Flip structure, nominee director, FEMA-ready documentation, and ongoing corporate compliance - Karman handles the Singapore side so your Indian CA can focus on the FEMA filings.
Not the generic answer - the specific reasons that matter for your structure, your investors, and your exit.
Most global VC funds - US, Singapore, Southeast Asian - strongly prefer investing in a Singapore or Delaware entity. For many term sheets, a Singapore holdco is not optional; it is a condition.
Preferred by 80%+ of international fundsSingapore has no capital gains tax. When you sell shares in your Singapore holdco - in a secondary, an acquisition, or an IPO - there is no Singapore tax on the gain. India charges 10–20%.
0% CGT vs 10–20% in IndiaSingapore ESOPs can be issued to global employees including Indian staff, with simpler structures than Indian law permits. Easier to attract international talent and align incentives globally.
Simpler than Indian ESOP rulesThe DTAA reduces withholding tax on dividends from your Indian opco to the Singapore holdco from 20% to 10%. Royalties and technical service fees also benefit from reduced treaty rates.
10% WHT vs 20% standard rateDBS, OCBC, Airwallex, and Aspire - all accessible from your Singapore Pte Ltd with multi-currency accounts and USD wire capabilities. No RBI repatriation complexity for international invoicing.
12+ currencies, fully remote optionsSingapore's headline rate is 17%, but the Startup Tax Exemption makes the effective rate just 4.25% on the first S$100K of chargeable income for new companies in the first 3 years.
4.25% effective rate (first 3 years)The flip has two sides. Karman owns the Singapore side end-to-end - and delivers exactly the documentation your Indian CA needs for the FEMA filings.
| Task | Karman (Singapore) | Your Indian CA (India) |
|---|---|---|
| Company incorporation | ✓ ACRA filing, UEN, constitution, share certificates | - |
| Nominee director | ✓ Professional nominee, NDA + Deed of Indemnity | - |
| Registered office address | ✓ Included in Foreign Founder package | - |
| Corporate secretary | ✓ Statutory registers, AGM, annual return with ACRA | - |
| FEMA / ODI / LRS filings | Provide incorporation certificate and share documents | ✓ Form FC-GPR, ODI filing, RBI reporting |
| Valuation certificate | - | ✓ SEBI-registered merchant banker or CA |
| Annual Performance Report (APR) | ✓ Provide Singapore financial statements on time | ✓ File APR with RBI by 31 December |
| Singapore annual accounting | ✓ Bookkeeping, financial statements, IRAS filing | - |
| Banking introductions | ✓ Introductions to Airwallex, Aspire, DBS | - |
| Transfer pricing (India-Singapore) | Guidance on Singapore side of intercompany transactions | ✓ Indian TP documentation and filing |
Four steps. Two jurisdictions. Karman handles Singapore from day one.
Find a FEMA specialist CA in India before anything else. The Indian side is the long pole. Get them aligned on structure and valuation approach first.
Your CAKarman files with ACRA. 1–3 business days. Nominee director, registered address, company constitution, and share certificates - all included.
KarmanYour Indian CA coordinates the FEMA-regulated share swap - founders exchange Indian company shares for Singapore holdco shares. Karman provides the Singapore documentation required.
Your CA + KarmanKarman handles annual ACRA, IRAS, and corporate secretary on the Singapore side. Your CA handles APR (31 Dec), FC-TRS, and Indian opco filings.
Karman + CAAll packages include ACRA government fees (S$315). No hidden charges.
You already have a Singapore-resident director (e.g., co-founder on EP)
Everything you need to understand the structure, tax implications, FEMA compliance, and relocation options - written specifically for Indian founders.
What a flip is, the holdco-opco structure, FEMA routes (LRS/ODI), the share swap process, POEM risk, and when NOT to flip.
Read guide →Corporate tax, capital gains, dividends, personal income - a numbers-first comparison with the DTAA rates and the April 2026 NRI rule change.
Read guide →LRS limits, ODI routes, Form FC-GPR, Annual Performance Reports, round-tripping prohibition, FEMA penalties, and the 5 most common mistakes.
Read guide →NRI status rules, the 2026 deemed residency change, Employment Pass vs EntrePass, Singapore personal tax rates, and the honest monthly cost of living.
Read guide →Step-by-step incorporation guide, nominee director requirements, document checklist, and what happens after ACRA approval.
Read guide →DBS, OCBC, Airwallex, Aspire - which banks accept Indian founders remotely, what documents you need, and approval tips.
Read guide →How Indian exporters in textiles, pharma, chemicals, and engineering goods use a Singapore Pte Ltd to invoice globally, hold foreign currency, and access trade finance.
Read guide →How Indian manufacturing groups and trading houses use a Singapore holdco for international expansion, wealth protection, and succession planning across generations.
Read guide →Withholding tax rates on dividends (10–15%), interest (15%), royalties (10%), fees for technical services - and what changed when the capital gains exemption was removed in 2017.
Read guide →Tell us about your company and we'll come back within one business day with a clear next-step plan - no sales pitch, just the information you need.