SSIC Codes in Singapore - What You Need to Know

03 February 2022

There's an increasing amount of entrepreneurs from all across the world who are establishing their businesses in Singapore. This shouldn't come as a surprise, since Singapore is a wealthy nation that allows both nationals and foreigners to thrive in their business endeavors.

However before you can start operating, you need to register your business with ACRA and outline the business activities you will be conducting in Singapore. Within the SSIC codes guide there is important information, encompassing what SSIC codes are, and the importance of selecting the right code, as well as the most commonly used codes.

About SSIC codes

A Singapore Standard Industrial Classification Code, commonly known as an SSIC code, is a number given to specify a company's operations that will occur in Singapore. The codes exist to regulate companies and their governance, and are used for statistical reasons by the government.

The codes are examined and updated as needed. The aim of this is to ensure that the codes:

Align with international standard changes
Demonstrate significant economic activities
Keep up to date with new activities
Used by ACRA to find out if any further licenses are required for the business operations that are performed by the business.
Used by the IRAS to making decisions around special tax benefits the business

What to be aware of when selecting a SSIC Code

When choosing your SSIC code for the main operations of your business, you should select a code that reflects the activities for which you are seeking a license.

For example, if your firm is structured as a financial holding company, you would want to choose the SSIC code 64201. As a result, you can opt for this license and perform your business activities legally within Singapore's market.

However, bear in mind that Singapore's Inland Revenue taxes holding firms extremely. They are also unable to benefit from many tax deductions.

Lastly, creating a personal description for your company profile might be beneficial. This description does not need to be more than one page long. Because ACRA promotes you to create a more accurate business activity description after registration, it is not necessary to follow the SSIC standard description.

SSIC code List

Find your SSIC code matching your business activities. You may also use ACRA's keyword search engine to look at the full list of SSIC codes.

*Keep in mind the business types written in bold will require specific licensing/permits.

CONSULTING

70201 BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES (GENERAL)

70209 BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES N.E.C.

62021 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANCY (EXCEPT CYBERSECURITY)

62022 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CYBERSECURITY CONSULTANCY

71129 ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY ACTIVITIES N.E.C.

71126 ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES SUPPORTING MINING, OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION AND OFFSHORE EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES

71121 GENERAL BUILDING ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES

71122 PROCESS AND INDUSTRIAL PLANT ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES

HOLDING COMPANIES

64201 BANK/FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES

64202 OTHER HOLDING COMPANIES

TECHNOLOGY

62019 DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER SOFTWARE AND PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES N.E.C.

62090 OTHER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER SERVICE ACTIVITIES (EG DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES)

62013 DEVELOPMENT OF SOFTWARE FOR INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA (EXCEPT GAMES)

62011 DEVELOPMENT OF E-COMMERCE APPLICATIONS

63120 WEB PORTALS (INCLUDING SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES)

62024 COMPUTER SYSTEMS INTEGRATION ACTIVITIES

63119 DATA PROCESSING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES N.E.C. (EG DATA TABULATION SERVICES, COMPUTER TIME SHARING SERVICES, APPLICATION SERVICE PROVIDERS, DATA STORAGE AND STREAMING SERVICES)

B2B AND FINANCE

82999 OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICE ACTIVITIES (EG JUNKETS, ADMINISTRATION OF LOYALTY PROGRAMMES)

73100 ADVERTISING ACTIVITIES

85491 CORPORATE TRAINING SERVICES AND MOTIVATIONAL COURSE PROVIDERS

78105 EXECUTIVE SEARCH SERVICES

69202 BOOK-KEEPING SERVICES

69201 ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING SERVICES (INCLUDING TAXATION ADVISORY SERVICES)

66192 CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISORY SERVICES

66301 ASSET/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

66309 FUND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES N.E.C.

RETAIL

47910 RETAIL SALE VIA INTERNET

47721 RETAIL SALE OF COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES (INCLUDING SKINCARE PRODUCTS)

47311 RETAIL SALE OF MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT for MOTORCYCLES AND SCOOTERS

47412 RETAIL SALE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND ACCESSORIES AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE (EXCEPT GAMES)

47719 RETAIL SALE OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND LEATHER ARTICLES N.E.C.

47711 RETAIL SALE OF WEARING APPAREL FOR ADULTS

WHOLESALE

46900 GENERAL WHOLESALE TRADE (INCLUDING GENERAL IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS)

46541 WHOLESALE OF INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT

46522 WHOLESALE OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

46592 WHOLESALE OF MEDICAL, PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND PRECISION EQUIPMENT

46639 WHOLESALE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, HARDWARE, PLUMBING, AND HEATING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES N.E.C. (EG CEMENT, SAND)

46699 WHOLESALE OF OTHER SPECIFIC COMMODITIES N.E.C.

46309 WHOLESALE OF FOOD, BEVERAGES, AND TOBACCO N.E.C.

46599 WHOLESALE OF OTHER MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT N.E.C.

46511 WHOLESALE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT

46551 WHOLESALE OF MARINE EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES (INCLUDING MARINE NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT AND RADAR)

46424 WHOLESALE OF COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES

GENERAL SERVICES

74191 INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES

74192 ART AND GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES

82303 EVENT/CONCERT ORGANISERS

43210 ELECTRICAL WORKS

96099 OTHER PERSONAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES N.E.C.

78104 EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES (EXCLUDING MAID AGENCIES)

46100 WHOLESALE ON A FEE OR CONTRACT BASIS (EG COMMISSION AGENTS)

79102 TRAVEL AGENCIES AND TOUR OPERATORS (MAINLY OUTBOUND)

81211 GENERAL CLEANING SERVICES EXCEPT for HOUSEHOLDS (INCLUDING CLEANING OF PUBLIC AREAS AND JANITORIAL SERVICES)

49219 PASSENGER LAND TRANSPORT N.E.C. (EG PRIVATE CARS FOR HIRE WITH OPERATOR AND TRISHAWS)

95301 REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLES (INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF PARTS & ACCESSORIES)

88911 CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN (INCLUDING OWN-ACCOUNT BABYSITTING)

61099 OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES N.E.C. (EG PROVISION OF VOIP (VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICES) AND CYBER ‘CAFES’ (OFFERING INTERNET ACCESS ONLY))

93203 CABARETS, NIGHTCLUBS, DISCOTHEQUES, DANCE CLUBS, AND KARAOKE LOUNGES

77101 RENTING AND LEASING OF PRIVATE CARS WITHOUT OPERATOR

59111 MOTION PICTURE/MOVIE PRODUCTION

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

86201 CLINICS AND OTHER GENERAL MEDICAL SERVICES (WESTERN)

96022 BEAUTY SALONS AND SPAS (INCLUDING SLIMMING, SKIN CARE AND HAIR CARE CENTRES)

86203 SPECIALISED MEDICAL SERVICES (INCLUDING DAY SURGICAL CENTRES)

86204 DENTAL SERVICES

96021 HAIRDRESSING SALONS/SHOPS (INCLUDING BARBER SHOPS)

86909 OTHER HEALTH SERVICES N.E.C. (EG REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES EG PHYSIOTHERAPY, CHIROPRACTIC, SPEECH THERAPY)

EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE

85509 EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES N.E.C. (EG TUITION MATCHING SERVICES)

85499 OTHER EDUCATION N.E.C.

85420 MUSIC, DANCING, ART, SPEECH AND DRAMA INSTRUCTION

85410 SPORTS AND RECREATION EDUCATION (EG YOGA, SPORTS, MARTIAL ARTS, DIVING, AEROBICS)

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

56111 RESTAURANTS

56122 FOOD COURTS, COFFEE SHOPS, AND EATING HOUSES (WITH MAINLY FOOD AND BEVERAGE INCOME)

56112 CAFES AND COFFEE HOUSES

56129 OTHER FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVING PREMISES N.E.C.

56140 STALLS SELLING COOKED FOOD AND PREPARED DRINKS (INCLUDING STALLS AT FOOD COURTS AND MOBILE FOOD HAWKERS)

56201 FOOD CATERERS

47219 RETAIL SALE OF FOOD N.E.C.

47112 MINI-MARTS, CONVENIENCE STORES AND PROVISION SHOPS

68104 LETTING AND OPERATING OF FOOD COURTS, COFFEE SHOPS AND EATING HOUSES (WITH MAINLY RENTAL INCOME)

CONSTRUCTION/ REAL ESTATE

41001 GENERAL CONTRACTORS (BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING MAJOR UPGRADING WORKS)

41009 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION N.E.C.

68101 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS

43301 RENOVATION CONTRACTORS

68109 REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES WITH OWN OR LEASED PROPERTY N.E.C.

42101 GENERAL CONTRACTORS (NON-BUILDING CONSTRUCTION)

43220 PLUMBING, HEATING (NON-ELECTRIC) AND AIR-CONDITIONING

68201 REAL ESTATE AGENCIES AND VALUATION SERVICES

68103 LETTING AND OPERATING OF SELF-OWNED REAL ESTATE EXCEPT for HOTELS, LODGING AND BOARDING HOUSES

SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS

30110 BUILDING AND REPAIRING OF SHIPS, TANKERS AND OTHER OCEAN-GOING VESSELS (INCLUDING CONVERSION OF SHIPS INTO OFF-SHORE STRUCTURES)

50021 SHIPPING LINES

52292 FREIGHT FORWARDING, PACKING AND CRATING SERVICES

50024 CHARTERING OF SHIPS, BARGES, AND BOATS WITH CREW (FREIGHT)

52226 SHIP MANAGEMENT SERVICES

52222 SHIPPING AGENCIES (FREIGHT)

52227 SHIP BROKERING SERVICES

52291 VALUE ADDED LOGISTICS PROVIDERS

MISCELLANEOUS

28300 INSTALLATION OF INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING WORKS

31001 MANUFACTURE OF FURNITURE AND FIXTURES OF WOOD (INCLUDING UPHOLSTERY)

52299 OTHER TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT ACTIVITIES N.E.C.

32909 OTHER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES N.E.C.

63909 OTHER INFORMATION SERVICE ACTIVITIES N.E.C.

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