Quick answer
Corporate secretary service is not just an Annual Return filing fee. A practical service scope should tell directors what is included, what counts as routine support, what is charged separately, and which records the provider is responsible for maintaining. The cheapest package may work for a truly dormant company, but it can become expensive if every routine resolution, share record or compliance query is treated as an ad-hoc job.
- Separate statutory appointment from ongoing support and annual filing work.
- Check whether AGM or written resolution preparation is included in the annual fee.
- Confirm whether share transfers, allotments, address changes and officer changes are routine or ad-hoc.
- Ask how the provider handles transfer, statutory registers and ACRA reminders.
What a proper service scope should cover
A corporate secretary package should cover the statutory appointment of the secretary and a practical method for maintaining the company’s corporate records. At a minimum, directors should understand who keeps the registers, who prepares board or shareholder resolutions, who monitors Annual Return deadlines, who files position holder changes and who answers basic compliance questions during the year.
The scope should also explain exclusions. Share transfers, share allotments, constitution amendments, nominee director arrangements, RORC updates, strike-off applications and urgent recovery work may require more review than a standard annual package. There is nothing wrong with ad-hoc fees, but they should be transparent so the client can compare packages properly.
| Service area | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Annual compliance | Whether AGM, written resolutions and Annual Return filing are included. |
| Routine changes | How many simple officer or address changes are covered. |
| Share matters | Whether transfer, allotment and register updates are included or separately quoted. |
| Transfer | Whether the provider checks old records before accepting the file. |
Why cost alone is a weak comparison
A low annual fee can be sensible for a clean, dormant company with no changes, no GST, no payroll, no shareholder activity and complete records. It is less suitable for a company with foreign owners, active operations, investor changes, bank KYC reviews or missing historic records. In those cases, the provider’s review process and response quality matter more than the headline price.
Directors should compare the annual fee against the real tasks required. A company that needs one Annual Return, one director change, one share transfer and several compliance queries may pay less under a slightly higher all-inclusive package than under a cheap appointment-only plan with separate ad-hoc charges.
Core annual compliance tasks
Most private companies need a yearly check around the financial year end. The secretary should help confirm the AGM or written resolution route, coordinate the Annual Return filing, check whether financial statements or solvency declarations are involved, and remind directors of company law deadlines. This does not replace accounting or tax filing, but it should align with the accounts prepared for IRAS.
The secretary file should include the latest business profile, register of members, register of directors, register of secretaries, share capital history, controller records where applicable, and prior Annual Return acknowledgements. A service package that only submits one form but does not maintain the underlying record gives directors less protection.
When ad-hoc work is normal
Ad-hoc work is normal when the company changes ownership, issues shares, changes its constitution, appoints or resigns directors, updates its registered office, applies for strike-off, responds to enforcement reminders or reconstructs missing records. These tasks require checking authority, dates, supporting documents and follow-on filings. They should not be treated as mere data entry.
For example, a share transfer may require the constitution to be reviewed, a transfer instrument to be executed, stamp duty to be considered, the members’ register to be updated and Bizfile records to be aligned. A director resignation may require checking whether the company still has at least one ordinarily resident director. The fee should reflect the risk and review involved.
How to brief a new provider
Before switching, send the latest ACRA business profile, constitution, last Annual Return, registers, share records, AGM or written resolutions, tax filing status and any reminders from ACRA or IRAS. If the current provider is unresponsive, document what has been requested and what remains missing. This allows the new provider to identify gaps rather than blindly accept incomplete records.
A good onboarding review should produce a practical list: what can be filed immediately, what requires director approval, what records are missing, and what deadlines are coming up. This is especially important for companies that have been dormant for years, used a nominee director, or changed shareholders without a well-kept statutory file.
The better comparison is total annual compliance cost, not headline appointment fee. Include Annual Return filing, AGM or written resolution preparation, routine officer changes, registered office support, share record maintenance, transfer review and response time. A slightly higher package with clear routine support can be cheaper and safer than a minimal package that leaves directors to solve every practical issue separately.
When comparing corporate secretary quotes, ask the provider to map the fee to the company’s expected activity. A dormant company, active trading company, foreign-owned company and multi-shareholder company do not need the same level of support. If the same low price is offered for every situation, check whether most work will later be charged as ad-hoc service.
How to compare quotes without being misled
Frequently asked questions
What is usually included in a corporate secretary package?
Common inclusions are secretary appointment, annual compliance reminders, AGM or written resolution support, Annual Return filing and maintenance of basic statutory registers. Exact scope varies by provider.
Why are some packages much cheaper than others?
Lower-cost plans may cover only the statutory appointment or a narrow annual filing scope. They may not include routine resolutions, share changes, transfer review or advisory support.
Should dormant companies choose the cheapest plan?
A dormant company with complete records may use a leaner package, but it still needs Annual Return and tax position management. Missing historic records can make a dormant company more complex than it looks.
Are accounting and tax filing included in secretary fees?
Usually not unless the package expressly says so. Corporate secretarial work handles ACRA and company law records; accounting and tax filing handle financial statements, bookkeeping, ECI and corporate income tax.
What should I ask before appointing a new secretary?
Ask what is included, what is ad-hoc, who maintains the registers, whether Annual Return filing is included, how transfer is handled and how quickly routine queries are answered.
Official sources
- ACRA — Choosing company directors and key officers
- ACRA — Filing annual returns for companies
- ACRA — Company registers: requirements and deadlines
- ACRA — Appointing or withdrawing position holders
Continue with related guidance
- Company secretary requirement
- Company secretary red flags
- Unresponsive company secretary
- Corporate secretary service
Written and reviewed by Martin, CA Singapore
Martin is the founder of ProSec Pte. Ltd. and a Chartered Accountant of Singapore. He reviews ProSec guides for practical consistency with Singapore company, accounting and tax requirements.
Need a clearer corporate secretary package?
ProSec provides practical corporate secretary support with annual compliance, routine record maintenance and clear separation between included work and ad-hoc matters.
Compare secretarial supportWhatsApp ProSec