- Your FYE can be any date, with a 12-month or 52-week accounting period
- Your FYE sets your ECI, AGM, annual return and Form C-S deadlines
- Changing your FYE on BizFile is free, but some changes need ACRA approval
- A new FYE does not cancel deadlines you have already missed
The financial year end Singapore companies choose is the last day of their 12-month accounting period, and it sets almost every filing deadline that follows. ACRA lets you pick any date, and your ECI, AGM, annual return and Form C-S deadlines are all counted from it. Get it right at incorporation, or plan a change carefully, and accounting services that work to your FYE can keep the whole calendar on track.
What is a financial year end (FYE) in Singapore?
A financial year end (FYE) is the last day of your company’s accounting period. ACRA lets you choose any date, and the accounting period Singapore companies report on can be 12 months or 52 weeks. For non-listed companies, the FYE sets the key deadlines: ECI within 3 months, the AGM within 6 months (unless financial statements are sent to members within 5 months), the annual return within 7 months, and Form C-S or Form C by 30 November of the Year of Assessment.
Accountants may call it the fiscal year Singapore companies report on, but ACRA’s term is financial year. Your Singapore financial year start date is simply the day after your previous FYE. So a company with a 31 December FYE runs its Singapore financial year from 1 January to 31 December.
The fiscal year Singapore’s Government uses is different: it runs from 1 April to 31 March. That government cycle has no bearing on your company, because ACRA publishes no single financial year Singapore companies must follow. To check your own Singapore company financial year end, look it up in your ACRA business profile on BizFile.
When does my company’s first financial year start and end?
Your first financial year starts on your incorporation date, so that date is also your first Singapore financial year start date. It ends on the FYE you choose when you register the company with ACRA.
The first financial year end Singapore company directors choose doesn’t have to fall exactly 12 months after incorporation. Your first financial year can be longer or shorter than 12 months, so check the limit with ACRA or your accountant before you commit. From the second year onwards, each financial year runs for 12 months (or 52 weeks) unless you change the FYE.
Most questions about the first financial year end Singapore company owners set come down to tax timing. That’s covered in the section on choosing an FYE below.
What deadlines does your FYE set?
Your FYE is the anchor date for four recurring filings. For non-listed companies, here is how each one is counted:
- ECI: file within 3 months of your FYE. Companies with revenue of S$5 million or less and nil ECI don’t need to file. See filing your Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI).
- AGM: hold it within 6 months after your FYE. A private company that sends its financial statements to members within 5 months doesn’t need to hold one. See AGM and annual return deadlines.
- Annual return: file within 7 months after your FYE (8 months if you keep a branch register outside Singapore). See annual return filing.
- Form C-S, C-S (Lite) or Form C: file by 30 November of the Year of Assessment. See corporate tax filing deadlines.
The Year of Assessment (YA) is the year after your basis period. Income for a financial year ending on 31 December 2025 is taxed in YA2026, and so is income for any financial year ending during 2025.
| Your FYE → your deadlines (non-listed companies) | FYE 31 Dec 2025 | FYE 31 Mar 2026 | FYE 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECI due | 31 Mar 2026 | 30 Jun 2026 | 30 Sep 2026 |
| AGM by* | 30 Jun 2026 | 30 Sep 2026 | 31 Dec 2026 |
| Annual return by | 31 Jul 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | 31 Jan 2027 |
| Form C-S / C due | 30 Nov 2026 | 30 Nov 2027 | 30 Nov 2027 |
| Year of Assessment | YA2026 | YA2027 | YA2027 |
*A private company that sends its financial statements to members within 5 months after its FYE doesn’t need to hold an AGM. Annual return dates assume no branch register outside Singapore.
To see your own dates, you can work out your filing deadlines with our free tool.
How do you choose the right FYE for your company?
There’s no single best financial year Singapore founders should pick. The right FYE depends on three things:
- Tax exemptions in your first years. Qualifying new companies can claim the start-up tax exemption: 75% off the first S$100,000 of chargeable income and 50% off the next S$100,000. Other companies get partial tax exemption: 75% off the first S$10,000 and 50% off the next S$190,000. The length of your first financial year affects how much income falls into each YA, so speak to your accountant before you pick a date.
- Seasonality. Ending your year after your busy season means you close the books when stock is low and the team has time.
- Type of business. Subsidiaries often match a parent company’s FYE, and some industries follow a common reporting cycle.
31 December, 31 March or 30 June: which FYE suits you?
These three dates are the most common choices, and each one shapes your workload differently.
- 31 December: your financial year matches the calendar year, which keeps reporting simple. The trade-off is that you file alongside most other companies, so accountants are at their busiest.
- 31 March: popular with companies that work with Indian, Japanese or UK groups, whose years often end on 31 March. Your annual return falls in October, well away from the year-end rush.
- 30 June: suits businesses with a strong second half of the calendar year. Your ECI, AGM and annual return deadlines are spread across September to January.
Pick the date that spaces your deadlines around your own peak periods, not someone else’s.
How do you change your financial year end?
A change of financial year end is filed on BizFile under “Update change of financial year end date”. The change of financial year end is free.
You’ll need ACRA’s approval, with supporting documents, in two cases:
- Your new financial year will be longer than 18 months.
- You changed your FYE on or after 31 August 2018 and want to change it again within 5 years.
In those cases, processing takes up to 14 working days. You can only change the current or the immediately previous financial year. You also can’t change your FYE if your AGM, annual return or financial statement deadlines have already been missed.
Companies usually change their FYE to line up with a new parent or group company, or to move the year end away from their peak season. Every Singapore company financial year end change also shifts the accounting period Singapore’s IRAS uses for your basis period, so let IRAS know through its guidance on updating company particulars. A change of FYE is simple and free, but it won’t erase a deadline you’ve already missed.
How does Sleek keep your FYE deadlines on track?
Sleek’s accountants plan your ECI, AGM, annual return and Form C-S around your FYE, so nothing sneaks up on you. We handle bookkeeping, financial statements and corporate tax filing with Sleek on one timeline, and flag each deadline well before it’s due.
Want the full picture first? Download our free guide, What happens after my FYE, for a step-by-step 31 December timeline. For more on each filing, browse our accounting and tax guides.
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FAQs on financial year end singapore
How often can I change my financial year end?
There’s no fixed limit on how many times you can change your FYE. However, if you changed it on or after 31 August 2018, a second change within 5 years needs ACRA’s approval. You’ll need to give reasons and supporting documents with the application.
Can I change my FYE if I've missed my annual return?
No. ACRA won’t let you change your FYE if your AGM, annual return or financial statement deadlines have already passed. File the overdue items first, then apply for the change.
Does my FYE affect my start-up tax exemption?
Yes, indirectly. The start-up tax exemption applies to a qualifying company’s first 3 Years of Assessment, and your FYE decides which income falls into each YA. Ask your accountant to model the options before you set your first FYE.
Does my financial year have to match the calendar year?
No. You can choose any date as your FYE, so your financial year can run from 1 April to 31 March, 1 July to 30 June, or any other 12-month period. Many companies still use 31 December because it keeps reporting simple.
