Annual filing for foreign companies

Learn about the financial reporting obligations for foreign companies operating in Singapore, including head office and branch financial statements.

Last updated 20 March 2026

Foreign companies must file financial statements for both their head office and Singapore branch operations each year.

Head office financial statements

Your filing requirements depend on whether your company is listed and which accounting standards you use.

Listed companies (Singapore or overseas)

You must file financial statements that comply with the listing rules of the exchange where your company is listed.

Unlisted companies

Choose one of these options based on your accounting standards.

Options

Accounting standards	Details
Mostly similar to Singapore's Accounting Standards	Refers to International Financial Reporting Standards or standards that are mostly aligned with IFRS. For example, the Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (International) (SFRS(I)). File existing financial statements that follow your current audit requirements.
Jurisdiction's accounting standards	File financial statements prepared under your jurisdiction's standards. These statements should also follow the audit requirements required by legislation in your jurisdiction.
Other accounting standards	File unaudited summary financial statements. Prepare these based on accounting records that follow your jurisdiction's legislation. These should include: Statement of financial position Statement of comprehensive income Material accounting policies (including basis of measurement) ACRA's statement by directors form signed by two directors registered with ACRA (if you only have one registered director, they can sign it alone) Note: Foreign companies must register their directors with ACRA when they incorporate and update any changes within 30 days.

Accounting standards

Details

Mostly similar to Singapore's Accounting Standards

Refers to International Financial Reporting Standards or standards that are mostly aligned with IFRS. For example, the Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (International) (SFRS(I)).

File existing financial statements that follow your current audit requirements.

Jurisdiction's accounting standards

File financial statements prepared under your jurisdiction's standards.

These statements should also follow the audit requirements required by legislation in your jurisdiction.

Other accounting standards

File unaudited summary financial statements. Prepare these based on accounting records that follow your jurisdiction's legislation.

These should include:

Statement of financial position
Statement of comprehensive income
Material accounting policies (including basis of measurement)
ACRA's statement by directors form signed by two directors registered with ACRA (if you only have one registered director, they can sign it alone)

Note: Foreign companies must register their directors with ACRA when they incorporate and update any changes within 30 days.

Note: If the financial statements are not in English, file both the original language version and English translation.

Singapore branch financial statements

Your requirements depend on your branch status and filing exemptions from ACRA.

Requirements

Condition	What you need to file
Active branch	Audited financial statements showing: Profit and loss account for Singapore operations (must comply with accounting standards and give a true and fair view) Assets used in Singapore operations Liabilities from Singapore operations
Dormant branch	Unaudited financial statements showing: Profit and loss account for Singapore operations Assets used in Singapore operations Liabilities from Singapore operations
ACRA approval for a waiver: Section 373(12)	Annual filing only: You do not need to file any Singapore branch financial statements.
ACRA approval for relief: Section 373(13A)	Depends on your approved relief: You may have relief from audit requirements or form and content requirements. More details: Applying for financial reporting reliefs

Meaning of dormant branch

According to section 205B of the Companies Act 1967, a branch is dormant when it has no accounting activity, except for:

Appointing a company secretary
Appointing an auditor
Maintaining books and records
Paying ACRA fees and penalties

Filing financial statements

Follow our step-by-step guide to file financial statements for foreign companies.

If you need more time to file your financial statements, follow our step-by-step guide to apply for an extension of time under CA S373(10).

Applying for filing exemptions

Filing exemptions are covered in section 373 of Singapore's Companies Act 1967.

Available exemptions

Financial statement	Available exemptions
Head office	Relief from form and content requirements for financial statements Permission to file any other document under section 373(13) of the Act
Singapore branch	Waiver from filing audited financial statements Relief from audit requirements or form and content requirements Note: You must provide the Singapore branch's balance sheet and income statement, unless it cannot be prepared.

Financial statement

Available exemptions

Head office

Relief from form and content requirements for financial statements
Permission to file any other document under section 373(13) of the Act

Singapore branch

Waiver from filing audited financial statements
Relief from audit requirements or form and content requirements

Note: You must provide the Singapore branch's balance sheet and income statement, unless it cannot be prepared.

How to apply

Before you start, ensure your documents are final and complete. Do not submit draft versions. Follow these steps:

Open the General lodgement eService.
Select Application under section 373 of the Companies Act - Exemption/Waiver of Financial Reporting Requirements for Foreign Company.
Complete and attach the application form with the directors' declaration.
Submit and pay a $200 fee (non-refundable).

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