What is a UEN (Unique Entity Number)?

What is the UEN number in Singapore? What is its purpose?

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A UEN (Unique Entity Number) is an identification number of 9 or 10 digits issued to all the entities that operate in Singapore. A UEN is issued by a UEN issuance agency that is a government organization empowered by legislation to register specific types of entities.

The concept of UEN was introduced in 2009 by Ministry of Finance (MoF) and ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) to help business entities interact conveniently with different government and private agencies under one identification number.

The following list of entities operating in Singapore must have a UEN:

• A business
• A local company
• Limited liability partnership
• Trade union
• Any representative office
• Healthcare institution
• Society
• Branch office

Businesses and local companies registered before 2009 were allowed to use their old ACRA Registration Numbers as UEN.

UEN Format

Businesses (Other than companies) registered with ACRA before 2009 use a 9 digit UEN with format nnnnnnnnX.

Local companies registered with ACRA before 2009 use a 10 digit UEN with format yyyynnnnnX.

All the entities after 2009 were issued a new UEN that use a 10 digit UEN with format TyyPQnnnnX.

Here:

• n = number
• P = alphanumeric character
• Q = alpha-numeric digit
• PQ = Entity-type e.g. LL means Limited Liability Partnership
• Tyy/Syy/yyyy = year of issuance where ‘T’ represents 20, ‘S’ represents 19 and ‘R’ represents 18 e.g. T06 means year 2006; S95 means year 1995; R91 means year 1891.

When a UEN is used

A UEN must be quoted in the following circumstances.

• Making any of the following transactions with ACRA:
  • In case of a change in any registered details like company name, registered address, particulars of director, company secretary or any partner
  • During filing the copies of a resolution
  • During the dissolution of the company
  • When annual accounts are filed
  • When there is a change to the shareholding structure like issuance of shares
• Making transactions for import/export permits with Singapore Customs
• Filing details and making payments to the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board
• Making a transaction with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) for annual filing and GST purposes
• Opening a corporate bank account
• Subscribing for telephone lines
• Making any agreement or entering into any kind of contract with any organization

UEN display

Businesses are required to display UEN on certain documents as per law of Singapore.

The certain documents are:

• Letterheads
• Invoices
• Receipts
• Brochures
• Leaflets
• Emails
• Faxes
• Any printed marketing material
• Company’s website or other online material