Name: Business Tax Accountancy Pte Ltd
Address: 2 Venture Drive #10-31 (HQ), #10-17 Vision Exchange,, Singapore, 608526, SG
Telephone: +6565399248

How to Choose an Accounting Firm for Your Singapore SME (2026 Guide)

August 24, 2026

Choose an accounting firm by service scope, experience, communication and a workflow that fits your business. Xero is an option, not a requirement.

Start-Up Tax Exemption (SUTE): What New Singapore Companies Actually Get

August 4, 2026

SUTE at a glance The practical conclusion first: if you’ve just incorporated a Singapore company, you may pay far less corporate tax in your first three consecutive Years of Assessment (YAs) than you expect. Under the Tax Exemption Scheme for New Start-Up Companies (often called SUTE), a qualifying company generally gets 75% exemption on its first $100,000 of normal chargeable income, plus a further 50% on the next $100,000 — a maximum exemption of $125,000 each Year of Assessment (YA) — for its first three consecutive YAs. The catch is that not every company qualifies, and the exemption is not automatic to keep if your facts change. Here’s what SME founders need to know, subject to your company’s specific facts and IRAS rules. How much is the exemption? For YA 2020 onwards, a qualifying start-up’s exemption works like this (IRAS): First $100,000 of normal chargeable income — 75% exempt ($75,000) Next $100,000 — 50% exempt ($50,000) Maximum exemption: $125,000 per YA “Normal chargeable income” is income taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rate of 17%. The scheme applies only for your first three consecutive YAs. From the fourth YA onwards, your company moves to the Partial Tax Exemption (PTE) instead (more on that below). Who qualifies? To claim SUTE, your new start-up company must generally (IRAS): Be incorporated in Singapore; Be a tax resident of Singapore for that YA; and Have its total share capital beneficially held directly by no more than 20 shareholders throughout the basis period for that YA, where either all shareholders are individuals, or at least one shareholder is an individual holding at least 10% of the issued ordinary shares. Our business incorporation and tax teams can help you understand the eligibility tests and your filing obligations. Incorporation alone does not establish Singapore tax residence or guarantee SUTE eligibility. Which companies are excluded? Most genuine trading and services SMEs qualify — but two types of company are excluded from SUTE (IRAS): Companies whose principal activity is investment holding; and Companies that undertake property development for sale, investment, or both. If your company falls into either group, it doesn’t get SUTE — but it may still be eligible for the Partial Tax Exemption. What happens after the first three YAs? (Partial Tax Exemption) From the fourth YA onwards, companies move to the Partial Tax Exemption (PTE), which is available to companies generally (unless they’re still claiming SUTE) (IRAS): First $10,000 — 75% exempt ($7,500) Next $190,000 — 50% exempt ($95,000) Maximum exemption: $102,500 per YA Don’t forget the Corporate Income Tax Rebate For YA 2026, the enhanced Corporate Income Tax Rebate is 50% of tax payable, with total rebate and eligible cash-grant benefits capped at S$40,000. Where the company receives the S$2,000 CIT Rebate Cash Grant, this is taken into account in calculating the rebate. IRAS computes the rebate automatically; do not deduct it from the chargeable income declared in ECI or the tax return. See IRAS rebate and exemption guidance. The first three YAs are consecutive: a year with no taxable income or losses still uses part of the window. The S$125,000 maximum is income exempted […]

Digital Bookkeeping vs the “Shoebox”: Why Singapore SMEs Are Making the Switch

July 28, 2026

Compare periodic and digital bookkeeping by transaction volume, reporting needs and cost. BTA recommends Xero only where it fits your business operations.

What Happens If You Miss the ACRA Annual Return? (Singapore SME Guide)

July 24, 2026

If you have missed your company’s ACRA annual return (AR), arrange to file as soon as possible. For current filing due dates, the late lodgment penalty is S$300 up to three months late or S$600 beyond three months (ACRA). Further enforcement can apply. Filing addresses the outstanding return but does not automatically cancel an existing penalty, summons or enforcement action. 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 at lodgment on Bizfile. A dormant company or one with an IRAS tax-filing waiver still has its separate ACRA annual return obligation while it remains live. 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 prompt action may avoid the higher tier if it has not already been reached. 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 accepts applications for a 60-day extension before the deadline. The non-refundable fee is S$200 […]