Annual Return Filing Singapore | ACRA Annual Return Service

A director in Bedok called us last Tuesday - ACRA sent him a letter about late annual return filing. He'd missed the deadline by two weeks. The fine? $300 plus a late lodgement fee. "I thought annual return and tax return were the same thing," he said. They're not. Your ACRA annual return updates your company's official information with ACRA - directors, shareholders, registered address, share capital. It's completely separate from your IRAS tax filing. Miss this deadline and ACRA can fine you, prosecute directors, or even strike off your company. Here's everything you need to know about annual return filing in Singapore and how to avoid the penalties that catch hundreds of companies every year.

Every Singapore company must file an annual return with ACRA within 7 months of financial year-end. This filing keeps ACRA's public register up to date with your company's current information. Dormant companies must file. Active companies must file. Even if you had zero business activity, you still must file.

What is ACRA Annual Return

ACRA annual return is an online form you file through BizFile+ that contains your company's current information. It's not a tax form - it's a corporate registry update.

What Your Annual Return Contains:

• Company particulars: Company name, UEN, registered office address, business activities
• Director and secretary details: Names, addresses, NRIC/passport numbers, appointment dates
• Shareholder information: Names, shareholdings, number of shares held
• Share capital details: Issued share capital, paid-up capital, classes of shares
• Financial year-end date: Date your accounts are made up to
• AGM information: Date you held AGM, or confirmation you dispensed with it
• Financial statements: Attached to annual return (for most companies)

This information updates ACRA's public register. Anyone can search your company on BizFile and see these details. Banks check it. Suppliers check it. Potential partners check it. Outdated information makes your company look poorly managed.

A trading company in Woodlands had wrong director information in ACRA's register for two years. Their ex-director had resigned but the change was never filed. When a bank did due diligence for a loan, they found the discrepancy. Bank put the loan on hold until ACRA records were corrected. Cost them weeks of delay.

Annual Return Filing Deadlines

Filing deadlines depend on your company type and when your financial year ends.

Private Companies (Pte Ltd):

File within 7 months after financial year-end. If your year-end is December 31, file by July 31 next year. This deadline applies whether or not you held an AGM.

Listed Companies:

File within 5 months after financial year-end. Tighter deadline because you're publicly traded.

Companies with Branch Register Overseas:

Private companies get 8 months. Listed companies get 6 months. The extra time accounts for coordinating with your overseas branch register.

Late Filing Penalties:

• File late = Late lodgement fee automatically added by BizFile+
• 1-2 months late: $300 composition fine offered
• Reject composition = ACRA prosecutes directors
• Very late (over 1 year) = Company may be struck off

These penalties are per company. If you're a director of three companies and all file late, that's three separate fines. ACRA doesn't care if you're busy - deadline is deadline.

Company Particulars Update

Before you file annual return, verify all company particulars in ACRA's system are current. Wrong information causes filing errors and ACRA queries.

Key Particulars to Verify:

1. Registered Office Address

Must be a physical Singapore address (not PO Box). If you moved offices during the year, was the change filed with ACRA? Check BizFile to confirm current address is correct.

2. Director Details

Names, NRIC/passport numbers, residential addresses. Any new directors appointed? Old ones resigned? These changes must be filed separately within 14 days of occurrence. But many companies miss this deadline and only discover the problem when filing annual return.

3. Company Secretary

Every company needs a qualified secretary. Changed secretary? File the change with ACRA. Still showing old secretary who left? Update it before filing annual return.

4. Business Activities

Primary and secondary SSIC codes. Changed your business focus? Update activities to reflect current operations.

We check all these particulars before filing annual returns for clients. Find wrong information? We file the corrections first, then file the annual return with accurate data. This prevents ACRA from rejecting your filing or sending query letters.

Director and Shareholder Information

Your annual return must show current directors and shareholders as of filing date. Any changes during the year must be properly recorded.

Director Information Required:

• Full name as per NRIC/passport
• NRIC/FIN/passport number
• Residential address
• Date of appointment
• Date of resignation (if applicable)

Shareholder Information Required:

• Full name/company name
• NRIC/UEN/passport number
• Address
• Number and class of shares held
• Date shares were allotted/transferred

Common errors: Showing directors who already resigned. Missing recently appointed directors. Wrong shareholdings because transfers weren't recorded. Outdated addresses. Each error causes ACRA to reject your filing.

A construction company in Jurong tried filing their annual return. ACRA rejected it - their director list showed four directors, but one had resigned six months ago and they never filed Form 45B (cessation of appointment). We filed the backdated Form 45B with explanation letter, then filed the annual return with correct director information.

Share Capital and Shareholding Details

Your annual return must accurately report your company's share capital and who owns the shares.

Share Capital Information:

• Issued share capital: Total value of shares issued (e.g., $100,000)
• Number of shares: How many shares exist (e.g., 100,000 shares)
• Classes of shares: Ordinary, preference, different voting rights
• Paid-up capital: How much shareholders actually paid for shares

Any share transactions during the year? Allotment of new shares, share transfers between shareholders, share buybacks - all must be reflected in annual return.

Share Transaction Filing:

Share allotments: File Form 40 within 14 days, then show new shares in annual return. Share transfers: Update internal register of members, show updated shareholding in annual return. Capital increase: File Form 24 first, then annual return reflects new capital.

Mismatch between your company's internal records and ACRA filing? ACRA rejects the annual return. We reconcile shareholdings before filing - compare share certificates issued, share transfer forms executed, allotment resolutions passed, with what's currently in ACRA's system. Everything must match.

Annual General Meeting Requirements

Your annual return asks about your AGM - did you hold one, or did you dispense with it?

AGM Rules for Private Companies:

You DON'T need to hold AGM if: All shareholders passed resolution to dispense with AGMs, OR you sent financial statements to all members within 5 months of financial year-end AND no shareholder requested AGM.

You MUST hold AGM if: You haven't dispensed with it, OR a shareholder requests one, OR you're a listed company.

AGM Timing Rules:

• First AGM: Within 18 months of incorporation
• Subsequent AGMs: Within 6 months of financial year-end
• Gap between AGMs: Not more than 15 months

When filing annual return, you indicate: AGM date (if you held one), OR tick box confirming you dispensed with AGM or qualify for exemption.

A retail company in Tampines filed annual return saying they held AGM on June 15. But they actually didn't hold one - they just picked a date. ACRA can ask for AGM minutes as proof. Company had no minutes because no meeting happened. This is filing false information with ACRA - a prosecutable offense. If you didn't hold AGM, mark that you dispensed with it (if you qualify).

Financial Statements Filing with ACRA

Most companies must attach financial statements to their annual return. These are the same financial statements your directors approved (at AGM or by written resolution).

Who Must File Financial Statements:

• All companies except Exempt Private Companies (EPC)
• Insolvent EPCs must still file
• Dormant companies may be exempt if they meet specific criteria

What is an Exempt Private Company:

A company with 20 or fewer shareholders, all of whom are individuals (no corporate shareholders). If you're solvent (can pay debts) and meet this definition, you don't file financial statements with ACRA. But you still must prepare them for your shareholders.

Financial Statements Format:

Most companies file in XBRL format (machine-readable data). Small companies can use simplified XBRL template. Larger companies use full XBRL. If you're not an accountant, you need professional help with XBRL - wrong tags = rejected filing.

Financial statements must include: Statement of financial position (balance sheet), Statement of comprehensive income (profit & loss), Notes to accounts, Directors' statement.

These statements show your company's financial health to the public. Anyone paying $5.50 can download your filed financial statements from ACRA. Suppliers check them. Banks check them. Potential investors check them.

XBRL Filing Requirements

XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) is how ACRA wants your financial statements filed. It's structured data that computers can read and analyze.

Who Must File XBRL:

• Non-exempt companies
• Insolvent EPCs
• Foreign companies registered in Singapore

XBRL Template Types:

Full XBRL Template: For publicly accountable companies (listed, banks, insurance, holding clients' assets). Complete financial statements in XBRL format with PDF copy.

Simplified XBRL Template: For non-publicly accountable companies (most SMEs). Key financial data in XBRL format with PDF copy of full statements.

Filing XBRL isn't just converting PDF to XBRL. You must map your financial statement items to ACRA's taxonomy tags. Wrong tags? File gets rejected. Missing required tags? Rejected. We use ACRA-approved software that validates XBRL files before submission - catches errors before ACRA sees them.

A logistics company tried filing their own XBRL using free software. Tagged their "Revenue" as "Other Income". Tagged "Cost of Sales" as "Administrative Expenses". ACRA's validation caught these errors and rejected the file. They came to us. We properly tagged everything according to SFRS structure and resubmitted. Accepted immediately.

Small Company Audit Exemption

Small companies don't need audited financial statements. This saves audit fees (usually $3,000-10,000) and makes annual return filing cheaper.

Small Company Criteria (must meet 2 of 3):

• Revenue not more than $10 million
• Total assets not more than $10 million
• Employees not more than 50

You must meet these criteria for the current year AND immediately preceding financial year. First year companies automatically qualify.

Small Company Status Benefits:

• No audit required (unless voluntarily opted)
• Can use simplified XBRL template
• Can dispense with AGM more easily
• Less disclosure required in financial statements

We calculate whether you qualify for small company status before preparing financial statements. If you qualify, we prepare unaudited statements with directors' statement. If you don't qualify, we coordinate with auditors to get audited statements ready before annual return deadline.

Dormant Company Annual Return Filing

Dormant companies (no accounting transactions since incorporation or last year) still must file annual returns. But some dormant companies get exemption from filing financial statements.

Dormant Company Financial Statement Exemption:

You're exempt from filing financial statements if: Company has been dormant since incorporation OR since last financial year-end, AND company passes "substantial assets test" (total assets don't exceed $500,000).

Even if exempt from filing financial statements, you must still: File annual return, Submit online declaration confirming dormant status, Keep company particulars updated.

Dormant companies still face same late filing penalties. ACRA doesn't care that you had no business activity - the annual return is mandatory.

Tax Preparation Service

ACRA annual return and IRAS corporate tax filing are separate. But smart companies bundle both services because your financial statements feed into both.

Same financial data, two different filings:

• ACRA: Gets your full financial statements (in XBRL) showing accounting profit
• IRAS: Gets tax computation based on those same financial statements, adjusted for tax rules

When we prepare your financial statements, we use them for both ACRA annual return and IRAS tax return. This ensures consistency - ACRA and IRAS both see the same base numbers, with IRAS tax adjustments properly documented.

Accounting Firm Expertise in Annual Return Compliance

Professional accounting firms handle annual return filing as part of corporate secretarial work. We know ACRA's filing requirements, validation rules, and what triggers rejections.

What We Do for Annual Return Filing:

• Verify all company particulars in ACRA's system before filing
• Check director, secretary, shareholder information is current
• Update any outdated information first (file change forms)
• Prepare financial statements in ACRA-compliant format
• Convert financial statements to XBRL with proper tagging
• Complete annual return form in BizFile+
• Validate everything before submission
• File before deadline (usually 30-60 days early)
• Keep copy of filed return and ACRA acknowledgment

We've filed 1,000+ annual returns. Our ACRA query rate is under 2%. Industry average is over 15%. The difference? Attention to detail and checking everything twice before filing.

Bookkeeping Service Foundation

Good bookkeeping makes annual return filing smooth. Your financial statements come from your accounting records. Bad books = delayed filing = potential late penalties.

Companies doing monthly bookkeeping with us have easier annual returns: Books are up to date year-round, Year-end close takes 2-3 days, Financial statements prepared quickly, Annual return filed 30+ days before deadline.

Companies with no bookkeeping all year: Come to us in June (when July deadline looms), We need 4-6 weeks to close books and prepare statements, They're stressed about deadline, Often pay rush fees.

Chartered Accountant Knowledge of Financial Statements

Chartered accountants prepare financial statements following Singapore Financial Reporting Standards. This expertise matters because ACRA can reject non-compliant statements.

Financial statement preparation requires: Knowledge of SFRS accounting treatments, Understanding of disclosure requirements, Ability to present financial position clearly, Proper note preparation, Directors' statement drafting.

Small companies can use SFRS for Small Entities - simplified standards with reduced disclosures. But financial statements must still be prepared properly with all required information.

Tax Advisor Coordination of Filings

Tax advisors coordinate ACRA and IRAS filings to ensure consistency. Your financial statements filed with ACRA should reconcile with your tax computation filed with IRAS.

We handle both filings with proper timeline: Prepare financial statements, File ACRA annual return (by 7 months after year-end), Use same statements for IRAS tax filing (by November), Maintain documentation showing how accounting profit becomes taxable income.

What Annual Return Filing Costs

• Dormant company: $300-$500
• Small company (simple): $500-$1,000
• Small company (complex): $1,000-$2,000
• Company requiring audit: $1,500-$3,000 (excluding audit fees)
• Group with subsidiaries: $1,000-$2,500 per entity
• Rush filing (near deadline): Add 50-100%

Price depends on:

• Bookkeeping quality (clean books = faster, cheaper)
• Company complexity (subsidiaries, loans, investments)
• Whether audit required
• Whether XBRL filing needed
• How close to deadline
• Number of director/shareholder changes to update

ACRA government filing fee: $60 for annual return. Late lodgement fee added automatically if you file late.

Why Companies Choose Us for Annual Return Filing

"You caught that our director information in ACRA was wrong. Fixed it before filing annual return. Saved us from rejection."

"Filed 45 days before deadline. First time in five years we weren't scrambling at the last minute."

"Your XBRL filing was perfect. Previous accountant's XBRL kept getting rejected by ACRA."

"You handled all the company particulars updates, XBRL filing, everything. We just signed. Easy."

We're ACCA and SQP top graduates, ex-Big 4 audit managers, and Singapore Chartered Accountants. We've filed 1,000+ ACRA annual returns for companies across Singapore. We know BizFile+ procedures, XBRL requirements, and ACRA validation rules. We respond within 1 hour. We track your deadline and file early every time.

Serving Companies Throughout Singapore

We handle ACRA annual return filing for companies across Singapore - from CBD startups to Woodlands manufacturers, Jurong trading companies to Tampines retailers. Location doesn't matter for annual return filing - we work remotely with most clients.

Whether you need simple dormant company filing or complex multi-entity annual returns with full XBRL financial statements, we can help. Contact us at least 2 months before your deadline for smooth, stress-free filing.