Singapore Company Tax Compliance Checklist 2026

Starting a business in Singapore offers a pro-business environment and attractive tax rates. However, maintaining compliance can often feel like navigating a complex regulatory maze.

For this reason, every company—from a newly incorporated Private Limited (Pte Ltd) to a multinational corporation—must clearly understand its annual tax obligations. In practice, compliance is not just a legal requirement; rather, it is essential for long-term business stability and for avoiding costly penalties and enforcement actions.

Therefore, this comprehensive guide provides a clear, step-by-step Singapore Company Tax Compliance Checklist. In doing so, it helps ensure your business meets every deadline and statutory requirement set by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

⚠️ 2026 Update: Higher Stakes The Corporate and Accounting Laws Amendment Bill (November 2025) brings stricter enforcement starting April 2026. Tax filing accuracy, director accountability, and documentation requirements are now under enhanced scrutiny. Learn more about all 2026 regulatory changes.

The Four Pillars of Singapore Corporate Tax Compliance

Corporate tax compliance in Singapore revolves around four main annual obligations. Missing any of these deadlines can result in significant fines and penalties, making proactive management crucial.

Pillar 1: Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) Filing

The Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) is an estimate of your company’s taxable revenue for the financial year. This is the first major tax filing obligation.

Requirement: All companies must file their ECI within three months after the end of their financial year (FYE).
Exemption: Companies with an annual revenue of S$5 million or less and a timely filed ECI of zero are exempt from filing.
Benefit: Filing your ECI early (within one month of FYE) can qualify your company for installment payment plans, improving cash flow management.

Pillar 2: Annual General Meeting (AGM) & Financial Statements

Before you can file your tax return, you must finalize your company’s financial health. This involves preparing statutory financial statements and presenting them to shareholders.

Requirement: Companies must hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and present their financial statements within six months of their FYE.
Exemption: Certain private companies may be exempt from holding an AGM if all members agree in writing.
Financial Statements: These statements must be prepared in accordance with the Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS) and are the basis for your tax computations.

Pillar 3: Corporate Income Tax Return (Form C-S/C)

This is the final and most critical tax filing of the year. It formally declares your company’s income and tax payable to the IRAS.

Requirement: The Corporate Income Tax Return (Form C-S, Form C-S (Lite), or Form C) must be filed by November 30th of the following year.
Form C-S (Simplified): Available for companies with annual revenue of S$5 million or less, who meet specific criteria, and do not claim certain tax deductions.
Form C (Full): Required for all other companies and must be accompanied by a full set of financial statements and tax computations.

Pillar 4: Tax Payment

Once your Form C-S/C is processed, the IRAS will issue a Notice of Assessment (NOA) detailing the final tax amount due.

Requirement: The tax assessed in the NOA must be paid within one month from the date the NOA is issued.
Penalty: Late payment incurs a 5% penalty, with additional penalties for continued non-payment.

Your Essential Singapore Tax Compliance Checklist

Starting with a structured checklist is critical for staying compliant in Singapore.
Therefore, use the checklist below to track your company’s annual compliance journey and ensure that no statutory obligation is overlooked.

In particular, this approach helps businesses stay organized throughout the financial year and avoid last-minute filing risks.

Annual Tax and Regulatory Compliance Requirements

In practice, Singapore companies must complete several interlinked compliance steps each year.
As a result, missing one obligation often affects the next.

For this reason, the checklist below follows the logical compliance sequence from Estimated Chargeable Income filing through to final tax payment.

Compliance Item	Statutory Deadline	Responsible Party	Status
1 Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) Filing	3 Months after FYE	Accountant / Tax Agent	☐
2 Finalize Financial Statements (SFRS)	Before AGM	Accountant / Director	☐
3 Hold Annual General Meeting (AGM)	6 Months after FYE	Company Secretary / Director	☐
4 File Annual Return (AR) with ACRA	7 Months after FYE (after AGM)	Company Secretary	☐
5 Prepare Tax Computation	Before Form C-S/C Filing	Accountant / Tax Agent	☐
6 File Corporate Income Tax Return (Form C-S/C) Critical	November 30th	Tax Agent / Director	☐
7 Pay Tax Assessed (NOA)	1 Month from NOA Date	Finance Team	☐

💡 Pro Tip: Finally, download this checklist and track your progress throughout the year.

Why Following a Structured Compliance Checklist Matters

However, many companies underestimate how easily deadlines can be missed when compliance is managed informally. For example, delays in finalising financial statements often push back AGM and tax filings. Consequently, penalties, late payment interest, and enforcement actions may follow.

Key Deadlines You Cannot Miss

While the entire tax compliance checklist matters, certain deadlines are far more critical than others. Therefore, understanding these dates early helps companies avoid unnecessary penalties and cash flow disruption.

Core Tax Filing Deadlines for Singapore Companies

In practice, Singapore companies must focus on two mandatory tax submissions each year. As a result, missing either deadline can trigger penalties, loss of instalment benefits, or enforcement action by IRAS.

⏰ Deadline	📋 Obligation	⚠️ Consequence of Missing
3 Months after FYE	Filing of Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) Submit your company's estimated taxable revenue for the financial year to IRAS	Loss of installment payment options and potential penalties 💡 Filing early (within 1 month) qualifies you for tax payment installments
November 30th CRITICAL	Filing of Corporate Income Tax Return (Form C-S/C) Final tax declaration to IRAS. Must be filed by all companies annually, regardless of revenue	⚠️ Penalties ranging from S$200 to S$10,000 and possible prosecution For 2026: Enhanced XBRL validation means automatic rejections for inconsistent filings

💼 Need Help Meeting These Deadlines? Terra Advisory Services ensures 100% on-time compliance for all IRAS and ACRA deadlines. Our ACRA-registered professionals handle your ECI, Form C-S/C, and all tax obligations—so you never face penalties or prosecution risks.

What Happens If You Miss These Deadlines?

However, many companies underestimate the consequences of late or incorrect filings. For example, missing the ECI deadline removes instalment payment options, while late Form C-S/C filings may lead to fines or prosecution.

Why Partnering with an ACRA-Registered Agent is Crucial

The complexity of Singapore’s tax system, coupled with frequent updates to tax incentives and compliance programs, makes professional guidance invaluable.

An ACRA-Registered Filing Agent (RFA) like Terra Advisory Services does more than just file your paperwork; we act as your compliance partner:

Penalty Avoidance: We ensure all deadlines are met, eliminating the risk of late filing penalties.
Tax Optimization: We proactively identify and apply for tax incentives, such as the Start-Up Tax Exemption (SUTE) and Partial Tax Exemption (PTE), to legally minimize your tax burden.
Integrated Compliance: We coordinate your ACRA (Annual Return) and IRAS (Tax Return) filings, ensuring consistency and preventing errors that could trigger an audit.

By entrusting your tax compliance to an expert, you free your leadership team to focus entirely on growth and strategy, confident that your financial foundation is secure and optimized.