How to File Singapore Annual Returns via Bizfile

Roger Pay
1 day ago
11 min read

How to File Singapore Annual Returns via Bizfile

How to file an annual return for a Singapore local company through Bizfile (ACRA's eService).

Quick Summary: ACRA Annual Return Rules

Who Must File: Every local company incorporated in Singapore (Active or Dormant).
Filing Platform: ACRA Bizfile portal using Corppass / Singpass.
Key Requirement: Pre-filled details from previous filings are available; you must review, update changes, attach financial statements/XBRL if required, declare solvency/audit exemptions, and pay the filing fee.
Perk: Filing completes your compliance requirement and generates a free Business Profile (downloadable within 60 days).

Pre-Filing Checklist

Before logging into Bizfile, ensure you have verified and prepared the following items:

Category	Requirements
User Access	Active Corppass account with "Business User" permissions linked to your Singpass.
Financial Year Details	Confirmed Financial Year End (FYE) date and company status (Active vs. Dormant).
AGM Information	Date of Annual General Meeting (AGM), or the date financial statements were sent to members if exempt from holding an AGM.
Financial Statements / XBRL	PDF of Financial Statements or validated XBRL filing via the BizFinx prep tool (if applicable). Note: Solvent Exempt Private Companies (EPCs) and dormant relevant companies are generally exempt.
Corporate Registers	Updated Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC), Nominee Directors (ROND), and Nominee Shareholders (RONS).

Step-by-Step Guide: Filing Annual Returns on Bizfile

1.Log In to Bizfile eService:

Prerequisites: Singpass and Corppass.

Go to the Bizfile homepage and click Login.
Choose Business User and authenticate via Singpass (ID/Password or QR scan).
Select the relevant company/entity from your Corppass access list.
From the main menu, navigate to: Annual filing → Local Company tab → File annual returns.
Click Start to initiate the application.

2.Verify Entity & FYE Information:

Review pre-filled company details. If details (e.g., registered address or officer details) need updates, run the Update entity information eService under the Manage tab first.
Confirm the Financial Year End (FYE) date.
Select the correct Company Type and operational status (Active/Dormant).

3.Complete Declarations by Entity Type:

Select your company structure to complete the required audit and solvency declarations:

Exempt Private Company (EPC): Declare solvency status (Solvent / Insolvent) and confirm if qualifying as a small company exempt from audit requirements.
Private Company Limited by Shares: Declare small company status for audit exemption. For dormant status, confirm eligibility for audit and financial statement preparation exemptions.
Public Company Limited by Shares / Guarantee: State active or dormant status. Declare listing status on any Singapore securities exchange during the financial period.
Unlimited Companies (EPC / Private / Public): Declare solvency status, financial statement filing duties, and small company audit exemptions.

4.Upload Financial Documents & Input AGM Details:

AGM Date: Enter the AGM date or the date financial statements were dispatched to members (if AGM is exempted).
XBRL Filing: If required to file in XBRL, link your pre-uploaded document generated via the BizFinx prep tool.
PDF Financial Statements: Drag and drop a PDF copy of your financial statements if required (Exemptions apply for solvent EPCs and dormant relevant companies).
Director Declarations: Select the directors who signed the Statement by Directors, declare the accounting standards used, and state the nature of the financial statements.
Click Review and confirm.

5.Review, Submit, and Pay:

Perform a final check on all information provided.
Tick the legal declaration checkbox.
Proceed to the payment gateway, select your payment method, and complete the transaction.
Save your payment receipt and filing acknowledgement.

Post-Filing Actions & Overdue Returns

Download Free Business Profile: Upon successful filing, an electronic Business Profile will be issued to your Bizfile Inbox. Download it within 60 days, as the link expires after this window.
Tax Filing Obligations: Filing your annual return with ACRA does not replace tax obligations. You must still complete Corporate Income Tax filings with IRAS unless a formal waiver is granted.
Filing Overdue Returns: If your company has multiple outstanding annual returns across previous financial years, you must file them sequentially starting from the oldest overdue year.
Need Extra Time? If you cannot meet your filing deadline, apply for an Extension of Time (EOT) of up to 60 days via Bizfile ($200 application fee).

Audit Exemption Criteria for small companies and XBRL Filing Requirements in Singapore

Singapore private companies must meet specific requirements to qualify for audit exemptions or fulfill XBRL filing mandates during annual return submissions to ACRA.

Audit Exemption Criteria ("Small Company" Concept)

Under Section 205C of the Singapore Companies Act, a private company qualifies for audit exemption if it meets the "Small Company" criteria.

1. Quantitative Thresholds

A company must be a private entity during the financial year and meet at least 2 out of the following 3 criteria for the past two consecutive financial years:

Criteria	Threshold
Total Annual Revenue	≤S$10 million
Total Gross Assets	≤S$10 million (at FY end)
Number of Employees	≤50 full-time employees (at FY end)

2. Group-Level Qualification ("Small Group" Test)

If the company is part of a corporate group (parent or subsidiary), both the individual company and the entire global group (on a consolidated basis) must meet the "Small Company" criteria (at least 2 out of 3 thresholds) for the past two consecutive financial years.

3. Newly Incorporated Companies

First FY: Evaluated solely on the results of its 1st financial year.
Second FY: Evaluated on whether it meets the 2-out-of-3 criteria in both Year 1 and Year 2.

4. Other Exemptions

Dormant Companies: Completely exempt from audit requirements under Section 205B, regardless of company size.

Note: Being exempt from audit does not exempt a company from preparing financial statements. Unaudited financial statements compliant with Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS) must still be prepared and presented to shareholders.

XBRL Filing Requirements

Most Singapore companies limited by shares that are required to lodge financial statements with ACRA must do so in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) format using the BizFinx Preparation Tool.

1. Filing Formats & Eligibility

Format Option	Eligibility Criteria	Required Upload
Full XBRL	Companies that do not meet Simplified XBRL thresholds or are insolvent.	Complete tagged XBRL financial data set.
Simplified XBRL	Non-publicly accountable companies that meet BOTH: • Annual Revenue ≤S$500,000 • Total Assets ≤S$500,000	Reduced XBRL data set + PDF copy of Financial Statements.
Financial Statements Highlights (FSH)	Specific regulated entities (e.g., Banks, Finance Companies, Insurers regulated by MAS).	Key financial highlights in XBRL + PDF copy.
PDF Only	Companies Limited by Guarantee.	Full financial statements in PDF format only.

2. Entities Exempt from Filing Financial Statements / XBRL

Solvent Exempt Private Companies (EPCs): An EPC (20 or fewer individual shareholders, no corporate shareholders) that is solvent is not required to lodge financial statements with ACRA in any format (neither XBRL nor PDF).
Dormant Relevant Companies: Exempt from preparing and lodging financial statements.

How Bestar Singapore Can Help: Complete Guide to Filing Annual Returns in Singapore

How to File Singapore Annual Returns via Bizfile

Every local company incorporated in Singapore must file an annual return with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) to remain compliant. While ACRA's Bizfile portal pre-fills historical data to simplify the process, managing financial statements, audit exemptions, XBRL tagging, and statutory registers can quickly become complex.

Bestar Singapore provides comprehensive corporate secretarial, accounting, and compliance advisory services to ensure your ACRA annual return filing is accurate, on time, and fully compliant with the Singapore Companies Act.

Quick Summary: ACRA Annual Return Requirements

Who Must File: All Singapore-incorporated companies (Active, Dormant, EPC, or Public).
Filing Platform: ACRA Bizfile using Corppass and Singpass credentials.
Key Deadlines: Within 5 or 7 months after your Financial Year End (FYE), depending on whether the company is listed or non-listed.
Core Requirements: Verified company details, AGM date or exemption status, financial statements (PDF or XBRL), and corporate register declarations.
Post-Filing Benefit: Successful filing generates a free electronic Business Profile (downloadable within 60 days).

Pre-Filing Requirements Checklist

Before logging into Bizfile, ensure you have gathered the following operational and financial details:

Requirement Category	Specific Checklist Items	How Bestar Helps
Authentication & Access	Active Corppass account with "Business User" permissions linked to a valid Singpass.	Bestar acts as your appointed Corporate Service Provider (CSP) to file directly on your behalf without requiring manual client logins.
Financial Year Verification	Confirmed Financial Year End (FYE) date and entity status (Active vs. Dormant).	Verification of FYE alignment and tracking statutory deadlines to prevent late filing penalties.
AGM Information	Date of Annual General Meeting (AGM) or formal written resolutions dispensing with the AGM.	Drafting compliant AGM documents, member notices, and directors' resolutions in writing.
Financial Statements / XBRL	Audited or unaudited financial statements compliant with SFRS; XBRL conversion via BizFinx tool.	Full preparation of financial statements and expert XBRL tagging/validation.
Statutory Registers	Updated Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC), Nominee Directors (ROND), and Nominee Shareholders (RONS).	Updating and lodging all central and internal registers with ACRA.

Step-by-Step Guide: Filing Annual Returns on Bizfile

1 Log In to Bizfile eService

Accessing the Portal

Navigate to the Bizfile homepage and select Login.
Choose Business User and complete authentication via Singpass (ID/Password or QR scan).
Select the correct entity under your Corppass entity menu.
Go to Annual filing → Local Company tab → File annual returns.
Select Start on the introduction page to launch the form.

2 Verify Entity & Financial Year Details

Data Verification

Confirm pre-filled company information (e.g., registered address, officer details). If updates are required, complete the Update entity information eService under the Manage tab first.
Review and verify the Financial Year End (FYE) date.
Select the company structure and operational status (Active or Dormant) to generate the appropriate declaration fields.

3 Complete Company-Specific Declarations

Compliance Declarations

Select your entity type to complete the mandatory solvency and audit declarations:

Exempt Private Company (EPC): Declare solvency status (Solvent/Insolvent) and confirm eligibility for the small company audit exemption.
Private Company Limited by Shares: Declare audit exemption status under the Small Company concept. For dormant entities, confirm exemption from preparing financial statements or audit.
Public Company Limited by Shares / Guarantee: Declare active or dormant status and confirm if the entity was listed on any Singapore securities exchange during the period.
Unlimited Companies: State solvency status, financial reporting duties, and audit exemption criteria.

4 Input AGM Dates & Upload Financial Statements

Document Uploads

AGM Details: Enter the AGM date or the date financial statements were dispatched to members (if exempt from holding an AGM).
XBRL Integration: If required to file in XBRL, link your pre-uploaded, validated file created through the BizFinx prep tool.
PDF Upload: Attach a PDF copy of financial statements where XBRL is not submitted (Solvent EPCs and dormant relevant companies are generally exempt).
Director Declarations: Select the directors signing the Statement by Directors, select the accounting standards used, and define the nature of the financial statements.

5 Review, Submit, and Complete Payment

Final Submission

Conduct a final review of all entered data and attached documents.
Select the checkbox to complete the legal declaration.
Proceed to the payment gateway to finalize payment.
Save the transaction receipt, filing acknowledgement, and statutory filing copy for your records.

Post-Filing Obligations & Overdue Handling

Free Business Profile Download: Following submission, an electronic Business Profile is issued to your Bizfile Inbox. Download this within 60 days before the link expires.
IRAS Tax Compliance: Annual return filing with ACRA satisfies corporate secretarial rules but does not fulfill tax requirements. Corporate Income Tax Returns (Form C / Form C-S) must still be filed with IRAS annually.
Handling Overdue Annual Returns: Companies with multiple years of outstanding returns must resolve and file overdue years sequentially, starting from the earliest outstanding financial year.
Extension of Time (EOT): If additional time is required to hold an AGM or file an annual return, an application for an extension of up to 60 days can be submitted via Bizfile ($200 ACRA fee per application).

How Bestar Singapore Assists Your Business

Managing regulatory compliance while running a business can lead to missed deadlines and non-compliance penalties. Bestar Singapore offers end-to-end support to keep your company in good standing with ACRA and IRAS:

Corporate Secretarial Management: Complete handling of statutory filings, board resolutions, AGM preparations, and EOT applications.
Accounting & XBRL Financial Reporting: Preparation of SFRS-compliant financial statements and error-free XBRL conversion using the BizFinx tool.
Register Maintenance: Assistance with Central RORC, ROND, and RONS filing and recordkeeping.
Tax Alignment: Integrated corporate tax services to harmonize your ACRA reporting with IRAS tax filings.

Bestar Singapore's Corporate Secretarial services and Compliance packages

At Bestar, we provide comprehensive corporate secretarial, administrative, and statutory compliance management for businesses incorporated in Singapore. We ensure your company remains in strict compliance with the Singapore Companies Act and ACRA requirements, allowing directors and owners to focus on core business growth.

Core Corporate Secretarial Services

Service Category	Scope & Inclusions
Named Company Secretary	Appointment of a qualified Company Secretary to act as your official statutory officer in accordance with ACRA requirements.
ACRA Bizfile Management	Maintenance of statutory registers (Directors, Members, Secretaries, Charges, and Central Registers). Lodging of routine updates and changes to company particulars.
Annual Compliance & Filings	Drafting of Annual General Meeting (AGM) documents or written resolutions, preparation of annual director statements, and submission of the ACRA Annual Return.
Board & Shareholder Support	Drafting board resolutions for routine corporate actions (e.g., bank account opening/updates, changes in directors/officers, change of registered address).
Registered Address & Mail Handling	Provision of a prestigious local Singapore business address and mail receiving/scanning services (if required).

Corporate Secretarial & Compliance Package Overview

We offer tiered and tailored service packages designed to match your company's operational stage:

1. Basic Compliance Package (Ideal for Dormant or Small Companies)

Appointment of Company Secretary
Annual routine compliance maintenance
Drafting of standard AGM / Annual Director Resolutions
ACRA Annual Return filing (ACRA filing fee billed at cost, typically S$60)
Maintenance of Central Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC) and Nominee Registers (ROND/RONS)

2. Full Corporate Secretarial & Accounting Retainer

All inclusions from the Basic Compliance Package
Registered office address service (optional add-on)
Non-routine secretarial support (e.g., share transfers, allotment of shares, constitution amendments, changing financial year end)
Integrated preparation of Unaudited Financial Statements / Compilation Reports (SFRS compliant)
Full XBRL filing preparation using the ACRA BizFinx prep tool

3. Multi-Entity & Cross-Border Advisory

Consolidated secretarial and statutory oversight for regional corporate groups operating across Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong
Structuring share classes, shareholder agreements, and corporate governance reviews

Additional Statutory & Professional Support Services

XBRL Prep & Lodgement: S$400 per financial period (depending on company complexity and reporting requirements).
Tax Filing (Form C / Form C-S): Tax computation and submission to IRAS.
ACRA Extension of Time (EOT): Filing for extra time for AGM/Annual Return submissions when financial statements require additional preparation.
Audit Co-Pilot & Statutory Audit: In-house statutory audit support or audit preparation services for companies exceeding small company thresholds.

Process to Transfer Your Company Secretary and Corporate Registers to Bestar Singapore

Switching your corporate secretarial services and transferring statutory registers to Bestar Singapore is a straightforward, seamless process. Bestar handles the administrative heavy lifting and coordinates directly with your outgoing provider to ensure zero disruption to your company’s compliance status.

Step-by-Step Corporate Secretary Transfer Process

1. Initial Review & Fee Quote

Information Gathering & Engagement

You provide Bestar with your company details (Company Name and UEN).
Bestar conducts a quick compliance check, reviews your current filing status on ACRA, and provides a tailored service proposal.
Once agreed, you sign Bestar's engagement letter and complete standard Know-Your-Customer (KYC) / Anti-Money Laundering (AML) verification checks.

2. Direct Coordination & Resignation

Formal Notice to Outgoing Secretary

Bestar drafts a formal Notice of Resignation for your current corporate secretary and a Termination Letter to be issued to your existing Corporate Service Provider (CSP).
Bestar drafts the required Directors' Resolutions in Writing (DRIW) approving:
- The resignation of the current Company Secretary.
- The appointment of Bestar's qualified Company Secretary.
- The transfer of statutory registers and corporate files to Bestar.

3. Transfer of Corporate Registers & Records

Handover of Statutory Files

Bestar coordinates directly with your outgoing provider to collect all physical and digital statutory documents, including:
- Minute Books and Board Resolutions.
- Share Certificates and Register of Members.
- Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC), Nominee Directors (ROND), and Nominee Shareholders (RONS).
- Common Seal (if applicable) and historical ACRA filings.

4. ACRA Lodgement & System Onboarding

ACRA Filing & Onboarding

Bestar lodges the change of Company Secretary with ACRA via Bizfile within the required 14-day statutory window.
Your company profile on ACRA is instantly updated to reflect Bestar’s appointed Company Secretary.
Bestar audits your transferred statutory registers to verify accuracy and ensure no past compliance gaps exist.

Required Documents for Transfer

To initiate the transfer, you only need to provide basic company information:

Company UEN & Current Business Profile (Bizfile).
Identification Documents: Copy of NRIC/Passport and Proof of Residential Address for all Directors and Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs).
Company Constitution: Copy of your existing Memorandum and Articles of Association / Constitution.
Latest Financial Statements / AR Filing: To verify upcoming compliance deadlines (FYE, AGM, and Annual Return).

Key Advantages of Switching to Bestar

Zero Compliance Gap: Bestar tracks all upcoming AGM, Annual Return, and IRAS tax deadlines immediately upon takeover.
Hassle-Free Handover: You do not need to mediate difficult conversations with your existing provider; Bestar manages the file handover directly.
Full Audit & Review: Bestar conducts a complimentary health-check of your historical ACRA records and RORC registers to fix any existing discrepancies.