Singapore Company Status Explained: Active, Struck Off, and What to Check Next

On the Singapore register, status answers a narrow but important question: whether the legal entity still exists in an active trading form, is being wound down, or has already been removed or terminated in a way that should change how you deal with it.

It does not tell you whether the business is profitable, honest, or well run. For that you layer filings, officers, address consistency, and—when stakes are high—paid extracts. This guide connects status to those next steps. If you are new to registry basics, read ACRA basics first.

For a quick interactive lookup of a single status line, use the ACRA status translator tool, then return here for the full workflow.

“Live” / active: a green light for the registry check—not for the whole deal

In BizFile, many users look for “Live”. On AcraWatch we surface a normalized active view derived from open data: if the entity is active in our snapshot, it is reasonable to continue with identity and compliance checks.

Active still requires diligence because:

• Filings can be overdue while status has not yet caught up with your risk tolerance.
• Officers, capital, and address can still be inconsistent with what you were sold.
• Some wind-down or liquidation states need special attention (see below).

For a fuller “healthy vs weak” lens on registry-visible clues, see how to spot healthy Singapore companies with free ACRA data. For scam-facing checks, use five ACRA red flags and how to verify a business before you pay.

When “active” is not enough: weak compliance signals

People sometimes call an entity a “zombie” when it still looks active on paper but shows weak registry discipline or mismatched particulars. That is informal language, not a legal term—treat it as a prompt to dig deeper, not a verdict.

None of these rows proves fraud. They simply justify slower payment terms, more documentation, or paid extracts when the exposure is material. For when to spend on official documents, see free vs paid company checks.

Struck off and other inactive outcomes

Struck off generally means the entity has been removed from the register (often after sustained non-compliance). You should not treat it like a normal counterparty for a new contract: there is no active company in the same sense to rely on, and scammers sometimes reuse familiar names or old letterheads.

Exact legal effects of past contracts, liabilities, or restoration belong with lawyers and official records—this article only addresses practical verification.

Quick check: search the UEN and legal name on the ACRA checker. If the profile shows an inactive outcome, stop and reassess before you pay.

Other statuses you should not ignore

Wording on ACRA can vary slightly over time; your authoritative source is always BizFile+ and any purchased extract. The table below is a plain-language map for planning conversations—not legal advice.

If BizFile is slow or confusing, Singapore BizFile hurdles may help. To browse entities by segment before drilling into profiles, use the company directory.

A short workflow before you rely on status alone

1. Confirm legal name and UEN match invoices or agreements.
2. Read normalized status on the company profile.
3. Scan filing and risk-style signals we surface, if any.
4. Compare registered address and activity to the business’s public story.
5. Escalate to paid extracts or professionals when the decision is large or regulated.

For faster triage, pair this with the UEN and payee name checker and the SSIC mismatch risk checker before approving payment.

For URL-based lookups, see UEN slugs demystified.

Takeaway

Status tells you which chapter of the life cycle you are looking at—active, wind-down, liquidation, or removed. Trust comes from consistent identity, filing discipline, and behaviour that matches the record—not from a single green label.

When in doubt, pause payment, verify in writing, and use official channels for anything that could end up in a dispute.