SINGAPORE - A new digital identity, dubbed CorpPass, will be required for businesses to access e-government services from Sept 15 in a move to enhance security and privacy.

The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) - which is behind the rollout of CorpPass and SingPass - said that having two separate log-in systems for citizens and businesses will enhance security and individuals' privacy.

Mr Chan Cheow Hoe, IDA assistant chief executive, said: This (the rollout) creates opportunities for even more services and transactions to be provided online conveniently and securely."

Businesses apply for business grants, or to declare their imports or exports on the websites of these agencies. Currently, businesses use and share the SingPass accounts of individuals for corporate transactions, including filing corporate taxes and making work permit applications.

The first four government agencies to require CorpPass are the Singapore Customs, National Environment Agency, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The 13-year-old SingPass system authenticates local residents' personal e-government transactions such as income tax filing and parking fine payment.

Individuals' SingPass accounts, which are more easily stolen, had been abused by illegal syndicates to make fraudulent work pass applications.

Since a trial in April (2016), more than 1,500 business users have registered and activated their CorpPass accounts .

IDA will roll out CorpPass progressively with more government agencies coming on board over the next few months. The new sign-in system will be mandatory for most e-government transactions by the end of next year (2017).