Who does the filing of Annual Returns with ACRA?

To minimise mistakes from incorrect filing of financial statements and reports, company would normally outsource the services to a registered filing agent.  A filing agent is a person who, in the course of his or her business, carries out on behalf of any other person (for example, a director of a company) any transaction with the Registrar using the electronic transaction system, or via any other means allowed by the Registrar, if the electronic transaction system is unavailable.

So, who can be a Registered Filing Agent?

The person must:

• be a business entity registered with ACRA.
• act by or through at least one registered qualified individual.
• be a fit and proper person, or show that his directors or partners or persons directly or indirectly taking part in or concerned in his management are fit and proper; and
• if applicable, not less than 2 years have elapsed since the cancellation of his previous registration as a filing agent due to a sanction by ACRA.

So, who can be a Registered Qualified Individual? 

The person must:

• be a qualified individual, which term is defined in the ACRA (Filing Agents and Qualified Individuals) Regulations to mean:
  • an advocate and solicitor
  • a public accountant registered under the Accountants Act.
  • a member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)
  • a member of the Association of International Accountants (Singapore Branch).
  • a member of the Institute of Company Accountants, Singapore;
  • a member of the Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore; or
  • a corporate secretarial agent; i.e. a person who is carrying on the business of providing corporate secretarial services for one or more companies and has been doing so for at least 3 years in the preceding 5 years; and has been a secretary of a company for at least 3 years in the preceding 5 years.;
• be a fit and proper person; and
• if applicable, not less than 2 years have elapsed since the cancellation of his previous registration as a qualified individual due to a sanction by ACRA.

Come to us

If you need assistance in this area, do feel free to come to us. CoSeClinic Services Pte Ltd is a Registered Filing Agent and we have few Qualified Individuals who are members of ISCA.