This April 2026 regulatory update summarises the main official announcements and policy changes relevant to entrepreneurs, founders, and directors of Singapore-incorporated companies.
The month brought several practical developments across company law, tax, grants, financing support, and digital compliance. Some changes affect core governance and tax planning, while others are relevant only to specific types of companies, such as exporters, regional expansion businesses, app publishers, or employers with training plans.
Company Law
Key Changes Under Corporate and Accounting Laws (Amendment) Act 2025 to Commence 6 May
On 16 April 2026, ACRA announced that the first tranche of provisions under the Corporate and Accounting Laws (Amendment) Act 2025 will take effect on 6 May 2026, with further provisions to commence in phases.
Two changes are especially relevant for private limited companies:
- Higher penalties for breach of directors’ duties. The maximum penalty under the Companies Act will increase to a fine of up to S$20,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months. This applies equally to executive, non-executive, and nominee directors.
- Two-tier approval for selective off-market share buybacks. In addition to the existing 75% special resolution of all shareholders, a separate 75% approval from shareholders within the affected share class will also be required.
SMEs planning founder buy-outs, investor exits, or share restructurings should review their constitutions and shareholder agreements ahead of the commencement date. Founders considering setting up a Singapore company should also factor these tighter governance standards into their incorporation planning.
Simplified Free Business Profile Download Now Available on BizFile
ACRA has rolled out a simplified process for downloading the free Business Profile via BizFile, with the streamlined feature available during April 2026.
The Business Profile is the official extract of a company’s ACRA-registered information. It includes details such as directors, shareholders, registered address, share capital, and business activities. It is routinely required for bank account opening, KYC checks, grant applications, tender submissions, and due diligence exercises.
Under the simplified process, company officers and authorised CSPs can access and download the profile with fewer steps. This reduces administrative friction for routine compliance tasks, especially for SMEs and corporate advisors who frequently pull Business Profiles for clients or counterparties.
Source:
https://www.acra.gov.sg/news-events/news-announcements/simplified-free-business-profile-download/
Tax & Accounting Law
CIT Rebate Enhanced from 40% to 50% Following 7 April 2026 Ministerial Statement
On 7 April 2026, Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow delivered a Ministerial Statement announcing close to S$1 billion in additional support measures in response to the Middle East situation.
For companies, the main change is an enhancement of the Year of Assessment 2026 Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Rebate originally announced at Budget 2026. The CIT Rebate is a one-off reduction applied automatically to a company’s final tax bill to help manage rising operating costs. It applies on top of standard reliefs such as the Start-Up Tax Exemption.
The April 2026 enhancements are:
- The rebate rate is raised from 40% to 50% of corporate tax payable.
- A minimum cash grant for active companies that employed at least one local employee in 2025 is raised from S$1,500 to S$2,000. The employee must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident with CPF contributions. Shareholder-directors do not count.
- The total combined benefits cap per company is raised from S$30,000 to S$40,000.
Disbursements began at the end of April 2026.
GST InvoiceNow Mandatory for All New Voluntary GST Registrants from 1 April 2026
From 1 April 2026, every new applicant for voluntary GST registration must transmit invoice data to IRAS through the InvoiceNow network as a condition of registration. This applies regardless of when the company was incorporated or what its business structure is, and non-compliant applications may be rejected.
InvoiceNow is Singapore’s nationwide e-invoicing network, built on the Peppol standard. Before applying, a company must obtain a Peppol ID and onboard onto an IMDA-accredited InvoiceNow-Ready Solution.
Many common accounting platforms, including Xero and QuickBooks, already support InvoiceNow, so onboarding usually means activating the feature in an existing tool. For foreign founders, voluntary GST registration is no longer paperwork-only: the accounting system must be ready to issue structured e-invoices from day one.
Government grants of up to S$1,000 for SMEs are available to defray onboarding costs.
Source:
https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-(gst)/gst-invoicenow-requirement
Government Grants, Incentives, Support Schemes
Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant: Support Enhanced to 70% from 1 April 2026
The MRA grant helps Singapore companies defray the cost of overseas expansion, covering activities such as overseas market promotion, business development, and market set-up.
From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, support has been raised from 50% to 70% of eligible costs for SMEs, while the S$100,000 cap per company per overseas market remains in place.
From the second half of 2026, the grant will also support deepening activities in existing overseas markets, not only entry into new markets. Eligibility will also be extended to non-SMEs at 50% support.
Foreign founders planning regional expansion from Singapore should note that applications must be submitted before project activities begin. Retrospective claims are not allowed.
Source:
https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/financial-support/market-readiness-assistance-grant
Business Adaptation Grant (BizAdapt): Enhanced 70% Support from 1 April 2026
The BizAdapt grant supports enterprises adapting their operations and supply chains in response to tariff measures and trade disruptions, with funding capped at S$100,000 per enterprise.
From 1 April 2026 to 6 October 2027, support has been enhanced to up to 70% for SMEs and up to 50% for non-SMEs.
Eligible activities include advisory support on supply chain optimisation and market diversification through pre-approved vendors. They also include reconfiguration costs for companies that own at least 51% of local or overseas manufacturing operations.
This grant is particularly relevant for SMEs with US export exposure or operations in markets affected by recent tariff measures.
Source:
https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/financial-support/business-adaptation-grant
Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS): Borrower Cap Raised to S$50 Million from 1 April 2026
From 1 April 2026, companies can tap facilities across the Enterprise Financing Scheme up to a maximum of S$50 million per borrower group. This gives companies more flexibility across different financing needs, especially overseas activities.
The EFS Merger & Acquisition track has also been expanded to support financing for both domestic and overseas M&A activities. Previously, this track was limited to overseas M&A.
For foreign founders looking to scale through acquisition or fund regional expansion from a Singapore parent company, the expanded cap and broader M&A coverage create additional financing options.
Source:
https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/financial-support/enterprise-financing-scheme
Heartland Enterprise Placemaking Grant: Support Enhanced to 70% from 1 April 2026
The Heartland Enterprise Placemaking Grant supports neighbourhood shops, coffee shops, and traditional trades with selected placemaking activities, such as shopfront refurbishment, signage, and merchandising.
From 1 April 2026, support for heartland enterprises has been increased to up to 70%, with funding still capped at S$14,000 per project.
This grant is most relevant to SMEs operating in heartland retail, F&B, or service businesses. It is less likely to be relevant for office-based companies.
Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) Schemes: Enhanced Support from 1 April 2026
The Global Innovation Alliance schemes connect Singapore companies and startups with overseas innovation hubs through programmes such as market acceleration, partnerships, and immersion.
From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, support has been enhanced to up to 70% for SMEs and up to 50% for non-SMEs.
Startups will also receive more tailored support, ranging from “Launch” programmes for entering new markets to “Grow” pathways for scaling in overseas markets.
For technology and innovation-driven SMEs, GIA can be a useful complement to the MRA grant when overseas expansion involves market access, partnerships, or startup ecosystem support.
SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC): Current Credits Expiring 30 November 2026, Redesigned Scheme from 1 December 2026
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) issued an Information Memorandum during April 2026 reminding employers that the current S$10,000 SFEC will expire on 30 November 2026.
For an enrolment to be eligible under the current SFEC, the course must be completed by that date, and final claims must be submitted on time. Unused credits will be forfeited.
A redesigned SFEC under the Enterprise Workforce Transformation Package (EWTP) will launch on 1 December 2026. Eligible companies will receive a fresh S$10,000 credit through a digital wallet that can offset out-of-pocket costs upfront, rather than via reimbursement.
For foreign founders running a Singapore company, this is a useful window to invest in employee training and capability-building before the deadline.
Source:
https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/financial-support/skillsfuture-enterprise-credit
Tech & Digital Law
App Store Age Assurance Measures Take Effect 1 April 2026
From 1 April 2026, designated app stores in Singapore are required to implement age assurance measures to prevent users estimated to be under 18 from downloading age-inappropriate apps.
The designated app stores are the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Huawei AppGallery, Microsoft Store, and Samsung Galaxy Store. The requirement is set out in IMDA’s Code of Practice for Online Safety for App Distribution Services.
For most Singapore companies, this change will not create a direct compliance obligation. However, if your business publishes apps with age-restricted content, such as dating, gambling, or adult-oriented services, you should review your age rating classifications and check that your distribution arrangements remain compliant.
Source:
https://www.imda.gov.sg/how-we-can-help/age-assurance
CSA Advisory on Risks Associated with Frontier AI Models
On 15 April 2026, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) issued an advisory on cybersecurity risks linked to frontier AI models.
The advisory notes that frontier AI models can reduce the time needed to identify vulnerabilities and engineer exploits from months to hours. Although the advisory is non-binding, it is still useful as a practical checklist for Singapore companies with websites, cloud systems, or customer data.
SMEs should review whether known vulnerabilities have been patched, whether multi-factor authentication is enabled on admin and cloud accounts, and whether any internet-facing development or test environments are properly secured.
Source:
https://www.csa.gov.sg/alerts-and-advisories/advisories/ad-2026-004/