ACRA’s 20 October Update: Prepare Before You File
Singapore's Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) has announced several regulatory changes that will take effect on 20 October 2026.
These changes form part of the Corporate and Accounting Laws (Amendment) Act 2025 and affect annual return filings, company records, registered office requirements and certain corporate procedures.
For business owners, directors and company secretaries, one of the most important changes is the need to confirm that company information registered with ACRA is accurate before submitting annual returns.
While some amendments aim to reduce administrative requirements, others introduce additional checks to improve the accuracy of corporate records.
Here is what Singapore businesses should understand before the changes take effect.
1. Annual Return Filings Will Require Additional Confirmation
One of the key changes concerns how companies submit their annual returns.
From 20 October 2026, companies filing annual returns must confirm that the latest information provided to ACRA is accurate.
This includes relevant particulars relating to:
Company directors
Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)
Company secretaries
Auditors
Relevant company members
Depending on the company, the information may include names, identification details, nationality, contact addresses, appointment dates, registered office information and shareholding details.
Companies should review their records in Bizfile and correct any outdated information before submitting their annual returns.
What businesses should do:
Before filing, compare the company's internal records with the information registered with ACRA.
If a director's particulars, company address or other relevant information has changed, make sure the necessary updates have been submitted.
This can help reduce filing errors and prevent inconsistencies in corporate records.
2. Companies Must Confirm Whether They Have a CEO
Another change involves the identification of individuals performing the role of Chief Executive Officer.
The updated annual return form will include an additional question asking whether anyone performs the CEO role within the company.
This means companies should review their management structure and determine whether an individual performs this function.
Why does this matter?
In smaller businesses, the founder or director may also manage daily operations.
However, job titles and actual responsibilities do not always match.
Companies should ensure they understand their management structure and provide accurate information when completing their annual returns.
The new requirement is an additional filing question. It does not mean every company must appoint a CEO.
3. Companies Limited by Guarantee Have an Additional Check
Companies limited by guarantee will also need to confirm that the total number of members previously reported to ACRA through Bizfile is accurate.
This is particularly relevant to organisations structured as companies limited by guarantee, including certain non-profit organisations.
Before filing, these companies should review their membership records and check that the information held by ACRA is up to date.
4. Registered Office Opening Hours Will Become More Flexible
The amendments also introduce greater flexibility for registered offices.
Previously, companies were required to keep their registered offices open and accessible to the public for specified minimum hours during ordinary business hours on each business day.
From 20 October 2026, this minimum opening-hours requirement will be removed.
This gives companies greater flexibility in determining their registered office opening hours.
However, this does not mean companies can make their records completely inaccessible.
Companies must still make relevant records available for inspection when required by law.
Individuals who wish to inspect company records must provide reasonable notice.
Following such notice, companies must make the relevant records available for inspection for at least two hours during each applicable business day.
Companies must also continue to notify ACRA of any change to their registered office address within 14 days after the change.
What businesses should do:
Review how your company handles official correspondence and requests to inspect records.
Even with more flexible office hours, businesses should maintain proper arrangements for managing their registered office responsibilities.
5. Certain Corporate Filing Requirements Will Be Removed
Not every regulatory change introduces additional paperwork.
Some amendments are intended to simplify existing requirements.
These include removing:
Certain statement in lieu of prospectus requirements
The requirement to file a statement in lieu of prospectus under prescribed circumstances will be abolished.
Statutory meetings and reports for certain public companies
Public limited companies with share capital will no longer be required to convene statutory meetings and prepare statutory reports under the affected provisions.
These changes mainly concern specific types of corporate activities and company structures.
For many SMEs operating as private limited companies, the more immediately relevant changes will involve annual return confirmations and company record accuracy.
6. Company Striking-Off and Restoration Processes Will Change
ACRA has also announced changes to the processes for striking off and restoring companies and certain other business entities.
Striking off is a process through which an eligible entity can be removed from the register.
Restoration involves returning a previously struck-off entity to the register through the applicable legal process.
From 20 October 2026, these procedures will be streamlined.
Shorter striking-off timelines
For voluntary striking-off, the relevant Gazette notice may be published as early as the same day the notice is sent.
For Registrar-initiated striking-off, publication may occur as early as 15 days after the relevant letter is sent.
These changes may shorten the overall process.
Clearer dissolution and restoration timing
An entity will be legally dissolved or restored at the date and time the Registrar strikes off or restores its name in the register.
The relevant information will also be published in the Government Gazette.
Additional safeguards
Applications to restore struck-off entities must be refused in certain circumstances, including where restoration would likely facilitate unlawful activities or conflict with Singapore's national security or interests.
What businesses should do:
If your company is considering closure or restoration, review the updated procedures and requirements before proceeding.
Do not assume that the previous timelines and processes will continue to apply.
7. Changes for Public Accountants and Accounting Firms
The amendments also affect public accountants and accounting firms.
Although these changes may not directly affect most business owners, they are relevant to professionals providing accounting and audit services.
More flexible registration renewal
Public accountants will be able to renew their registration for one, two or three years, instead of renewing annually.
This gives professionals greater flexibility and reduces repeated administrative work.
Expanded insurance requirements
Professional indemnity insurance requirements will also be extended to accounting firms operating as sole proprietorships or partnerships.
The required insurance amount will be based on the highest of:
Requirement | Amount |
Minimum coverage | S$1 million |
Coverage based on public accountants | S$500,000 per public accountant |
Coverage based on gross income | 2.5 times the previous financial year's gross income, subject to a maximum of S$50 million |
Affected accounting firms should review their insurance arrangements to ensure they meet the updated requirements.
These changes are particularly relevant to public accountants and accounting practices, rather than ordinary companies engaging an external accountant.
What Should Singapore Businesses Do Before 20 October?
Businesses do not need to wait until their next annual return deadline to review their company information.
Taking a few simple steps now can make future filings easier.
1. Review Your Company's ACRA Records
Log in to Bizfile and check that the company's registered information is accurate.
Pay particular attention to directors, company secretaries, relevant officers, registered office details and shareholding information.
2. Confirm Your Management Structure
Determine whether anyone performs the role of CEO within the company.
Make sure the relevant information can be accurately reflected in the updated annual return form.
3. Check for Outstanding Changes
If there have been changes to directors, officers, addresses or other relevant company particulars, ensure the required updates have been filed.
4. Review Registered Office Arrangements
Although the minimum opening-hours requirement is being removed, companies must still comply with record inspection and registered office obligations.
5. Coordinate With Your Company Secretary
If your company engages a corporate secretarial service provider, discuss the upcoming changes and confirm whether any records need to be updated.
A company secretary can also help clarify which amendments are relevant to your company's structure and filing requirements.
Does Every Company Need to Take Action Immediately?
Not necessarily.
The amendments take effect on 20 October 2026, but this does not mean every company must submit a new annual return on that date.
Companies should continue to follow their applicable annual return filing deadlines.
The main difference is that annual returns submitted under the updated requirements will include additional confirmations.
However, businesses should take the opportunity to review their records before their next filing.
This is particularly important if the company has experienced changes in management, shareholding or registered office information.
Why Accurate Corporate Records Matter
Corporate records are not simply documents maintained for regulatory purposes.
They provide important information about a company's ownership, management and legal structure.
When records are outdated, businesses may encounter difficulties when handling corporate transactions, responding to official requests or preparing statutory filings.
Maintaining accurate records can help businesses:
Complete filings more efficiently
Reduce inconsistencies in company information
Maintain clearer corporate documentation
Support smoother communication with professional service providers
Meet applicable regulatory responsibilities
For growing businesses, keeping corporate records updated should be part of regular administration rather than something addressed only when an annual return is due.
Prepare Early for a Smoother Filing Process
ACRA's 20 October 2026 amendments introduce a combination of additional filing checks and simplified administrative requirements.
For most Singapore SMEs, the key takeaway is straightforward:
Review your company information before submitting your next annual return.
Check that relevant company particulars are accurate, understand the new CEO-related question and ensure any necessary updates have been made.
Preparing early can help businesses manage their filing responsibilities more confidently and avoid unnecessary last-minute corrections.
How Prime Konnection Can Help
Prime Konnection supports businesses in Singapore and Malaysia with company incorporation, company secretarial services, accounting and bookkeeping, HR outsourcing and other corporate services.
For Singapore businesses, keeping corporate records organised and understanding changing filing requirements are important parts of ongoing company administration.
Whether you are managing an existing company or preparing for future business growth, having appropriate corporate secretarial support can make regulatory responsibilities easier to manage.
Contact Prime Konnection to learn more about our company secretarial and corporate support services.
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