Annual Filling Returns

Annual Filling Requirements for ACRA

Annual General Meeting

Every Company must hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) every calendar year and its financial statements are to be tabled at the AGM for the shareholders’ approval

• once in every calendar year
• 15 months from the date of the last AGM, whichever is the earliest

Annual Returns

Every company must file an Annual Return (AR), which consists of pertinent information of the company and its financial accounts reports within one month of its AGM.

Filing of Financial Statements in XBRL

Companies are required to file their financial statements in XBRL format during the filing of AR   if your company is insolvent (Total Assets – Total Liabilities = Negative Value) or/and has a corporate shareholder for the financial year.

Extension of Time

If your company requires more time to comply with the requirements for preparation of the financial statements for the holding of AGM and the filing of AR, a one-time extension of time of either one or two months before the deadline to hold the AGM can be applied. If your company requires extension of time, please contact us for assistance.

Notification of Changes

It is the company’s responsibility to update ACRA of any changes pertaining to the company, such as shareholders’ and officers’ personal particulars (passport, NRIC / FIN, residential address, etc.), share capital and change of business address, within 14 days. Failure to do so will incur penalties.

Certificate of Compliance

Companies that comply with the filings  within the datelines, will have a green tick  () reflected in ACRA’s Online Directory and will be eligible for a Certificate of Compliance whilst those not in compliance with any or all the requirements will receive a red cross () and will not eligible for the certificate.

Failure for Non-compliance

Failure for non-compliance with the requirements for holding of AGM and filing of AR will incur penalty and/or court prosecution. The penalties imposed are dependent on the length of default and the number of sections of the Companies Act you have breached.

Annual Filling Requirements for IRAS

Estimated Chargeable Income

Estimated Chargable Income (ECI) is an estimate  of a company’s chargeable income for a Year of Assessment (YA). IRAS requires each company to submit an ECI for the Year of Assessment within three months after the financial year ends.

Exemption: You do not need to file for ECI if your company’s turnover is less than S$1 million and has no profit to report for the YA.

Note: Failure to submit your ECI on time will result in IRAS issuing you a Notice of Assessment (NOA) based on an estimation of your company’s income.

Preparation of Financial Report – Audited and Unaudited

Companies are required to prepare director(s) statements and financial report  in  accordance with SFRS each year for ACRA and IRAS for Filing. The report includes financial statements such as balance sheet, income statement, supporting notes and disclosures.

A company must audit its accounts if they do not meet the following 2 out of 3 criteria, to be exempted from audit.

1. The Group Turnover is not more than S$10 million;
2. The Group Gross Assets are not more than S$10 million;
3. The Group has not more than 50

Companies can consider the following two options in preparing the Financial Reports.

Option 1:

Unaudited Report: A company can opt to prepare Compilation Report, if they meet the small group criteria. This saves time and cost in comparison with audits.

Option 2:

Audited Report: A company can opt for voluntary audit even if they meet the small group criteria.

Auditors must be appointed within 3 months from the date of company incorporation.

Tax Return Filing

The filing deadline for corporate income tax return is 30 November. Documents to be submitted are tax computations, tax returns (Form C/C-S) and/or audited/unaudited Reports.

Statutory Compliance Requirements

Financial Year End

Each company in Singapore has to determine its Financial Year End (FYE). The FYE is the completion of an accounting period. A company’s FYE does not necessarily need to fall on December 31, and can actually fall on any day in the year.

A company’s fiscal year is the same as its financial year. The company’s FYE is left for the company to decide. Most companies use either the end of the calendar year (December 31) or the end of any of the quarter (March 31, June 30, or September 30) as their FYE.

Note: It is best to keep the company’s FYE within 365 days in order to qualify for the Tax Exemption Scheme for New Start-up Companies (See page 10 ).

Company Registration Number

Singapore Companies Act requires every company to have its registration number known as Unique Entity Number (UEN) on all business letterheads, statements of account, invoices, official notices, publications, etc.

Business Licenses and Permits

Certain business activities in Singapore are subject to regulation by government authorities. Even if your company has been registered, you cannot begin operation unless you have the necessary approval or license from the relevant government authorities.

Singapore GST Registration

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a tax on the supply of goods and services in Singapore and on the import of goods into Singapore. Goods exported from Singapore and international services provided from Singapore are exempt from GST. The current GST rate is 7%.

Compulsory Registration for GST

All Singapore companies must register for GST if:

1. Their taxable revenue is more than S$1 million for any 12-month period at the end of any quarter (Mar, Jun, Sep and Dec); or
2. The company is currently making local taxable supplies and the above mentioned revenue is estimated/expected to be more than S$1

Voluntary Registration for GST

You may choose to register for GST voluntarily if most of your supplies are local sales, even if expected sales revenue is below S$1 million. Approval for voluntary registration is at the discretion of the Comptroller in IRAS

Central Registration (CR) Number for Import and Export of Goods

If your business activities involve import and export or Tran-shipment in and out of Singapore, your company will need to register with the Singapore Customs and obtain a CR Number.

Registered Office Hours

All Singapore Companies must have a registered office within Singapore which shall be open and accessible to the public for not less than three hours during ordinary business hours on each working day.

Registration of CorpPass

All Singapore Companies that wish to transact online with Government agencies will need to register for CorpPass, a single corporate digital identity.

Register of Registrable Controllers

All companies incorporated in Singapore and foreign companies registered in Singapore must maintain a register of registrable controllers. Registrable controllers refer to individuals or legal entities that have a significant interest in/significant control over the company.

The register can be maintained in electronic or paper format and must be kept at the registered office of the company or at the registered office or its filing agent. The company must notify ACRA on the location of the register when filing its Annual Returns.

Register of Nominee Directors

Companies are  required  to  disclose  the  status  of nominee directors explicitly. Particulars of nominators to their companies must also be maintained in such register. The register is not a public register but access must be given to officers of public agencies in the event of any enquiry.

Hiring a Local

CPF Compliance

The Central Provident Fund (CPF) is a compulsory pension fund scheme in which the employer and employee contribute a percentage of the monthly salary to the fund. CPF contribution by the employer is mandatory for all local employees who are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents earning more than S$50 a month.

The maximum CPF contribution rate for employers and employees is 17% and 20% respectively and can be lower depending on certain factors such as employee age and permanent resident status. EP holders do not have to contribute to CPF.

Compulsory Skills Development Levy

All companies are  required  to  contribute  a  fee  to the Skills Development Fund, which is used to support workforce upgrading programmes. Skills Development Levy (SDL) contribution is payable by employers for all employees working in Singapore, including local employees employed on permanent, part-time, casual and temporary basis, foreign employees on work permits and Employment Pass holders.

SDL contribution amounts are up to the first $4,500 of each employee’s total monthly wages at a levy rate of 0.25% or a minimum of $2 (for total wages of

$800 or less), whichever is higher.

Hiring a Foreigner

Compulsory Work Visas

All foreigners need to get their work visas approved by the Ministry of Manpower before they can start legally working for a Singapore-based business entity in the country.

There are five work visa types:

• Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) – for top-tier, gold-collar professionals
• Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) – for entrepreneurs, investors and innovators
• Employment Pass (EP) – for experienced professionals, managerial personnel and executives
• S Pass – for mid-level skilled workers
• Work Permit – for semi-skilled or unskilled foreign workers

Tax Rates for Companies

.

Ref: https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Quick-Links/Tax-Rates/Corporate-Tax-Rates/

Personal Tax Rates* for Resident Individuals

From YA 2017 onwards

Ref: https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Individuals/Locals/Working-Out-Your-Taxes/Income-Tax-Rates/