How to Strike Off a Company in Singapore: Voluntary Deregistration Step by Step (2026)
To strike off a company in Singapore, the company must be dormant or no longer in business, have no outstanding liabilities or legal proceedings, and submit a voluntary strike-off application to ACRA via BizFile+. The process takes approximately 4 months from application to completion and costs S$33 in ACRA fees. HeySara handles the entire strike-off process, including final compliance filings and IRAS tax clearance.
What Is a Company Strike-Off?
Striking off a company is the process of removing it from ACRA’s register — effectively dissolving the company as a legal entity. Once struck off, the company ceases to exist. Any remaining assets vest in the Government of Singapore.
There are two types of strike-off:
- Voluntary Strike-Off — Applied for by the company’s directors when the business has ceased operations and there are no outstanding obligations
- Involuntary / Compulsory Strike-Off (Gazette) — Initiated by ACRA against companies that have failed to meet compliance obligations (non-filing of Annual Returns, non-payment of penalties, etc.)
This guide covers voluntary strike-off. For information on ACRA’s compulsory strike-off process, see HeySara’s separate guide on Force Strike-Offs.
Is Your Company Eligible for Voluntary Strike-Off?
ACRA’s eligibility criteria for voluntary strike-off:
- The company has ceased business or has never commenced business
- The company has no outstanding liabilities (no unpaid creditors, no overdue taxes, no pending loans)
- The company has no current assets of significant value (or any remaining assets have been properly distributed)
- There are no ongoing or threatened legal proceedings against the company or by the company
- The company has not been involved in operations within the past 3 months
- All ACRA annual filings are up to date (if they are not, these must be filed and penalties paid before strike-off can proceed)
- IRAS tax clearance has been obtained (or confirmation that the company has no outstanding tax liabilities)
- The company is not under judicial management, receivership, or winding-up proceedings
The Voluntary Strike-Off Process
Step 1: Prepare the Company Ensure all outstanding Annual Returns are filed with ACRA and all IRAS tax obligations are settled. Close any active GST registration with IRAS. Ensure the company’s bank accounts are closed.
Step 2: Obtain IRAS Tax Clearance Write to IRAS to confirm that the company has no outstanding taxes or that all tax obligations have been met. IRAS typically responds within 2–4 weeks.
Step 3: Submit the Strike-Off Application via BizFile+ The application must be filed by a director or HeySara as your registered filing agent. ACRA charges S$33 for the strike-off application.
Step 4: ACRA Publishes Notice in the Gazette Upon receiving the application, ACRA publishes a notice in the Government Gazette that the company is proposed to be struck off. This triggers a 60-day objection period during which creditors, shareholders, or other interested parties can object.
Step 5: Strike-Off Completion If no valid objections are received during the 60-day period, ACRA strikes the company off the register and publishes a final notice. The company ceases to exist from this date.
Total timeline: approximately 3–5 months from application.
What Happens to Remaining Company Assets?
Any assets (cash in bank accounts, intellectual property, physical assets) remaining at the time of strike-off vest in the Singapore Government under the Government Proceedings Act. This is why it is critical to properly distribute or wind down all company assets before applying for strike-off.
HeySara advises clients to: – Return paid-up capital to shareholders via a dividend or capital reduction before applying – Transfer any IP or other assets out of the company – Close all bank accounts and ensure zero balances
Can a Struck-Off Company Be Restored?
Yes. Within 6 years of the strike-off date, any interested party (shareholder, director, creditor) can apply to the High Court to restore the company to the register. Court orders for restoration are granted when there is a valid reason (e.g., a legal claim arises, or assets were inadvertently vested in the Government).
When Should You Strike Off vs. Let a Company Be Dormant?
Keeping a dormant company on the register continues to incur: – Annual corporate secretarial fees – Annual Return filing fees with ACRA – Potential IRAS filing obligations
If your company is truly dormant with no future plans, a voluntary strike-off eliminates all ongoing compliance costs and obligations. HeySara recommends a strike-off over indefinite dormancy for most businesses that have permanently ceased operations.
HeySara’s Strike-Off Service
HeySara handles the entire voluntary strike-off process: checking eligibility, preparing and filing all final ACRA documents, liaising with IRAS for tax clearance, and confirming completion. We also advise on pre-strike-off asset distribution to ensure shareholders receive their capital before the company is dissolved.
