If you have missed your company’s ACRA annual return (AR), file it as soon as possible. A late lodgement penalty of S$300 applies if you file within three months after the due date, and S$600 if you file more than three months late (ACRA). The penalty is calculated automatically on BizFile when you submit, so the longer you wait, the more it costs — and continued default can escalate to enforcement action against directors. The good news: for most SMEs this is fixable, and filing now stops the situation getting worse.
What the annual return actually is
The annual return is a yearly filing every Singapore company must lodge with ACRA confirming key company information — directors, shareholders, registered address, and (where required) financial statements. It is separate from your tax filing with IRAS. Many first-time business owners assume “I filed my taxes, so I’m done” — but ACRA and IRAS are two different obligations with two different deadlines.
When the annual return is due
For a non-listed company (which covers most SMEs), the AR must generally be filed within 7 months after your financial year end (FYE) (ACRA). If your company has a share capital and keeps a branch register outside Singapore, the deadline is 8 months. A related requirement: private companies must generally hold their AGM within 6 months after FYE, unless the company is exempt from holding an AGM (ACRA).
A quick example: if your FYE is 31 December 2025, your AR filing deadline is generally 31 July 2026. File on 20 August 2026 (20 days late) and the penalty is S$300.
The penalties, in plain terms
For filing due dates on or after 14 January 2022, ACRA applies a simple two-tier late lodgement penalty (ACRA):
- Up to 3 months late: S$300
- More than 3 months late: S$600
This penalty is charged per company, per late annual return, and is applied automatically at the point of lodgement on BizFile.
It can get worse than a fee
A late penalty is the first consequence, not the last. Where a company keeps defaulting, ACRA may take further enforcement action — including offering a composition sum, prosecution, disqualification or debarment of directors, and ultimately striking the company off the register (ACRA). A debarred director cannot be appointed to act as a director or secretary of another company while the order stands. In other words, ignoring the AR does not just cost the company — it can follow the individual director.
One more practical trap: you cannot change your FYE once the filing deadline for the AGM, AR, or financial statements has already passed (ACRA). So missing the deadline can quietly remove options you might have wanted later.
What to do if you have missed it
- File now, don’t wait. The penalty jumps from S$300 to S$600 once you cross three months late, so filing sooner directly saves money.
- Get your information in order — updated director and shareholder details, registered address, and financial statements if your company is required to file them.
- Consider an extension only before the deadline. ACRA allows a 60-day extension of time to file, but it costs S$200 per application and generally must be applied for before the deadline passes — it is not a way to undo a filing that is already late.
- If you think the penalty is unfair, a director may submit a late lodgement appeal to ACRA with supporting documents.
How BTA can help
Most late-AR situations are straightforward to resolve once someone sits down with your records. As part of our corporate secretarial and annual compliance work, we track your FYE, AGM, and AR deadlines so this does not happen in the first place — and if you are already late, we can help you file cleanly and keep your directors in good standing.
The above is general information based on current ACRA guidance and is not a substitute for advice on your specific facts. Deadlines and requirements can depend on your company type and circumstances.
Speak with BTA to review your position. Call +65 6250 4321 or visit businesstaxaccountancy.com.sg.
