Annual Compliance Requirements for Singapore Companies
2025 Guide

Last Updated: Nov 2025

Every Singapore company must meet specific annual compliance requirements to fulfil its legal obligations and remain in good standing with government authorities. These obligations, prescribed under the Companies Act and the Income Tax Act, ensure that companies maintain accurate financial records and submit timely filings to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

This article serves as the top-level guide to Singapore’s annual compliance requirements:

  • Preparation of Annual Financial Statements
  • Holding an Annual General Meeting (AGM)
  • Filing Annual Return with ACRA
  • Filling Annual Tax Return with IRAS
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Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

What is Annual Compliance for Singapore Companies?

Preparation of Annual Financial Statements

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Filing the Annual Return with ACRA

Filling Annual Tax Return with IRAS

Annual Compliance Deadlines Explained

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Other Compliance Items

How to Stay Compliant

FAQs

Annual Compliance in Singapore

Key Takeaways

Every Singapore company must meet annual compliance requirements with both ACRA and IRAS to remain in good standing.

Key obligations include preparing financial statements, holding an AGM, filing the Annual Return, and submitting tax filings.

Compliance deadlines are determined by the company’s Financial Year End (FYE).

Small and dormant private companies may qualify for audit exemption under ACRA’s criteria.

Annual compliance in Singapore is simple when managed properly, but the rules are strictly enforced, missed filings can lead to penalties and court action.

What is Annual Compliance for Singapore Companies?

Annual compliance for Singapore companies involves fulfilling the reporting and filing obligations required by two main regulators:

ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority)

ACRA is the national regulator in Singapore for business registration, financial reporting, public accountants, and corporate service providers. It oversees corporate governance and requires companies to prepare financial statements, hold their Annual General Meeting, and file the Annual Return. ACRA also administers XBRL financial reporting standards and maintains the official company registry.

IRAS (Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore)

IRAS is the Government agency responsible for the administration of taxes in Singapore. Every company must submit its Estimated Chargeable Income and Corporate Income Tax Return within the prescribed deadlines based on the company’s Financial Year End and the corresponding Year of Assessment.

In short, Annual Compliance is a set of recurring tasks and statutory filings required by ACRA and IRAS. These tasks ensure that every company maintains accurate financial records, discloses key information to stakeholders, and remains transparent and accountable in its operations.

Still need to incorporate your company? Start with our Singapore Company Incorporation Guide, a step-by-step roadmap built for global founders.

Annual Compliance Requirements Explained

Annual compliance for Singapore companies revolves around four main requirements. Here’s what each one means and what your company needs to do. All of these obligations are tied to, and triggered by, your company’s Financial Year End (FYE), which determines the filing deadlines for both ACRA and IRAS.

Preparation of Annual Financial Statements

Every Singapore company is required to prepare and file annual financial statements that present the company’s financial performance and position for a given financial year. These statements must be prepared in accordance with the Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS).

Audit of Financial Statements

Most Singapore companies qualify for audit exemption under the Companies Act and are therefore not required to have their financial statements audited by an external auditor. This significantly reduces the administrative burden for small and mid-size businesses.

Financial Statements in XBRL Format

Some companies in Singapore are required to file their financial statements in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) because ACRA uses this digital format to standardize how financial data is submitted and analyzed. The XBRL filing requirement applies mainly to larger or non-exempt companies because these entities have greater public interest and their financial data contributes to national statistics, regulatory analysis, and market transparency.

Responsibility for This Compliance Task

While the appointed accountant or service provider usually prepares the financial statements, the company’s directors are legally responsible for making sure they are complete and accurate.

Complete Guide to Annual Financial Statements

For full guidance on this compliance task, read our guide to Annual Financial Statements, which explains everything you need to know about preparing, formatting, and filing your company’s statements in line with Singapore’s standards and regulatory requirements.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

An Annual General Meeting for a Singapore company is a mandatory yearly meeting where directors present the company’s financial statements to shareholders and seek approval for key matters such as director appointments, auditor appointments (if applicable), and other statutory resolutions. By default, the AGM must be held within six months after the Financial Year End, and the financial statements presented must be up to date for that financial year.

How to Hold an AGM

An AGM may be conducted physically, virtually, or in hybrid form, as long as shareholders can participate effectively and vote on resolutions. Small companies often use a written resolution approach, sometimes referred to as a “paper AGM,” where all matters are approved in writing instead of holding a meeting.

Who Must Hold an AGM

All Singapore private limited companies must hold an AGM unless they qualify for an exemption.

Responsbility for This Compliance Task

Although your company secretary usually manages the paperwork and logistics, the directors are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the AGM is properly held or validly exempted in line with the Companies Act.

Complete Guide to AGM

For full guidance on this compliance task, read our guide to Annual General Meeting, which walks you through how to hold, dispense with, or document your company’s AGM in accordance with Singapore’s Companies Act requirements..

Filing the Annual Return with ACRA

After the AGM (or completion of the no-AGM process), a Singapore company must file an Annual Return with ACRA. The Annual Return provides an updated snapshot of the company’s structure, officers, shareholders, and financial position. The Annual Return (AR) must be filed within seven months after the company’s financial year end.

What Annual Return Contains

  • Company details such as name, registration number, and registered office
  • Information on current directors, the company secretary, and shareholders
  • Share capital and shareholding structure
  • Date of the AGM or confirmation that the company qualifies for the no AGM option
  • The company’s annual financial statements

Responsibility for This Compliance Task

The company’s directors are responsible for ensuring that the Annual Return is filed accurately and on time with ACRA, while the actual filing is typically carried out by the appointed company secretary.

Complete Guide to Annual Return Filing

For full guidance on this compliance task, read our guide to filing Annual Return with ACRA, where we break down the process, timing, and key requirements to help you stay compliant.

Filling Annual Tax Return with IRAS

All Singapore-incorporated companies must file their annual tax return with IRAS to report their income and tax calculation. This filing applies even if the company was dormant or incurred losses during the financial year. Annual tax return is filed in two steps:

Filing of Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) Form

An Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) form must be filed within three months after the end of the company’s financial year-end. ECI provides an early estimate of the company’s taxable income and gives IRAS a preliminary view of the company’s tax position.

Filing of Final Income Tax Return Form C

A final tax return must be filed with IRAS by 30 November of the year following the company’s financial year end, using Form C (or the simplified Form C-S where applicable). This return reports the company’s actual income, deductions, and final tax payable. For example, if your financial year ends anytime in 2025, the tax return must be filed by 30 November 2026.

Responsibility for This Task

The company’s directors are responsible for ensuring that all tax filings are completed accurately and submitted to IRAS on time, although the preparation and filing are normally handled by the appointed accounting and tax team.

Complete Guide to Corporate Tax Filing

For full guidance on this compliance task, read our guide to Annual Corporate Tax Filing, where we walk you through how to prepare, file, and pay your company’s taxes in line with IRAS requirements..

Annual Compliance Deadlines Explained

This section helps you understand how the various annual compliance deadlines are determined and how they relate to your company’s Financial Year End (FYE). The example timelines showing how annual compliance deadlines vary based on different Financial Year End (FYE) dates.
Compliance ItemFYE: 30 Jun 2025FYE: 31 Aug 2025FYE: 31 Dec 2025FYE: 31 Mar 2026
ECI Filing Deadline
(within 3 months after FYE)		30 Sep 202530 Nov 202531 Mar 202630 Jun 2026
Financial Statements (FS) Deadline
(Preparation and filing)		 31 Dec 2025;
31 Jan 2026		 28 Feb 2026;
31 Mar 2026		 30 Jun 2026;
31 Jul 2026		 30 Sep 2026;
31 Oct 2026
AGM Deadline31 Dec 202528 Feb 202630 Jun 202630 Sep 2026
Annual Return (AR) Filing Deadline31 Jan 202631 Mar 202631 Jul 202631 Oct 2026
Income Tax Filing Deadline (Form C)30 Nov 202630 Nov 202630 Nov 202630 Nov 2027

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Failure to meet annual filing requirements can lead to enforcement actions by ACRA or IRAS. Both regulators impose financial penalties and may take further action against company directors for persistent breaches.

ACRA-Related Penalties

Failure to meet ACRA’s annual filing requirements can lead to financial penalties and legal consequences for both the company and its directors:

  • Late Annual Return filing attracts composition fines that increase with the length of delay; persistent non-compliance may lead to prosecution.
  • In serious cases, ACRA may strike the company off the register.
  • Directors can be held personally accountable, face disqualification from acting as directors in the future, and may be required to attend court if summoned.

IRAS-Related Penalties

Failure to file tax returns or Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) with IRAS on time can result in late-filing penalties and enforcement action.

  • IRAS may issue an estimated Notice of Assessment (NOA) based on its own calculation of the company’s income, and the tax must be paid even if the estimate exceeds the actual amount.
  • Continued non-compliance can lead to additional fines, a summons to court, or prosecution.

Staying compliant is therefore essential to avoid unnecessary costs, serious consequences, and reputational risks.

Describing Annual Compliance Requirements for Singapore Companies

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A Quick Note on Other Compliance Items

While the following items are not part of Singapore’s annual compliance requirements, they are included here for completeness and to provide general guidance for company founders.

Change of Financial Year End (FYE)

Companies may change their Financial Year End if needed for operational or reporting reasons. The change must be filed with ACRA and adjusting the FYE will affect the annual compliance deadlines accordingly.

Maintaining Statutory Registers and Company Records

A Singapore company must maintain up-to-date statutory registers, including:

  • Register of shareholders
  • Register of directors, company secretaries, and CEOs
  • Register of charges
  • Register of beneficial owners and controllers (RBO)

Companies must also keep accounting records, resolutions, minutes of meetings, and financial documents for at least five years. These must be available for inspection when required.

Updating ACRA on Changes to Company Structure

Any changes to key company structure must be filed with ACRA within the prescribed timelines.

This includes updates to:

  • Appointment or resignation of directors
  • Change of company secretary
  • Share transfers or share allotments
  • Change of registered office address
  • Change of company name or business activity codes (SSIC)

Most changes must be filed within 14 days, and failure to do so can result in penalties.

Dormant Company Compliance

A company is considered dormant if it has no business activity and no income during the financial year. Dormant companies may enjoy reduced compliance requirements, such as:

  • Audit exemption
  • Potential exemption from preparing financial statements (if they qualify as dormant relevant companies under Section 201A)

However, dormancy does not automatically exempt a company from filing obligations. Dormant companies must still:

  • File the Annual Return
  • File tax returns unless IRAS has granted a waiver

How to Stay Compliant

Managing annual compliance can be time consuming, especially for founders who are focused on growing their business. The simplest and most reliable way to stay compliant is to work with a professional corporate service provider that tracks deadlines, prepares the required documents, and handles all ACRA and IRAS submissions on your behalf.

A good compliance support system should include:

  • Automated reminders for all key deadlines such as AGM, Annual Return, ECI, and tax return filing
  • Proper preparation and maintenance of statutory registers, resolutions, and financial statements
  • Accurate and timely filing of all statutory submissions with ACRA and IRAS

Using a trusted service provider helps avoid missed deadlines, late penalties, or administrative issues and ensures that your company remains in good standing throughout the year.

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How Can We Help?

At Corporate Services, we make the annual compliance process simple and stress free. Through our CSP Platform, you will work with experienced professionals who manage all aspects of your company’s compliance efficiently and accurately.

Whether you are setting up a new company or looking to switch to a reliable service provider, our team can take over your compliance tasks seamlessly and ensure that your filings are always up to date.

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Eddy Putra

Author

Eddy Putra

Eddy has been in the corporate services industry for over 20 years. An experienced Chartered Accountant and alumnus of Deloitte Singapore, he has extensive expertise in corporate finance, tax, structuring, and regulatory compliance. Eddy specializes in advising global clients on business expansion and corporate migration to Singapore.

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