Advantages of Incorporating a Singapore Company to Buy Commercial Properties

Singapore’s commercial property market is hot in spite of the several cooling measures introduced by the government in recent years. This is because the measures were mainly aimed towards bringing down the prices of residential properties, thus leaving the commercial market largely untouched.

As buying Singapore commercial properties remains a wise choice, buyers have two options to choose from. Either buy the property in an individual’s name, or incorporate a private limited company – a vehicle which is then used to buy the commercial real estate.

Going by the benefits that a corporate entity enjoys in holding a commercial estate, it’s definitely advisable to go for the latter. Below, we detail the reasons for doing so.

Benefits of Buying a Commercial Property with a Corporate Entity

No Capital Gains Tax in Singapore

Generally, the gains derived from the sale of a property in Singapore is not taxable as it is considered a capital gain and the country has no capital gains tax. The exception to the rule is when a person is deemed to be trading in properties. This is determined based on the following:

• frequency of transactions (buying and selling of properties)
• reasons for acquiring and selling of property
• financial means to hold the property for long term
• holding period

Lower Corporate Tax Rates

Personal tax rates are higher than corporate tax rates in Singapore especially for high income brackets. Hence it’s always better to hold commercial property under a corporate entity.

More Tax Relief

Moreover, under personal tax laws, indirect expenses that can be claimed are limited. A corporate entity can claim much more direct and indirect expenses, which helps in getting higher tax exemptions.

Cheaper Cost of Funds

In addition, a corporate entity buying a commercial property is advantageous if you want to finance your purchase externally. This is so because personal borrowing interest rates are normally higher than corporate borrowing rates.

Easy Transfer of Ownership

A Special Purpose Vehicle for holding commercial properties has more flexibility while transferring ownership, as compared to when an individual owner sells a commercial property.

Singapore Property Holding Companies Get Tax Exemptions and Rebates

Partial Tax Exemption

While the new company may not be eligible for the Start-up Tax Exemption (SUTE) scheme, it still will enjoy partial tax exemptions given to companies since 2008 on normal chargeable income of up to S$300,000.

• for first S$10,000, after 75 percent exemption, the exempt amount is S$7,500
• for next S$290,000, after 50 perfect exemption, the exempt amount is S$145,000
• thus, the total exempt amount for income up to S$300,000 is S$152,500

Corporate Tax Rebate

In 2013, the government announced that for year of assessment 2013, 2014 and 2015, all companies will be granted a 30 percent corporate income tax rebate that is subject to an annual cap of S$30,000. The newly-incorporated company to buy commercial property can enjoy this if the property is let out for rental income.

Goods & Services Tax (GST)

While sale and lease of residential properties are exempted from GST in Singapore, transaction of commercial (non-residential) real estate is not.

An individual buying commercial property will have to absorb 7 percent GST in addition to the valuation price for the property.

Instead, if a company is buying a commercial property, it can consider getting GST registered, which is a very streamlined and easy process. This way the company can claim back the GST amount paid.

Please note that IRAS put forth many requirements before allowing GST- registered companies to claim back the GST already paid. So it’s always better to check with the Authority on your eligibility, or appoint us to register for GST.

Separate legal entity

Because a private limited company is treated as a separate legal entity, the company shareholders have limited liability and are safeguarded against personal financial ruin even if the commercial property investment fails to generate much revenues.

Thus, in case of a corporate entity liabilities are limited to the share capital of an individual in the company. Whereas if you buy commercial property in your own name, your liabilities will extend to all your other assets.

Stamp Duty Costs

Stamp duty is a tax on documents relating to immovable properties, stocks or shares. Examples of such documents are lease/tenancy agreements, mortgages, and share transfer documents.

While there is no Additional Buyer Stamp Duty (ABSD) for commercial properties, industrial properties (a type of commercial properties) attracts the Seller’s Stamp Duty. This is 15% of the sale price if sold on the first year, 10% for the second year, and 5% for the third year.

Individuals form a company and then the company buys a commercial property

But the real advantage in stamp duties is when a group of individuals buy a commercial property after incorporating a company together. The property is bought in the company’s name and the individuals hold shares in the company in the same proportions as they would otherwise hold as co-owners of the property.

If any shareholder wishes to sell his shares in the company either to his co-shareholders or to a third party, they can do so. With this, his or her portion in the commercial property is also sold indirectly.

The benefit in this is that the stamp fees of 0.2 percent payable on the value of the shares of the company sold is much lower than the ad valorem stamp fees of almost 3 percent payable in respect of the value of the share in the property.

Carry Forward losses as a Singapore private limited company

Carrying business loss and capital allowances forward

In today’s uncertain times, you can never be sure. A private limited company which bought commercial property to benefit from rental income, may suffer some downturns in the rental income.

Such companies are allowed to carry forward the unabsorbed trade (rental) losses and capital allowances to subsequent years to offset against the income of those years until the trade losses are fully utilised.

Suggested Readings

Not Required to Register for GST? Here’s 5 Reasons You Should Register Anyway Tax Planning to Optimise your Business Various Business Entities in Singapore Indian PoEM – Will it rewrite the rules of the game for Singapore Subsidiaries?