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Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
Guide

Troubleshooting guide: Name application & business registration

Audience

Accounting entities

Businesses

Corporate Service Providers (CSP)

Task or topic

Registration

Restructure or convert business type

Update registers or information

18 August 2025

Fix common issues when applying for a new business entity name and registering a new business entity on Bizfile

This page is under development and being progressively updated.

Name application: Common issues

Learn how to fix common issues related to applying for a new business entity name.

Issue: "Identical name exists"

When this happens: You may see an "Identical name exists" error message if:

  • The business name is already reserved.

  • You have an incomplete application for the same name.

To fix this issue:

  1. Apply for a new business entity name on Bizfile with a different name.

  2. If you are prompted about an identical name, request a name review.

  3. Complete all steps, including payment.

Issue: Cannot find the field to add "user-described activity"

Why this happens: Bizfile no longer shows user-described activity fields.

To fix this issue: Continue with your application using the available SSIC options.

Issue: Transaction shows "Pending payment"

What this means: You started an application but did not complete the payment process.

To fix this issue:

  1. Apply for a new business entity name on Bizfile..

  2. Complete all required steps.

  3. Finish the payment process before submitting.

Business registration: Common issues

Learn how to fix common issues related to registering different business structures.

Position holder and authorisation issues

Explanations and solutions

Issue

How to fix it

Error message: "You are not authorised to file this transaction"

What this means: If you are not a corporate service provider (CSP), you cannot add a foreigner as a position holder.

You need to engage a CSP if:

If you are a CSP:

  1. Log in Bizfile with your CSP profile.

  2. Click Proceed to Dashboard.

  3. Register a new business entity.

Error message: "The lodger must hold the position of director/owner"

What this means: You are trying to register a business but do not intend to hold the required position.

If you are not a CSP, you must intend to hold one of these positions:

  • Owner of sole proprietorship or partnership

  • Director of local company

  • Partner of limited liability partnership (LLP)

  • General partner or General partner as a nominee or trustee of a limited partnership

  • Partner under S18(3)(c) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for public accounting firm

  • Director under S17(3)(d) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for a public accounting corporation

  • Partner under S18A(3)(e) of the Accountants Act or public accountant employee for an accounting LLP

If you are a CSP:

  1. Log in Bizfile as a "Business User".

  2. Select your CSP profile and switch to the new entity profile.

  3. Click Proceed to Dashboard.

  4. Register a new business entity.

Error message: "Only a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) or Accounting Limited Liability Partnership (APPL) can be designated as Shareholder in a Exempt Private Company or Unlimited Exempt Private Company."

What this means: You added corporate shareholders that were not LLP or ALLP for your Exempt Private Company Limited by Shares.

To choose another company type that allows other types of corporate shareholders:

  1. Apply for a new business entity name.

  2. Select the correct entity type for your needs.

Endorsement and payment problems

Explanations and solutions

Issues

How to fix it

Position holders are unsure of:

  • Endorsement requirements

  • How to endorse via Bizfile


Individual position holders can follow our Bizfile user guide on obtaining endorsements.

Corporate position holders and corporate shareholders can endorse through an authorised officer. This includes directors or secretaries that can act on behalf of the corporate entity.

Unable to find payment options after endorsement

You cannot find the link to make payment after endorsements are complete.

The lodger should:

  1. Ensure that all position holders, excluding the lodger, have completed their own endorsements.

  2. Log in with the same Singpass credentials used for original application.

  3. Go to "Pending actions" on your Bizfile dashboard.

  4. Click Payment.

  5. Complete the payment.

Post-registration issues

Explanations and solutions

Problem

How to fix it

The receipt does not show the new entity's unique entity number (UEN)

First, log in to Bizfile:

  • Individual position holders: Use Singpass ("Individual User").

  • Corporate service providers (CSPs): Use Corppass ("Business User"). Then, select My Entities and choose your CSP firm.

Then, check your Bizfile Inbox for the:

  • UEN of your new entity

  • Notice of successful registration

Unable to download the free Business Profile through the link provided in the successful registration notification.

If you are a CSP registering on behalf of your client, do not use the link in the successful registration notification.

Follow our step-by-step guide to download free business profiles as a CSP instead.

Expired or invalid email verification link

Shown when: You click on the email verification link sent to your registered email address.

To request for a new email verification link:

  1. Log in with Singpass (Individual User). Do not use Corppass (Business User) for this process.

  2. Go to "Pending Actions" on your dashboard.

  3. Click Resend for a new email verification link.

  4. Complete the email verification within three days of the request or lodgement date.

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