Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

The limited liability partnership is a relative newcomer to the Singapore business world and sits between partnerships and private limited companies. LLPs were introduced to provide a business vehicle which has the flexibility of a partnership, with the benefit of limited liability.

LLPs do not have directors, shareholders or partners. Instead they just have members, who own and run the business. LLPs are taxed in a similar manner as partnerships. This means that members of LLPs are treated as if they are carrying on business personally and taxed as self-employed. The members of LLPs are also treated for taxation purposes as owning the assets of the business personally.

However this comes with safeguards in law to minimize abuse and provide protection to parties who deal with the LLP. The LLP is a body corporate and has legal personality separate from its partners. The LLP has perpetual succession. Any change in the partners of a LLP does not affect its existence, rights or liabilities.

An LLP is capable of:

• Suing and being sued in its name;
• Acquiring and holding property in its name;
• Having a common seal and
• Doing such other acts and things in its name, as bodies corporate may lawfully do and suffer.