UEN in Singapore: What it is, purpose, importance, issuance & verification in 2026

History of UEN in Singapore

Before 2009, you may have been using different identification numbers as a Singaporean entity to interact with government agencies for:

• Tax filings
• Import/export procedures
• Information updating with various agencies

In 2009, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)¹ launched the UEN initiative. This system makes business identification easy for various government agencies, whilst making the process smoother for you as a business.

What is a Unique Entity Number (UEN)

The UEN is a unique alphanumeric identifier that allows businesses and other entities to interact with the government smoothly and hassle-free. For all practical purposes, this is your business's ID for interacting with the government.

The need for UEN for businesses in Singapore in 2026

1. For identification

The number one use of a UEN in Singapore is for identification purposes.

Government agencies will identify your entity using your UEN in Singapore. This makes it easier for government systems to pinpoint the exact entities they interact with.

If your business has a name similar to another registered business in Singapore, the government will differentiate between the two using your UEN.

As a business owner, you may have to deal with multiple government agencies for various purposes. You can use your UEN to identify your business rather than having separate identification numbers. 

You know how you can use your Gmail credentials to access several websites online? A UEN gives you the same benefits with different government agencies.

2. To file taxes

Every profit-generating entity in Singapore must pay taxes. Government systems require a UEN to process tax filings with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

3. Import and export permits

If your company intends to export or import products or services, you will need to furnish your UEN to proceed.

This will assist the government to:

• Identify the international trade you are engaging in
• Enable the government to levy taxes accordingly
• Track compliance with Singapore Customs⁸ regulations

4. Updating information

Let's suppose you want to update your information on the ACRA's BizFile system³.

In that case, you will need to furnish your UEN to:

• Access the portal
• Make any changes to the information
• Update your business particulars

5. Opening corporate bank accounts

Banks in Singapore require your UEN to verify your company's registration status during the account opening process. This ensures legitimacy and compliance with financial regulations.

6. CPF contributions for employees

When making Central Provident Fund (CPF)⁷ contributions for your employees, you'll need to use your UEN as the unique identifier for all payroll submissions.

7. Applying for government grants

Your UEN is critical when applying for Singapore's wide range of government grants, subsidies, or funding programmes. It links the application to your company's registered profile for validation.

UEN formats in 2026

As an entity in Singapore, you will be assigned a UEN, usually 9 or 10 characters long. It will be an alphanumeric set that identifies various aspects of your entity, such as its nature, incorporation year, and whether it's local or foreign.

Given below are the different kinds of UENs you may encounter:

Common entity-type indicators:

• LL = Limited Liability Partnership
• LP = Limited Partnership
• RF = Foreign Registered Entity
• FL = Foreign Limited Liability Partnership

Who is the UEN issued to in Singapore in 2026

Since the introduction of UENs in 2009, it has become mandatory for Singaporean entities to hold a UEN and use it for various interactions with government organisations.

Entities that receive UEN:

• Businesses
• Societies
• Local companies
• Limited liability partnerships
• Trade unions
• Healthcare institutions
• Representative offices
• Charities
• Cooperatives
• Educational institutions
• Mosques and madrasahs
• Management corporations

Who does NOT need a UEN:

UEN is meant only for the entities mentioned above. If you are an individual, you will not be assigned a UEN unless your business is registered as a sole proprietorship. As an individual, you will need to apply for a Tax Identification Number instead. You can use your National Registration Identity Card or Foreign Identification Number to get a TIN as an individual.

Additionally:

• If your business happens to be a sub-entity of Singaporean companies that have been identified as a branch of a business, you will not require a separate UEN
• Even as a foreign-based company that does not interact with local government agencies, you will not require a UEN
• Foreign parties selling goods to the Singapore government on a one-time basis do not qualify for a UEN

Entity-wise list of UEN issuing authorities in 2026

The list below details different agencies that issue UENs to specific entities:

How to get a UEN for a business in 2026

If you are an existing business in Singapore that is already registered, you should have your UEN. The Tax Reference Number from before 2009 will serve as your UEN.

You can also confirm what your UEN is by:

• Checking your business profile
• Conducting a UEN search on this link

However, if your business isn't registered yet, or you are a new business that is just being incorporated, follow these steps to get your UEN:

1. Determine your business structure

Start by deciding what your business structure will be. You can incorporate:

• A sole proprietorship
• A business
• A limited partnership
• A limited liability partnership

You could also be running a non-profit or charitable organisation, in which case you will need to register it accordingly with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Even societies and trade unions need a UEN.

2. Register your business

You then need to register your business on the BizFile website.

The registration fees for 2026:

• Name application: SGD $15
• Company registration: SGD $300
• Total ACRA fees: SGD $315

For complete incorporation packages (including company secretary and registered address), corporate service providers charge SGD $500 to SGD $1,500.

If you have any hiccups with the process or want someone else to handle it end-to-end, Aspire can help you incorporate and register your business. It will be seamless and hassle-free to receive your UEN number as quickly as possible.

3. Decide whether you want a special UEN

If you want a special UEN or a SUN, you will incur an additional cost. You usually need to apply for a SUN whilst registering your business. You need to decide whether you want a SUN or a regular UEN right at the start.

4. Complete the checks

After registration, you will be assigned a business profile that will contain all details about your business. This will also have your UEN.

Ensure the facts are correct and the UEN Singapore has been issued accordingly. You can also search UEN on the BizFile website or UEN.gov.sg.

How to get a special UEN (SUN) in 2026

Usually, when you apply for a UEN, it is automatically generated by the government system. This can be a random set of numbers and alphabets without coherence.

If you want a UEN that is easier to remember, you can choose from a list of reserved UENs. This comes at an additional cost.

Importance of special UEN (SUN)

You may have seen cars with fancy number plates like 007. Their value is:

• The prestige that comes with it
• Makes it easier to remember

Many businesses and entities choose to obtain a SUN to make it easier to interact with government agencies.

SUN pricing for 2026:

Note: The underlined parts are the prefix and suffix of UEN, which are system-generated and cannot be changed.

Key considerations when applying for a SUN

Note that once you have been assigned a UEN, you cannot change it unless you are:

• Changing the structure of your company
• Establishing it as a new business

That's why you need to decide whether you want a SUN when:

• Registering your company for the first time
• Applying for a UEN for the first time
• Converting your business structure

Payment must be completed within 30 minutes or the selected SUN will be released back into the pool of available numbers.

When must you use your UEN in Singapore in 2026

As a Singaporean entity, you must use your UEN for communicating with any government agency such as:

• The ACRA
• Department of Statistics
• CPF Board
• IRAS
• Singapore Customs

In addition, you must also display your UEN on:

• All business letters
• Invoices
• Statements of account
• Official notices
• Publications

Failure to display your UEN on official documents is an offence under the Companies Act.

Businesses can also use their UEN to link to PayNow Corporate - Singapore's instant payment system⁵. This allows:

• Customers to make direct payments using only the UEN
• No need to share bank account details
• Instant Singapore Dollar fund transfers

UEN vs TIN vs GST number

UEN vs TIN

A Tax Identification Number (TIN) is issued to individuals and businesses in Singapore to conduct an array of activities with the government.

A Unique Entity Number (UEN) is a type of TIN explicitly assigned to:

• Local businesses
• Corporations
• Societies
• Trade unions
• Non-profit organisations

UENs are not issued to:

• Individuals
• Foreign companies that do not have to interact with the Singapore government

UEN vs GST number

You may also be wondering what the difference between a UEN number and a GST number is.

While a UEN is a multipurpose number that can help identify your business with various government agencies, a Goods and Services Tax number is provided specifically for filing consumption and production tax.

For local companies and other registered entities with ACRA:

• UEN and GST numbers are the same

For foreign companies:

• A separate GST number will be allotted by the government

GST registration is required only if your annual taxable turnover exceeds SGD $1,000,000.

Can a UEN be changed in Singapore

No. Once a UEN number has been assigned, your UEN cannot be changed as long as your business operates.

Company UENs do not have to be renewed either. Companies are assumed to have perpetual succession after incorporation. As long as the company continues to operate and remains on the register of companies, its UEN will remain valid.

However, do note that sole proprietorships and partnerships are registered on a term basis. When that term expires, the business usually needs to renew its registration to continue. Once you renew the company's registration, the same UEN number will be automatically renewed.

What happens to the UEN when a business closes

When you deregister or close your business:

• Your UEN becomes invalid
• It cannot be used for any more transactions
• It is retired from the company
• It will not be reassigned to another business in the future

Finding and verifying another entity's UEN

If you are looking for another entity's UEN, first check whether it is registered with ACRA or another agency.

For ACRA-registered entities

You can search for a company’s UEN on the ACRA BizFile portal.

When you search, you will get information apart from the UEN, such as:

• The company's name
• UEN status
• UEN issuance agency
• Entity type
• Partial address