This roundup summarises the regulatory developments, official announcements and policy changes from September 2026 that have practical effects on small and medium-sized enterprises in Singapore. It is written for the founders and directors of Singapore private limited companies.
Company Law
ACRA and SID Launch a Training Programme for Company Directors
The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), Singapore’s companies regulator, has partnered with the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) to offer the Company Director Fundamentals programme. The ten-module course covers the main legal, fiduciary and governance duties of directors. Enrolment opens in October 2026, and participants who complete the course receive a certificate issued jointly by ACRA and SID.
The programme is designed for founders and foreign entrepreneurs who have recently completed setting up a company in Singapore and are not yet familiar with the duties of a director under Singapore law.
IVAS Issues Guidance on Valuing Intangible Assets
The Institute of Valuers and Appraisers, Singapore (IVAS), the professional body for business valuers, has issued new guidance on valuing intangible assets such as trademarks, software, patents and customer relationships. The guidance supplements the International Valuation Standards and sets out methods intended to make these valuations more consistent and reliable.
For many startups, intangible assets account for most of the company’s value, but they are often recorded in the financial statements at a much lower amount or not recorded at all. Founders planning a fundraising round, share transfer, IP licensing agreement or bank loan may wish to confirm that their valuation follows this guidance, as investors and lenders may refer to it when assessing the valuation.
Tax & Accounting Law
IRAS Sets Out Information Requirements for GST Technical Clarification Requests
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), the national tax authority, has published guidelines on the information to include when asking IRAS to confirm the GST (Goods and Services Tax) treatment of a transaction. The guidelines apply from 1 September 2026 and are intended mainly for tax agents who submit such requests on behalf of companies.
Each request must include a signed letter of authority from the company, a full description of the transaction, and supporting documents such as contracts. IRAS may decline to respond if information is missing, so GST-registered companies may wish to prepare these documents before instructing their tax agent.
Estimated Chargeable Income Due on 30 September for Companies with a June Financial Year End
Companies with a financial year ending in June must file their Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) with IRAS by 30 September 2026. ECI is an estimate of the company’s taxable profit for the year, which the company files before its full tax return.
The annual corporate income tax return (Form C-S, Form C-S (Lite) or Form C) is due on 30 November 2026.
Source: https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/corporate-income-tax/estimated-chargeable-income-(eci)-filing
Immigration Law
ICA Warns of Fake Consultancies Offering Help with PR Applications
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the government agency that processes applications for Singapore permanent residence (PR) and citizenship, issued an advisory on 25 September 2026 together with the Singapore Police Force. The advisory describes social media advertisements that lead applicants to the websites of fake consultancies. These consultancies ask for payments of up to around S$90,000 and send victims fake approval letters printed with ICA’s letterhead.
ICA states that it does not support or endorse any service that claims to improve an applicant’s chances of obtaining PR. Foreign founders and Employment Pass holders who plan to apply for PR are advised to submit their applications directly through ICA’s website and to contact ICA to confirm whether a letter or email is genuine.
Licensing & Regulatory Compliance
MAS Consults on Draft Law to Regulate Stablecoin Issuers
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Singapore’s central bank and financial regulator, published a consultation paper on 1 September 2026 with draft amendments to the Payment Services Act 2019, the law that licenses payment and digital token businesses. A stablecoin is a digital token designed to keep a fixed value against a currency, such as the Singapore dollar. The amendments set out the conditions a stablecoin issuer must meet to become regulated by MAS, including requirements on maintaining the token’s value and protecting users.
Stablecoins that are not regulated by MAS would continue to be treated as digital payment tokens and would remain subject to the existing rules for such tokens. Founders of fintech and digital asset startups that plan to issue or use stablecoins in Singapore may submit comments to MAS until 16 October 2026.
Government Grants, Incentives, Support Schemes
EDGE Grant Replaces EDG, PSG and MRA
Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), the government agency responsible for SME development, stopped accepting new applications for three business grants on 29 September 2026: the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG), the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) and the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant. From 30 September, companies apply for support under a single scheme, the EDGE Grant, which covers more than 100 activities, including digitalisation, overseas expansion and sustainability.
EDGE funds up to 70% of eligible costs for SMEs and up to 50% for larger companies, with a total cap of S$100,000 per company per year. The grant is paid as a reimbursement after the project is completed and paid for. Applications submitted under EDG, PSG or MRA before 30 September continue to be assessed under the rules of the original scheme.
Source: https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/financial-support/edge-grant
Government Share of SME Loan Risk Raised to 70%
Under the Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS), EnterpriseSG covers part of a bank’s loss if a business fails to repay a loan, which makes banks more willing to lend to SMEs. From 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, EnterpriseSG’s share of this risk on SME Working Capital Loans is 70% for all borrowers, compared with the usual 50%.
The borrower remains responsible for repaying the full loan amount. Working Capital Loans are limited to S$500,000 per borrower and are available only to companies in which Singapore citizens or permanent residents hold at least 30% of the shares.
Source: https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/financial-support/enterprise-financing-scheme—sme-working-capital
Planned Employer Support under the New Skills Agency
At the launch of the SkillsFuture Festival on 16 September 2026, the Prime Minister described plans for the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA). SWDA was formed on 1 July 2026 by merging SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore, the two agencies responsible for training and employment support. The plans include a single online portal for employers and an advisory centre, Connect by SWDA, that will help businesses redesign jobs and train their staff.
Smaller businesses will receive additional support, including funding towards the cost of job redesign. The speech did not state launch dates or funding amounts, so employers may wish to check SWDA announcements in the coming months.
Source: https://www.pmo.gov.sg/newsroom/pm-lawrence-wong-at-the-launch-of-skillsfuture-festival-sep-2026/
Funding & Startup Ecosystem
BizSG Portal Brings Government Business Support into One Place
On 9 September 2026, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) announced BizSG, a government initiative that allows businesses to find and use government support and services through a single online portal instead of separate agency websites. The portal became available from 30 September and includes an AI-based tool that recommends relevant grants based on a company’s needs.
At the same event, EnterpriseSG announced changes to the Enterprise Leadership for Transformation (ELT) programme, which helps SME leaders prepare and carry out growth plans. Each participating company will now be assigned an adviser from an SME Centre, one of the government-supported business advice centres run with local trade associations. Foreign founders who do not yet know which agency administers which scheme can use BizSG to find the relevant schemes on one website.