What is XBRL Filing? Do Small Singapore Companies Need to File It in 2026?
Last Updated: June 2026
XBRL filing is the requirement to submit your company’s financial statements to ACRA in a structured digital format called eXtensible Business Reporting Language. For most Singapore companies limited by shares that must file statements, it is mandatory. The format depends on size: a smaller, non-publicly-accountable company meeting both thresholds files Simplified XBRL plus a PDF, while a larger or insolvent company files Full XBRL. Some companies, such as solvent exempt private companies, need not file statements at all. This guide explains which option applies to you, the thresholds, the exemptions, the deadline, and how to file.
Key Takeaways
- XBRL is the digital format ACRA requires for financial statements, mandatory for most companies limited by shares that must file.
- ACRA recognises four options: Full XBRL, Simplified XBRL plus a PDF, FS Highlights plus a PDF, and FS in PDF only for the exempt.
- Simplified XBRL is for a non-publicly-accountable company meeting both thresholds: revenue up to S$500,000 AND total assets up to S$500,000.
- Larger or insolvent companies file Full XBRL, the complete set of data elements.
- Solvent exempt private companies need not file at all; companies limited by guarantee and MAS-regulated firms file in PDF.
- XBRL is filed with the annual return, prepared in the ACRA BizFinx tool and lodged through Bizfile.
What is XBRL and why does ACRA require it?
XBRL stands for eXtensible Business Reporting Language. It is a structured, machine-readable format that tags each figure in your statements so software, not just a human reader, can analyse it. The numbers from your balance sheet, income statement, and notes are mapped to a standard taxonomy ACRA processes automatically.
ACRA adopted XBRL so company financial data can be compared and analysed at scale. For the company, it is simply the channel through which statements reach the register, set out in ACRA’s guidance on filing financial statements in XBRL format. It helps to see where it sits in the wider accounting compliance calendar.
Is XBRL filing mandatory in Singapore?
For most companies, yes. A Singapore company limited or unlimited by shares that must file financial statements with ACRA must generally file them in XBRL, because the statements are lodged with the annual return. The template, and whether you file XBRL at all, depends on the company’s profile, so the first question is “which option applies to me”. Getting the structure right when you register your company in Singapore tends to mean fewer surprises later.
The four XBRL filing options ACRA recognises
ACRA does not apply one template to every company. Which of the four routes applies to you depends on your size, solvency, and public accountability.
- Full XBRL. The complete set of data elements, covering the primary statements and detailed notes. For larger and insolvent companies.
- Simplified XBRL plus FS in PDF. A reduced data set for smaller, non-publicly-accountable companies, filed with a PDF of the full statements.
- FS Highlights plus FS in PDF. A short set of key data elements plus a PDF, used by certain companies such as banks and insurers regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
- FS in PDF only. No XBRL data, for companies allowed to file in PDF, such as companies limited by guarantee.
The chart below contrasts the two options most private companies choose between.
Who files Full XBRL versus Simplified XBRL?
The split is about size and solvency. A company qualifies for Simplified XBRL only when it is both a smaller company and non-publicly-accountable.
What counts as a smaller company?
A company is a smaller company when, for the financial year, its revenue is up to S$500,000 AND its total assets are up to S$500,000. Both must be met: a company with S$400,000 revenue but S$900,000 in assets does not qualify. ACRA sets out these thresholds in its XBRL requirements and exemptions.
What does non-publicly-accountable mean?
A company is publicly accountable if, broadly, it is listed or listing on a securities exchange, or it holds assets in a fiduciary capacity for outsiders as a main business (for example, banks and insurers). A typical owner-managed private company is not, so for most small businesses the deciding factor is the S$500,000 thresholds.
Meet both conditions and you file Simplified XBRL plus a PDF; otherwise you file Full XBRL. This differs from the audit exemption test, which uses higher figures, so a company can be exempt from audit yet still file Full XBRL. Our audit exemption guide covers that test.
Who is exempt from filing financial statements in XBRL?
Several types of company file no XBRL, either because they file no statements at all or because they file in PDF.
- Solvent exempt private companies (EPCs). A solvent EPC (a private company with no more than 20 members and no corporate shareholder) need not file statements with ACRA, so it files no XBRL. An insolvent EPC must still file.
- Companies limited by guarantee. These file in PDF, not Full XBRL.
- MAS-regulated banking, insurance, and finance companies. These file in PDF with FS Highlights in XBRL where required.
Being exempt from XBRL is not the same as being exempt from preparing accounts. A solvent EPC still prepares proper statements and presents them to its members, even though it does not lodge them with ACRA. The same applies to a dormant company.
When is XBRL filed?
XBRL statements are filed with your annual return, which a non-listed private company lodges with ACRA within seven months after its financial year end. The sequence is: close the books, lay the statements before members at the AGM, then file the return with the XBRL attached.
So your XBRL deadline is effectively your annual return deadline, which is why it helps to prepare for your financial year end early. The meeting itself is covered in our AGM in Singapore guide.
How do you prepare and file XBRL?
Preparation is done in ACRA’s free BizFinx Preparation Tool, and filing through Bizfile, ACRA’s online portal.
- Map your figures. In the BizFinx tool, enter or import your figures and tag them against ACRA’s taxonomy, using the Full or Simplified template that matches your option.
- Validate. Run the built-in validation, which flags missing mandatory elements and inconsistencies before you submit.
- File with the annual return. Upload the validated XBRL file (and the PDF, for Simplified XBRL filers) when you lodge the annual return through Bizfile.
The tagging step is where most difficulty sits, because a figure mapped to the wrong taxonomy element can cause a rejected filing. Many companies hand it to their corporate secretary or accountant.
The cost of getting XBRL wrong
A rejected or late XBRL filing is not a quiet problem. Because it is filed with the annual return, an error that blocks the return can push you past the deadline and trigger ACRA’s late lodgement penalty. Repeated default can escalate to a summons and prosecution of directors.
There is also a quality cost. Incorrect tagging puts data on the public register that does not match your statements, which can surface during due diligence or a bank’s review. Getting it right the first time is cheaper than re-filing later. If accounting capacity is the bottleneck, our overview of the accounting firms in Singapore and the wider tax position for the year can help you resource it. These duties continue right up to the point of striking off the company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is XBRL filing mandatory in Singapore?
For most companies, yes. A Singapore-incorporated company limited by shares that must file financial statements with ACRA generally files them in XBRL. The template depends on size and profile, and a few company types may file in PDF or need not file statements at all.
What is the difference between Full XBRL and Simplified XBRL?
Full XBRL is the complete set of data elements, used by larger and insolvent companies. Simplified XBRL is a reduced data set filed with a PDF of the statements, available only to a smaller, non-publicly-accountable company that meets both thresholds. Full XBRL captures more detail; Simplified XBRL is lighter.
Which companies are exempt from XBRL filing?
Solvent exempt private companies need not file financial statements with ACRA, so they file no XBRL. Companies limited by guarantee file in PDF, and MAS-regulated banking, insurance, and finance companies file in PDF with FS Highlights. Insolvent exempt private companies, however, must still file.
What are the thresholds for Simplified XBRL?
A company qualifies when, for the financial year, its revenue is up to S$500,000 AND its total assets are up to S$500,000, and it is non-publicly-accountable. Both tests must be met. A company that fails either test files Full XBRL instead.
When is the XBRL filing deadline?
XBRL statements are filed with the annual return. For a non-listed private company, the annual return is due within seven months after the financial year end, following the AGM. So your XBRL deadline is the same as your annual return deadline.
How do I prepare and file XBRL?
Prepare your XBRL statements in ACRA’s free BizFinx Preparation Tool by tagging your figures against the taxonomy and running the built-in validation, then file through Bizfile with your annual return. Many companies engage a corporate services provider to handle the tagging and filing.
Talk to us about your XBRL filing
XBRL is straightforward when the figures are clean and the right template is chosen early, and painful when tagging errors bounce your annual return past the deadline. The team at Excellence Singapore can prepare your financial statements, confirm whether you file Full or Simplified XBRL, and tag, validate, and lodge the file with your annual return. Reach out and we will keep your XBRL filing accurate and on time.
