All Singapore incorporated companies are required to file financial statements with ACRA, except for those which are exempted. Some companies will file a full set of financial statements in XBRL format, while some others will file only salient financial data in XBRL format and a full set of financial statements in PDF. The filing requirements depend on the type of company you own (see table below).
If you own a sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited partnership, you are not required to file financial statements with ACRA.
Type of company | Financial Statements you need to file |
Public / private companies (limited or unlimited by shares), except those under (a) and (b) below | Full set of financial statements in XBRL format. |
(a) Specific companies regulated by MAS, such as commercial banks, merchant banks, insurance companies, and finance companies* *Companies other than the specified types (e.g. money changers) are required to file a full set of XBRL financial statements | Financial Statements Highlights in XBRL format, plus PDF copy of the financial statements. |
(b) Companies permitted to use accounting standards other than SFRS, SFRS for Small Entities, and IFRS** ** SFRS stands for Singapore Financial Reporting Standards and IFRS stands for International Financial Reporting Standards | Financial Statements Highlights in XBRL format, plus PDF copy of the financial statements. |
Solvent Exempt Private Companies (EPCs) | Exempted from filing financial statements. Nonetheless, you are encouraged to file the full set of financial statements or the financial statement highlights in XBRL format. |
Insolvent EPCs | You must either: (a) file a full set of financial statements in XBRL format, or(b) financial statements highlights in XBRL format, plus a PDF copy of the financial statements. |
Companies limited by guarantee | PDF copy of the financial statements |
Foreign companies, or local branches of foreign companies | PDF copy of the financial statements |