XBRL Financial Reporting

With effect from 3 March 2014, Singapore incorporated companies (unless exempted) will be required to file a full set of financial statements in XBRL based on revised filing requirements through the new BizFinx portal at www.bizfinx.gov.sg. A new offline tool, BizFinx, will replace the online FS Manager for preparing XBRL financial statements and the BizFinx Portal, for submitting the Annual Returns together with these financial statements.

What is XBRL?

XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) is a computer language that, through a process of tagging, makes documents machine-readable.

Who is affected?

Under the revised XBRL filing requirements, Singapore incorporated companies (unlimited or limited by shares) which are required to file their financial statements with ACRA, will be required to file a full set of financial statements in XBRL format, according to a Minimum Requirement List within the new ACRA Taxonomy 2013. Filing of Option B (Partial XBRL), a filing option under the previous XBRL system (FS Manager), will no longer be available.

The table below sets out the filing requirements for various types of companies:

Type of company	Filing of Financial Statements
Public / Private companies (limited/unlimited by shares), except those under (a) and (b)	Full set of XBRL financial statements
(a) specific companies regulated by MAS, i.e. commercial banks, merchant banks, licensed insurers, finance companies regulated by MAS (Note: Only the above specified types of companies regulated by MAS are exempted from filing of a full set of XBRL financial statements. Other types of companies regulated by MAS, e.g. money changers, are required to file a full set of XBRL financial statements).	Financial statements highlights (FSH) in XBRL format + PDF copy of financial statements
(b) companies allowed by law to prepare accounts in accordance with accounting standards other than SFRS, SFRS for Small Entities and IFRS	FSH in XBRL format + PDF copy of financial statements
Solvent exempt private companies (EPCs)	Exempted from filing financial statements, but are encouraged to file with following options: full set of XBRL financial statements or FSH in XBRL format
Insolvent EPCs	Options of: full set of XBRL financial statements; or FSH in XBRL format + PDF copy of financial statements
Companies limited by guarantee	PDF copy of financial statements (XBRL filing not required)
Foreign companies and their local branches	PDF copy of financial statements (XBRL filing not required)

What is the Minimum Requirement List?

The Minimum Requirement list comprises a set of elements within ACRA Taxonomy 2013.

Information Required	Minimum Requirement List
Detailed information (Statutory reports)	Statement by directors Independent auditors’ report
Detailed information (Primary financial statements)	Statement of financial position Income statement Statement of cash flows
Detailed information (Disclosure notes)	Corporate and general information Trade and other receivables Trade and other payables Provisions Share capital Revenue Government grants Employee benefits expense Operating segments Property, plant and equipment Selected income and expense

Source: Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority

This page was last updated on 24th August, 2015.