If your Singapore company files its annual return with ACRA, there is a good chance you are also required to submit your financial statements in XBRL format. Yet many directors and business owners encounter XBRL for the first time only when their company secretary asks about it — and by then, the deadline is already close. This guide explains exactly which Singapore companies must file in XBRL, which are exempt, what the full and simplified options mean in practice, and how to complete the process correctly.

XBRL — eXtensible Business Reporting Language — is a global digital standard for financial reporting that allows data to be machine-readable. Instead of submitting a scanned PDF of your financial statements, XBRL structures each line item (revenue, total assets, share capital, and so on) as a tagged data point that ACRA can extract, analyse, and compare automatically. Singapore was among the first jurisdictions in the world to mandate XBRL filing for companies, having introduced the requirement in 2007 and progressively expanding it since.

Understanding your XBRL obligations is part of broader annual compliance. For a consolidated picture of all your ACRA, IRAS, and CPF deadlines in one place, see our Singapore Annual Filing Calendar 2026.

What Is XBRL and Why Does ACRA Require It?

XBRL is an open international standard maintained by XBRL International. It works by attaching a “tag” to each financial data point in accordance with a taxonomy — a standardised dictionary of financial terms. The Singapore taxonomy is based on the Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS and SFRS for Small Entities) and is maintained by ACRA.

ACRA mandates XBRL because it enables regulators, investors, and analysts to access structured financial data without manually extracting figures from PDF documents. For business owners and directors, this means that the information in your annual return becomes part of a searchable, comparable database. ACRA uses this data for statistical analysis, risk profiling, and enforcement targeting — so accuracy matters.

Which Singapore Companies Must File in XBRL?

ACRA’s XBRL requirements apply to all Singapore-incorporated companies that are required to file their financial statements with ACRA as part of their annual return. The key categories are as follows.

Companies Required to File Full XBRL

Full XBRL filing requires companies to tag both the primary financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, statement of changes in equity, and cash flow statement) and the notes to the financial statements. This applies to:

  • All Singapore-incorporated companies that are not exempt from filing financial statements and that prepare their accounts under SFRS (full Singapore Financial Reporting Standards). This typically means companies above the small company threshold or those that are publicly listed.
  • Companies that are members of a listed group and are incorporated in Singapore.

Companies Required to File Simplified (Partial) XBRL

Simplified XBRL requires tagging only the primary financial statements, not the detailed notes. This reduced requirement applies to:

  • Companies that prepare their financial statements under SFRS for Small Entities (SFRS for SE) — these are typically private limited companies that qualify as “small companies” under the Companies Act.
  • Companies limited by guarantee (CLGs) incorporated in Singapore that are required to file financial statements.
  • Insolvent exempt private companies (EPCs) that must file financial statements due to their insolvent status.

What the “Small Company” Threshold Means for XBRL

Under Section 205B of the Companies Act (Cap. 50), a company qualifies as a “small company” if it is a private company and meets at least two of the following three criteria for the preceding two financial years:

  • Annual revenue does not exceed S$10 million
  • Total assets do not exceed S$10 million
  • Number of employees does not exceed 50

Small companies that prepare accounts under SFRS for SE file simplified (partial) XBRL. Small companies that are part of a group may be subject to additional requirements depending on the group’s consolidated position. For guidance on financial reporting standards and whether your company must file under SFRS or SFRS for SE, consult your company secretary or accountant.

Which Companies Are Exempt from XBRL Filing?

Not every Singapore company files XBRL. The following categories are exempt from XBRL filing requirements:

  • Solvent exempt private companies (EPCs): A private company whose shares are not held directly or indirectly by any corporation may qualify as an EPC. If the EPC is solvent, it may be exempt from the requirement to file financial statements with ACRA altogether — and therefore has no XBRL obligation.
  • Registered foreign company branches: Foreign companies operating branch offices in Singapore file their financial statements (prepared under the laws of their home jurisdiction) as PDF documents, not in XBRL format.
  • Dormant companies: Companies that have been dormant throughout the financial year and that qualify for audit exemption may submit a simplified set of financial information rather than full XBRL-tagged statements.
  • Companies with financial year endings before the XBRL mandate cut-off: Transitional arrangements exist for older financial years, though these are now largely historical.

If you are unsure whether your company is an EPC or whether it qualifies for any exemption, refer to our guide to ACRA filing requirements or speak with your company secretary.

Full XBRL vs Simplified XBRL: Key Differences at a Glance

Feature Full XBRL Simplified (Partial) XBRL
Who it applies to Companies filing under full SFRS (larger companies) Companies under SFRS for SE (small companies, CLGs, insolvent EPCs)
What must be tagged Primary statements + notes to financial statements Primary statements only (income statement, balance sheet, SOCE, cash flow)
Volume of data tags Typically 400–1,000+ data points Typically 120–300 data points
Preparer tools required ACRA FS Manager or XBRL-enabled accounting software ACRA FS Manager or XBRL-enabled accounting software
Signed PDF also required? Yes — signed PDF must accompany XBRL file Yes — signed PDF must accompany XBRL file

Step-by-Step: How to File XBRL Financial Statements with ACRA

Step 1: Prepare and Sign Your Financial Statements

Your auditor (if audit is required) or your directors (for companies with audit exemption) must first sign off on the financial statements in accordance with Singapore Financial Reporting Standards. The signed PDF is the authoritative document — the XBRL file is a data representation of it. Both must be submitted together.

Step 2: Choose Your XBRL Preparation Tool

ACRA provides a free tool called FS Manager (Financial Statement Manager), accessible via the BizFile+ portal. FS Manager allows you to prepare the XBRL file directly in a template format. Many accounting software providers (including Xero via third-party add-ons, and dedicated ACRA-compliant platforms) also generate XBRL-ready output, which can reduce preparation time significantly for companies with structured bookkeeping.

Step 3: Map Financial Data to the Singapore Taxonomy

Each line item in your financial statements must be mapped to the correct XBRL tag in the Singapore taxonomy. This is where most errors occur. Common issues include:

  • Using a generic tag when a more specific one exists (e.g. tagging “depreciation” when the taxonomy has separate tags for depreciation of plant and equipment vs. right-of-use assets)
  • Tagging negative figures without applying the correct sign convention
  • Misidentifying comparative-period data (prior year figures)

ACRA’s full taxonomy is available on the ACRA XBRL portal. Your company secretary or accountant should review the tagging before submission.

Step 4: Validate the XBRL Document

Before submission, run the XBRL file through ACRA’s validation tool (built into FS Manager and available as a standalone validator). The validation checks for technical errors: missing mandatory fields, inconsistent totals, and format violations. Pass the validator before submitting — a failed submission still counts as a filing attempt and can complicate subsequent corrections.

Step 5: Submit via BizFile+

Log in to BizFile+ (bizfile.acra.gov.sg) using Singpass (for individuals) or Corppass (for corporate filers acting on behalf of the company). Navigate to the annual return filing, attach the XBRL file, and attach the signed PDF of the financial statements. Review all details before clicking “Submit”.

ACRA charges a filing fee for the annual return. As of 2026, the annual return filing fee for private companies is S$60. There is no separate XBRL filing fee — XBRL submission is part of the annual return process.

Step 6: Receive Acknowledgement and Keep Records

Upon successful submission, BizFile+ generates an acknowledgement receipt. Download and retain this for your company’s records. The financial statements will appear on the company’s BizFile+ public profile within a few working days, and the XBRL data becomes part of ACRA’s searchable database.

Common XBRL Filing Errors and How to Avoid Them

ACRA does not automatically reject filings with minor tagging errors, but incorrect XBRL data can trigger queries and enforcement action, and may require re-filing. The most common errors are:

  • Mismatched figures: The XBRL data does not reconcile with the signed PDF. Always cross-check both documents before submitting.
  • Incorrect taxonomy year: Using the prior year’s taxonomy when the current financial year requires an updated version. ACRA occasionally updates the taxonomy — check the current version on the ACRA website before filing.
  • Missing mandatory elements: Some XBRL elements are mandatory regardless of whether the value is nil. Leaving them blank causes validation failures.
  • Currency and unit errors: XBRL requires all monetary figures to be in the same currency and stated in the same unit (e.g. thousands of SGD vs. exact SGD). Inconsistencies trigger validation errors.
  • Filing the wrong XBRL type: Submitting simplified XBRL when full XBRL is required, or vice versa. Your company secretary should confirm which applies before preparation begins.

XBRL Filing Deadlines

XBRL financial statements are filed as part of the annual return to ACRA. The annual return deadline depends on your company type and financial year end:

  • Private companies with share capital: Annual return must be filed within 7 months after the financial year end (for companies that hold an AGM) or 7 months after the financial year end (for companies that dispense with the AGM).
  • Listed companies: Within 5 months of the financial year end.

Filing late is a breach of the Companies Act. Under the post-CALA 2025 framework (effective 6 May 2026), ACRA’s late lodgement penalty regime has been streamlined — late annual returns and financial statements attract a flat penalty of S$300, with higher penalties for continued non-compliance. For the full picture on penalties and deadlines, see our CALA 2025 compliance guide.

What CALA 2025 Changes for XBRL Filers

The Corporate and Accounting Laws Amendment Act 2025 (CALA 2025), which commenced on 6 May 2026, introduced several changes that indirectly affect XBRL filings:

  • Named auditor requirement: Audit reports must now name the individual auditor responsible for the engagement, not just the audit firm. This name must be reflected correctly in the XBRL tags for auditor information in full XBRL filers.
  • Higher penalties for director defaults: Maximum fines for director defaults (including failures related to annual return filing) have increased to S$20,000 under CALA 2025, up from S$5,000. This raises the stakes for late or non-filing.
  • Electronic records requirements: CALA 2025 clarifies and extends rules around maintaining electronic statutory records, which affects how companies store the source data used to generate XBRL files.

For the full Singapore company compliance calendar tracking all your 2026 deadlines, we recommend bookmarking our dedicated compliance resource.

XBRL Filing: Should You Do It In-House or Outsource?

For small companies filing simplified XBRL with 150–300 data points, in-house filing using ACRA’s FS Manager is feasible if you have a reasonably organised set of accounts and a patient person willing to spend two to four hours on the mapping exercise. For larger companies requiring full XBRL with hundreds of note disclosures, engaging your accountant or company secretary to prepare the XBRL file is strongly recommended — the mapping is complex enough that errors are common even among experienced preparers.

ACRA also maintains a list of approved XBRL preparation service providers and XBRL-enabled software on its website. The ACRA website is the definitive source for approved tools and taxonomy updates.

For broader guidance on Singapore corporate tax filing obligations in 2026, including ECI and Form C/C-S requirements that run alongside your annual return, our dedicated tax guide covers the full cycle.

Beyond annual compliance filings, sound financial planning and investment decisions are equally important for business owners navigating Singapore’s regulatory environment.

If you have questions about your XBRL filing obligations or need [legal advice on your compliance obligations](https://www.justfollowlaw.com), do not hesitate to seek professional assistance before your deadline.

For the latest Singapore business news and regulatory updates, including ACRA announcements, there are useful resources for directors and business owners.

Conclusion

XBRL filing is a mandatory annual obligation for the vast majority of Singapore companies that file financial statements with ACRA. Whether you fall under full or simplified XBRL depends on your company’s size and reporting standard — but in either case, the obligation to file accurately and on time rests with the directors. With CALA 2025 now in effect and penalties increased, there has never been a better time to review your annual filing processes and make sure your XBRL submissions are correct.

Raffles Corporate Services provides comprehensive corporate secretarial services, including annual return preparation, XBRL filing support, and compliance monitoring for Singapore companies of all sizes.

To speak with the team at Raffles Corporate Services, you can email [email protected] or call, SMS, or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133. We are happy to assist with any queries.

— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services