For any business operating in Singapore, securing and using a Unique Entity Number (UEN) is essential to legitimacy, compliance, and efficient operations. Introduced to simplify interactions with government agencies, the UEN serves as a permanent, standardised identifier for businesses and organisations across all official matters.
This guide explains why the UEN matters, who needs one, and how to make the most of it in daily business functions.
The UEN is a 9- or 10-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Singapore government to all registered entities. It acts as a permanent reference number for your business or organisation.
Issued mainly by ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority), and in some cases by other government agencies, the UEN ensures each entity is uniquely and consistently identified across all official transactions. Once issued, it remains unchanged for the life of the entity, even if you update your business name or structure.
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) system was introduced in Singapore in 2009, primarily to streamline and simplify the identification of business entities across multiple government agencies. Before the UEN, businesses had to use various identification numbers for different government interactions, such as:
This multiplicity of numbers was inconvenient for businesses and inefficient for government agencies.
The UEN was conceived as a single, unique, and permanent identifier that would unify all these separate identifiers into one standardised code. This allows businesses to interact seamlessly with government agencies for various activities, including tax filing, business registration, licensing, and regulatory compliance. It also facilitates easier access to government services and enhances transparency and credibility for businesses.
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is a crucial, standardised identifier that matters significantly for businesses operating in Singapore, as it facilitates and secures interactions with government agencies and financial institutions.
Here’s why the UEN is important:
The UEN is a universal identification number for all dealings with government bodies, such as filing taxes with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), applying for business licenses, registering for government grants, and fulfilling regulatory compliance. This eliminates the need to juggle multiple reference numbers for different agencies, making administrative processes more efficient and less error-prone.
Financial institutions in Singapore require the UEN to open corporate bank accounts, process transactions, and apply for business loans. It provides a verified business identity vital for secure and smooth banking operations. Moreover, entities with a UEN can register for PayNow Corporate, enabling instant digital payments linked directly to their bank accounts without sharing sensitive information.
The UEN is printed on official business documents such as invoices, contracts, and certificates of registration. This serves as proof of the entity’s legal status and compliance with Singapore regulations, enhancing trust and credibility with customers, suppliers, partners, and regulators. It also helps differentiate businesses with similar names within government systems, ensuring precise identification.
Using the UEN streamlines the filing of corporate tax returns, applications for import/export permits, and other regulatory submissions. It reduces administrative burdens and improves operational efficiency by providing a consistent identifier recognised across all government digital services.
By providing an authenticated and unique identity for each business entity, the UEN reduces the risk of fraud and misrepresentation in commercial and regulatory activities
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is a mandatory identification number for a wide range of entities operating in Singapore. It ensures that all registered entities can be uniquely identified in their dealings with government agencies and other official matters.
Here is a detailed explanation of who needs a UEN:
All business entities registered in Singapore are required to have a UEN. This includes:
Besides businesses, several other types of entities must also obtain a UEN:
Foreign companies or entities conducting business or dealing with Singapore government agencies are required to obtain a UEN. This ensures they can be identified and regulated similarly to local entities.
The format of the UEN varies depending on the type of entity and the year of registration. It can be 9 or 10 characters long, consisting of numbers and letters that encode information such as the entity type, year of issuance, and a checksum character
Typical formats include:
| Issued To | Format | Example | Explanation |
| Businesses registered with ACRA | nnnnnnnnX (9 digits) | 53480099U | 8 digits + 1 alphabet check character |
| Local companies registered with ACRA | yyyynnnnnX (10 digits) | 201712177T | 4-digit year + 5 digits + 1 check char |
| Other entities (e.g., limited partnerships) | TyyPQnnnnX (10 digits) | T09LP0001B | ‘T’ + 2-digit year + entity type + serial + check char |
Here, ‘n’ = number, ‘P’ = alphabet, ‘Q’ = alphanumeric, ‘X’ = check character, ‘yy’ or ‘yyyy’ = year of issuance, and letters indicate entity type or issuing agency.
Examples of entity type indicators and issuing agencies include:
To check and verify a Unique Entity Number (UEN) in Singapore, businesses and individuals can use official government platforms that provide free and reliable verification services. This process ensures that the UEN is valid, corresponds to the correct entity, and helps identify potential red flags when dealing with other businesses.
BizFile+ is the official online business filing and information portal managed by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). Through BizFile+, you can:
This service is free and accessible to the public, making it a trusted resource for due diligence and verification.
The government also provides a dedicated UEN verification tool at UEN.gov.sg. This platform allows users to:
This tool is straightforward and designed to enhance transparency and trust in business dealings.
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is deeply embedded in various aspects of business operations in Singapore, serving as a critical identifier that enables smooth, efficient, and compliant functioning across multiple domains. Here’s a detailed overview of where and how the UEN is used in business operations:
The UEN is a standardised identification number that government agencies use to recognise and regulate business entities. It simplifies interactions with bodies such as the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). This unified identifier enables agencies to monitor compliance, enforce regulations, and provide services efficiently, eliminating confusion caused by multiple ID numbers.
When applying for licences or permits in Singapore, your Unique Entity Number (UEN) acts as your business’s official ID. It is issued upon business registration and must be quoted in all official applications, such as import/export permits and government grants. This streamlines the approval process and ensures all documentation is correctly linked to the right entity.
This unique number ensures that all your paperwork is properly tracked and connected to your business, helping speed up approvals and reduce administrative errors. Learn more about what a UEN is and why it matters for business licensing.
Businesses use their UEN to file corporate tax returns, Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration, and other tax-related submissions with IRAS. The UEN ensures accurate identification for tax assessments, refunds, and compliance tracking. It also simplifies the submission of employee CPF contributions to the Central Provident Fund Board, linking payroll and statutory requirements to the correct entity.
The UEN is essential when opening corporate bank accounts, applying for loans, and processing financial transactions. Banks rely on the UEN to verify the legitimacy and registration status of businesses, helping to prevent fraud and ensure compliance with financial regulations.
Additionally, businesses can link their UEN to PayNow Corporate, Singapore’s digital payment platform, enabling instant, secure payments without sharing bank account details.
The UEN is printed on official business documents, including invoices, contracts, certificates of registration, and shareholder resolutions. Displaying the UEN establishes the entity’s legal status and compliance with Singapore’s regulatory framework, enhancing credibility and trust with customers, suppliers, investors, and regulators.
The UEN enables businesses to access and register for various government digital services, including platforms managed by GovTech. It also supports participation in Singapore’s InvoiceNow network, facilitating seamless e-invoicing and faster payments between businesses and government agencies, thereby improving financial transparency and operational efficiency.
Certain sectors have specialised uses for the UEN. For example, healthcare institutions use the UEN for licensing, medical records management, and insurance claims, while educational institutions use it for regulatory compliance and funding management. Technology companies leverage their UEN when applying for government innovation grants and startup support programs.
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is an essential identifier for Singapore businesses. SMEs can adopt several best practices to maximise benefits, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve operational efficiency.
The UEN is critical in how your business interacts with government agencies, banks, and clients. To ensure you’re using it correctly and consistently, take the following steps:
Staying consistent with these practices keeps your business compliant, organised, and easily identified in official systems.
