Singapore legislation
Regulation 4
of Trustees (Transparency and Effective Control) Regulations 2017
Regulation 4
Obligation to obtain, etc., information of relevant parties
Subregulation 1
Subject to paragraph (3A), a trustee of a relevant trust must, within the time specified in paragraph (3), take reasonable steps to ensure that the information mentioned in paragraph (2) of each relevant party —
is obtained; and
is verified by means of source data, documents or information that is reliable and independently sourced.
Subregulation 2
The information in paragraph (1) is —
where the relevant party is an individual, his or her —
full name, including any aliases;
identity card number, birth certificate number, passport number, or other similar unique identification number issued by a government authority;
residential address;
date and place of birth; and
nationality; (b)where the relevant party is an entity —
its full name;
its incorporation number or business registration number;
its registered or business address;
its principal place of business (if different from its registered or business address mentioned in sub‑paragraph (iii));
its date of constitution, incorporation or registration;
its place of incorporation or registration; and
the following information about every connected individual of the entity:
his or her full name, including any aliases;
his or her identity card number, birth certificate number, passport number, or other similar unique identification number issued by a government authority;
his or her role in relation to the entity;
where the relevant party is a class of possible beneficiaries under the trust — a description of the class of possible beneficiaries under the trust; and
the role of the relevant party in relation to the trust.
Subregulation 3
The steps mentioned in paragraph (1) must be taken —
in the case of a trust that is a relevant trust on 20 June 2025 — as soon as reasonably practicable on or after that date or after the relevant party is known to the trustee, as the case may be;
in the case of a relevant trust created after 20 June 2025 — as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant trust is created or after the relevant party is known to the trustee, as the case may be; and
in the case of a trust that is not a relevant trust on 20 June 2025 but which becomes a relevant trust after that date — as soon as reasonably practicable after the trust becomes a relevant trust or after the relevant party is known to the trustee, as the case may be.
Subregulation 3A
Despite paragraph (1), the trustee of a relevant trust may choose not to take any step if there is reason to believe that taking that step will tip off a relevant party —
who is mentioned in paragraph (f) of the definition of “relevant trust party” in section 83(1) of the Act; and
whom the trustee reasonably believes does not know of the existence of the relevant trust,that the relevant trust exists.
Subregulation 4
In paragraph (2)(b)(vii), “connected individual” —
in relation to an entity that is a partnership, means any partner or manager;
in relation to a trust or other similar arrangement, means any relevant party of the trust or other similar arrangement; and
in relation to any other entity, means any director, or any individual having executive authority, in the entity.