Filing my Annual Return (AR)

What is the annual return?

The annual return is an electronic form lodged with ACRA. It contains important particulars of the company, such as the directors, secretary, members, shareholding structure and the date to which the financial statements are made up. Every company incorporated in Singapore must file one, including dormant companies. A private company must file its annual return within 7 months after its financial year end, whether or not it dispensed with its AGM.

Every private company shall file an annual return with ACRA within 7 months after the end of the financial year end.

Components of an annual return

The annual return is made up of 2 main components: Annual Return Details and Company Details. 

1 - Annual Return Details 

Section A: Company Type and Status

This section of the annual return requires the lodger to complete the following information:

  1. Company type for the financial period (i.e. Private Company Limited by Shares/ Exempt Private Company Limited by Shares)
  2. Company type status (i.e. Active or Dormant / Solvent or Insolvent)
  3. AGM Details (i.e. Date financial statements were sent to members – for companies that are exempt from holding an AGM or Date AGM was held)

Note: This section also includes declaration(s) on the company’s status such as exemption from audit requirements and dormancy (as and where it is applicable).

Section B: Financial Information

This section of the annual return requires the lodger to upload the XBRL format of the company’s financial statements (XBRL) and complete the names of the Directors who signed off the Statement by Directors in the financial statements:

Except for Dormant Relevant Companies, Solvent Exempt Private Companies and Companies Limited by Guarantee, all other companies are required to file financial information in XBRL format, unless approval from Registrar has been obtained.

For more information on who needs to file XBRL, you may check our article on XBRL here.

Note:

  1. Even if a company is not required to file XBRL, a company is still required to prepare full set of financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Accounting Standards and to file the names of the Directors who signed off the Statement by Directors with ACRA.
  2. In the event that the company is dormant and fulfils the requirements of not preparing financial statements, the company is still required to prepare its management accounts for approval and tabling at the company’s AGM (if applicable) 

Section C: Audit Information

This section of the annual return requires the lodger to complete the following information:

  1. Confirm if the company has audited its financial statements
  2. Complete name of Public Accounting Entity that audited the Financial Statements
  3. Complete name of Auditor who audited and signed off the Financial Statements
  4. Date of Independent Auditor’s Report
2 - Company Details 

This section of the annual return sets out the following details of the company for confirmation:

  1. Primary/Secondary Activity(ies)
  2. Address
  3. Particulars of Company Officers and Auditors
  4. Share Capital Details
  5. Member(s) Details

The Company Details section also asks you to confirm where the Register of Registrable Controllers, the Register of Nominee Directors and the Register of Nominee Shareholders are kept.

Simplified annual return

Eligible Solvent Exempt Private Companies and Private Dormant Relevant Companies can file a simplified annual return. Eligibility depends on the company's declaration in its previous annual return and on the company continuing to meet the conditions. Ask us to confirm whether your company qualifies.

If Sleek is your corporate secretary, we will file the annual return for you through Bizfile+. Late filing attracts ACRA late lodgement fees; see 'Penalties for late filing'.

Please note that if Sleek is your corporate secretary, we will file the annual return for you.

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