Accounting services in Singapore
Emerhub keeps your Singapore company compliant with IRAS and ACRA: corporate tax, GST, bookkeeping, financial statements, and the annual filings, all handled by a local team. Clean books, on-time filings, and every exemption you're entitled to claimed, without building a finance department.
The system is generous, if you file it right
Singapore's tax regime is one of the simplest in the world, but the savings come from claiming the exemptions and rebates you qualify for, and the penalties come from missing the deadlines.
Two deadlines, and reliefs easy to miss
Running Singapore accounting yourself means two tax filings a year with IRAS (the ECI estimate, then Form C or C-S), the annual return and financial statements with ACRA, and quarterly GST if you're registered, each on its own deadline.
The common mistakes aren't dramatic, they're costly: missing the Start-Up Tax Exemption, filing the wrong version of Form C, or a late ACRA filing, which now carries personal liability for directors.
A local team that keeps you compliant
A Singapore accounting team handles both IRAS filings and the ACRA annual return, prepares your financial statements, files quarterly GST, and makes sure every exemption and rebate you qualify for is claimed.
You get clean books, on-time filings, and an effective tax rate as low as the rules allow, without hiring in Singapore, and someone to deal with IRAS if they query anything.
Everything your Singapore finance function needs, on your behalf
From bookkeeping and GST to both IRAS filings and the ACRA annual return, handled by a local team that knows where the savings are.
Corporate tax filings
The Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) and the annual Form C, C-S, or C-S Lite, filed with IRAS, with every exemption and rebate claimed.
Bookkeeping & records
We maintain your books to Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS), kept current and reconciled throughout the year.
Financial statements
Year-end financial statements, including the XBRL format ACRA requires, and management reports through the year.
GST
GST registration where needed, and the quarterly GST return (F5), filed and reconciled to your books.
ACRA annual compliance
The annual return lodged with ACRA and the AGM requirements met, keeping your company and its directors in good standing.
Advisory & tax planning
Guidance on structure, exemptions, and deductions, and responses to IRAS queries, so your effective rate is as low as the rules allow.
Three steps to compliant books
Onboarding takes a couple of weeks. After that, your books run quarterly, with the two tax filings and the ACRA return each year.
Onboarding & handover
- We review your standing with IRAS and ACRA and get CorpPass access set up.
- We take over your existing books and reconcile the opening balances.
The quarterly cycle
- We record and reconcile your transactions each quarter.
- We file the quarterly GST return (F5) where you're registered, and the ECI within three months of year-end.
- You receive a management report showing the period's position.
The annual close
- We prepare the financial statements and file Form C or C-S with IRAS by 30 November.
- We lodge the annual return and financial statements with ACRA, and coordinate an audit only if one is required.
Companies operating in Singapore
Most clients fall into one of these patterns. If yours matches, the service is built for your situation.
Private limited companies
Full compliance for a Singapore private limited company, across both the IRAS tax filings and the ACRA annual return.
New companies claiming SUTE
New companies in their first three years, where the Start-Up Tax Exemption is worth claiming and easy to miss.
Holding & regional HQs
Holding companies and regional headquarters that need clean group accounts and careful treatment of cross-border income.
Changing accountants
Companies moving from a previous provider who want a clean handover and a reliable filing rhythm.
Dormant companies
Dormant companies that still must file with IRAS and ACRA each year, kept compliant at minimal cost.
Cleanup & catch-up
Companies with overdue IRAS or ACRA filings who need to clear penalties and return to good standing.
Your annual compliance calendar
Singapore runs on a quarterly GST cycle plus a set of annual filings with IRAS and ACRA, most of them timed to your financial year-end. Here's the full year at a glance.
| Obligation | Files with | Frequency | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| GST return (F5)Output and input GST reconciled and filed, where registered. | IRAS | Quarterly | 1 month after quarter-end |
| Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI)A preliminary estimate of taxable income for the year. | IRAS | Annual | 3 months after year-end |
| Annual return & accountsFinancial statements lodged and the AGM held or dispensed with. | ACRA | Annual | 7 months after year-end |
| Corporate tax return (Form C / C-S)The full return with every exemption and rebate claimed. | IRAS | Annual | 30 November |
| Employee earnings (IR8A)Each employee's income reported for the prior year. | IRAS | Annual | 1 March |
Accounting & tax FAQs
What companies ask most often before handing over their books in Singapore.
What does your accounting service include?
Corporate tax filings with IRAS (the ECI and Form C or C-S), bookkeeping, financial statements, GST, the ACRA annual return, and tax planning. We can run your entire Singapore finance function, or just the parts you need. The scope and fee are set during onboarding, once we've seen your transaction volume and structure.
What's the difference between IRAS and ACRA filings?
IRAS is the tax authority: you file the ECI within three months of your financial year-end, then Form C, C-S, or C-S Lite by 30 November. ACRA is the company registry: you file an annual return and your financial statements, and hold an AGM. They are separate obligations on separate dates, and we handle both.
Does my Singapore company need an audit?
Not necessarily. A company qualifies for audit exemption as a "small company" if it meets at least two of three thresholds: revenue up to S$10 million, total assets up to S$10 million, and 50 or fewer employees. Most small companies are exempt and file unaudited statements. We confirm whether you qualify and coordinate an audit only if one is actually required.
Do I need to register for GST?
Registration is compulsory once your taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million over a 12-month period, and voluntary below that. GST is currently 9%, and registered companies file a quarterly return (F5). We advise on whether registration makes sense for you, handle it if so, and file the returns.
What tax exemptions can my company claim?
New companies can qualify for the Start-Up Tax Exemption (SUTE) for their first three years, and all qualifying companies get the Partial Tax Exemption (PTE), which together keep effective rates for small companies well below the 17% headline. There are also periodic rebates. The reliefs are applied at filing, and the most common, costly mistake is not claiming the one you're entitled to. Making sure they are claimed is part of the service.
What is the corporate tax rate in Singapore?
The headline corporate income tax rate is a flat 17%, with no capital gains tax and no tax on most dividends. After the start-up and partial exemptions, the effective rate for a small company is typically in the single digits. We confirm what applies to your company and make sure the computation captures every relief.
Talk to our Singapore team
Tell us about your company, where it is in its filing cycle, and what you need handled. We'll confirm the scope, the timeline, and a monthly fee.
The Octagon
Singapore 069534