Unique Entity Numbers for Law Practices

 

From 1 January 2009, all entities registered in Singapore were issued a Unique Entity Number ('UEN') as a common identification number for interaction with government agencies. Law practices were also issued UENs to interact with government agencies. ACRA is the UEN Issuance Agency for law practices. Limited liability law partnerships were issued with new registration numbers as the UENs, while law corporations retained their existing ACRA registration numbers as the UENs.

 

All law firms (sole proprietorships and partnerships) will be registrable with ACRA under the Business Registration Act from 1 May 2009. The registration under the Business Registration Act will facilitate the issuing of UENs to law firms. During the interim period between 1 January 2009 and 30 April 2009, ACRA had assisted by issuing UENs to law firms administratively to enable law firms to transact with government agencies.

 

Existing law firms (as at 30 April 2009) were automatically registered under the Business Registration Act with effect from 1 May 2009, without any application for registration being made. The duration of registration under the Business Registration Act is for 12 months and all law firms which were automatically registered from 1 May 2009 will be required to renew their registration before 1 May 2010, and annually thereafter so long as they continue to carry on business.

 

ACRA has agreed to grant the following grace periods to all law firms that were automatically registered with effect from 1 May 2009:

• A 12 month grace period for complying with the provisions relating to identical/ similar names under section 13 of the Business Registration Act; and

• A 12 month grace period for complying with the requirement to print their UEN on letterheads, invoices, bills or other documents used for the purposes of business under regulation 11 of the Business Registration Regulations.

 

Currently, businesses registrable or registered under the Business Registration Act are required to satisfy ACRA of their compliance with the provisions concerning Medisave contributions under the CPF Act upon registration or renewal of registration. For existing law firms automatically registered under the Business Registration Act, ACRA did not impose any condition requiring compliance in respect of Medisave contributions at the time of automatic registration. However, such law firms will be required to satisfy these conditions concerning Medisave contributions at the time of renewal of registration, as is the case with all other registered businesses.

 

Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions about UEN.

 

For more information on UEN please visit the UEN website at www.uen.gov.sg.