vs Representative Office.