Month: February 2026

Regularising the Past: The 2026 Stamp Duty Voluntary Disclosure Program

Regularising the Past: The 2026 Stamp Duty Voluntary Disclosure Program

khushbuthakkar

Regularising the Past: The 2026 Stamp Duty Voluntary Disclosure Program

The Stamp Act 1949 (“Act”) has long served as a foundational element of Malaysia’s tax landscape, and, like all enduring legislation, it evolves to meet contemporary needs. In recent developments, the introduction of the Stamp Duty Self-Assessment System (“SDSAS”) has been on everyone’s mind – starting with Phase 1 kicking off on 1 January 2026. With this new system, taxpayers are required to first categorise their instruments according to the First Schedule of the Act, then independently and accurately determine the rate payable to the Collector and subsequently make such payments to the Collector upon filing their stamp duty return on SDSAS. This represents a marked departure from the previous framework, under which taxpayers were only required to submit their instruments online for the Collector to adjudicate and issue an official assessment notice specifying the stamp duty due – upon which the taxpayers would make payment.

With such a significant change within the stamp duty framework, the Inland Revenue Board (“IRB”) has introduced the Voluntary Disclosure Program (“VDP”).The VDP is aimed to facilitate the transition between the past framework and the newly implemented system, acting as an automatic blanket exemption for all eligible taxpayers. However, it is important to note that this program and the exemptions that come along with it would only be available for 6 months from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026 for instruments executed between year 2023 to year 2025.

Many taxpayers have asked why the Stamp Duty Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) applies only to instruments executed between 2023 and 2025, and whether documents executed prior to 2023 fall outside stamp duty exposure.

During a recent dialogue session with CTIM members, the Director General of Inland Revenue (“DGIR”) verbally indicated that, as a matter of administrative practice, the Inland Revenue Board (“IRB”) generally audits stamp duty compliance for a period of up to three years only. This administrative approach is broadly aligned with the IRB’s general audit framework.

However, it is important to note that, legally, the Stamp Act 1949 provides a time bar of five years for the assessment and recovery of deficient stamp duty. The DGIR also clarified that instruments executed prior to 2023 are not exempt from stamp duty.

Stamp duty remains legally payable under the Act as there is no remission or exemption order granting a blanket exemption for such instruments. A blanket exemption would potentially require refunds to be made to taxpayers who have already paid duty, which is not the current policy approach. Accordingly, while instruments executed before 2023 may, in practice, be less likely to be subject to audit under current IRB administrative practice, they remain legally chargeable to stamp duty.

Our view is that the three-year scope reflects the IRB’s current administrative practice rather than a limitation imposed by legislation, and such practice is not legally binding nor guaranteed to remain unchanged. Taxpayers should therefore assess their exposure based on statutory provisions rather than solely on current audit practice.

The overarching principle of the Act is that every instrument must be stamped at the prescribed rate. In practice, many taxpayers fall foul of the late-stamping provisions, rendering them liable under Section 47A of the Act. However, non-compliance not only attracts penalties imposed by the Collector, but also carries the more serious consequence that an unstamped document may be inadmissible as evidence in court, potentially undermining a party’s claims or defences should a dispute arise.

Specifically, under Section 47 of the Act, taxpayers are required to file a stamp duty return and ensure stamp duty payable is made within 30 days of the date of execution in Malaysia or the date of receipt in Malaysia, and failure to do so would attract penalties. Subsequently, Section 47A of the Act sets out the penalties for late stamping, whereby the “late” taxpayer would be subject to fifty ringgit (RM50) or ten percent (10%) of the amount of the unpaid duty if the instrument is stamped within three (3) months after the time for stamping, or one hundred ringgit (RM100) or twenty percent (20%) of the amount of the unpaid duty, whichever sum is greater in both cases.

Under Section 47A(2) of the Act, the Collector has the power to remit or reduce the amount of duty payable. Hence, the Collector has introduced the VDP to grant a remission period for eligible taxpayers, which applies to instruments executed between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025. For the VDP to apply, it is exclusive to taxpayers who have duly executed and stamped the relevant instruments, but have not paid the stamp duty. However, if the taxpayer has had the instrument stamped and the duty paid, then the VDP does not apply to such parties. Given that the VDP is designed as an automatic blanket exemption, those eligible are not required to file appeals of any sort, and the system will automatically display that the payment for duty is waived.

With the introduction of the SDSAS, the likelihood of the Collector “rejecting” a taxpayer’s submission may increase. Accordingly, taxpayers should be aware of the appeals process in the event of any dispute or dissatisfaction with an assessment by the Collector. Where a taxpayer disagrees with the Collector’s assessment, the taxpayer may, within thirty (30) days from the date of the assessment, lodge a written notice of objection with the Collector. Upon determination of the objection, the Collector shall notify the taxpayer in writing of the decision. If the taxpayer remains dissatisfied with the Collector’s decision, the taxpayer may, within twenty-one (21) days from the date of notification, appeal the decision to the High Court.

The VDP can be seen as a nudge from the Collector to the taxpayers, a nudge forward in the direction of modernity through the SDSAS. Therefore, the bottom-line of the VDP is that it is introduced to encourage taxpayers to independently file, stamp and pay for their instruments in the future, fostering a culture of compliance and individual integrity under the SDSAS.

This article was originally published by Zaid Ibrahim & Co.

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Stress-Free Annual Tax Filing in Singapore: Practical Tips for Businesses & Individuals

Stress-Free Annual Tax Filing in Singapore: Practical Tips for Businesses & Individuals

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Practical Tips for Stress-Free Annual Tax Filing

Annual tax filing can feel overwhelming for both businesses and individuals, especially when deadlines approach. With proper planning and the right tools, your annual tax filing process becomes simpler and less stressful. This guide shares practical tips on tax filing to help you stay organised, meet IRAS requirements, and file your tax accurately and on time.

Understanding the Tax Filing Process

Understanding how tax filing works helps you avoid errors, stay compliant, and gain a clearer view of your finances for better planning in the year ahead.

What is Annual Tax Filing?

Annual tax filing is the process of submitting your yearly tax return to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). Your annual tax return shows your income, expenses, and the amount of tax you owe.

  • For companies, this includes reporting profits and claiming any deductions or exemptions to which they qualify.
  • For individuals, it means declaring income from all sources so that IRAS can calculate the correct tax payable.

Filing correctly keeps you compliant and reduces the risk of penalties or delays.

Key Deadlines to Remember

  • Companies: The corporate tax return (Form C-S or Form C) must be filed by 30 November of the Year of Assessment. Additionally, the Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) must typically be filed within 3 months of the company’s financial year-end.
  • Individuals: The personal income tax return should be filed by 15 April for paper submissions and by 18 April for e-filing.

Being aware of these deadlines in advance helps you plan ahead and avoid last-minute issues.

Common Challenges in Tax Filing

Many people find tax filing tricky because of:

  • Mistakes in calculating taxable income
  • Missing deadlines due to poor planning
  • Errors when claiming deductions or tax reliefs

Knowing these challenges ahead of time helps you prepare better and reduce stress during annual tax filing.

Practical Tax Filing Tips for Businesses and Individuals

Taking simple steps throughout the year can make your annual tax return much easier to manage.

Organise Your Financial Records Early

Keeping your records organised is one of the best ways to make tax filing easier.

  • Track all income, expenses, and receipts as they happen.
  • Use accounting software or spreadsheets to stay on top of your finances.
  • Keep digital copies of invoices and receipts in case IRAS asks for proof.

Good record-keeping saves time and reduces the likelihood of mistakes when preparing your annual tax filing.

Understand Your Tax Obligations

Different taxpayers have different forms and rules:

  • Companies usually file Form C-S (for small businesses) or Form C.
  • Individuals file Form B or Form B1.

Check which deductions, exemptions, or reliefs apply to you. For example, business expenses, personal reliefs, or approved donations can reduce your taxable income.

Knowing your obligations helps you stay compliant and may reduce the tax you owe.

Stay Updated on Tax Regulations

Tax rules can change, so it is important to stay informed. Keep an eye on updates from IRAS or your tax adviser and review the latest rules before submitting your annual tax return. Staying aware of any changes helps ensure your filing is accurate and can prevent penalties.

Use Technology to Make Filing Easier

Technology can make tax filing faster and more accurate.

  • Use the myTax Portal in Singapore for easy e-filing.
  • Accounting software can handle calculations and generate reports automatically.
  • Digital tools can remind you of upcoming deadlines and missing information.

Using these tools simplifies your annual tax filing and helps reduce human errors.

Avoid the Last-Minute Rush

Leaving your tax filing until the last minute can cause stress and increase the chance of mistakes. Start preparing your annual tax return early and check your data for missing or incorrect details. Preparing ahead gives you enough time to fix any issues before the submission deadline.

Seek Professional Help

Getting expert support from professionals such as BoardRoom's Tax and Accounting Services can make a significant difference when filing your taxes. Tax consultants or accountants can explain the rules, review your figures, and check your filing to ensure everything is correct. They can also suggest ways to save on taxes and ensure you follow IRAS regulations. While hiring professionals may cost extra, it often saves time, reduces stress, and helps avoid costly mistakes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Tax Filing

Understanding common mistakes to avoid helps you file your taxes accurately, save time, and stay compliant. By paying attention to these areas, you can reduce the risk of penalties, errors, and delays in processing your annual tax return.

Missing Filing Deadlines

One of the most common and costly mistakes is missing tax filing deadlines. Late submissions can result in fines, interest charges, and increased scrutiny from IRAS. To prevent this, mark all key dates clearly in your calendar and set multiple reminders in advance. Submitting your annual tax return early is always a best practice, as it gives you extra time to correct any errors and helps you avoid last-minute system issues during peak filing periods.

Inaccurate Reporting

Inaccurate reporting is another common issue that can cause delays or even trigger an audit. It is important to review all figures carefully before submitting your annual tax return. Ensure that your reported income, expenses, and deductions match your supporting documents, such as invoices, receipts, and bank statements. Maintaining detailed records for at least five years also ensures that you can provide proof if requested by IRAS. Accurate reporting not only keeps you compliant but also gives you a clear view of your financial position, supporting better planning and decision-making.

Ignoring Tax Reliefs and Incentives

Many taxpayers miss out on available reliefs and incentives that could reduce their tax payable. For businesses, this may include schemes such as the Start-Up Tax Exemption or Partial Tax Exemption, which can significantly lower taxable income. For individuals, reliefs can include contributions to CPF, support for dependents, and donations to approved charities. Taking the time to identify and claim all eligible reliefs and exemptions helps you save money, ensures compliance, and maximises the benefits available to you.

How to Make Tax Filing Stress-Free

Annual tax filing does not need to be stressful. With early planning, organised records, and the right tools, the process can be quick and straightforward.

Keep track of key deadlines, understand your tax obligations, and use online platforms to stay organised. If the process feels complex, engaging professional tax services can simplify the experience and ensure your annual tax return is filed accurately and on time.

Contact BoardRoom Singapore today to make your tax filing smooth, compliant, and stress-free.

Contact BoardRoom for more information:

Ng Hui Xian

Head of Accounting and Tax

E: [email protected]

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Preparing for Financial Year End in Singapore: Complete Checklist for Compliance

Preparing for Financial Year End in Singapore: Complete Checklist for Compliance

khushbuthakkar

Preparing for Financial Year End: A Checklist for Singapore Companies

The financial year-end is a critical period for businesses in Singapore. It’s when companies review financial records, close accounts, and ensure compliance with ACRA and IRAS regulations. A clear and well-structured checklist for the financial year-end streamlines the process, supports compliance, and ensures accurate financial reporting.

Proper execution provides a clear view of your business finances and helps prevent errors that could lead to fines or delays.

Why Financial Year-End Preparation Matters

The Importance of Financial Year-End Closing

Financial year-end is more than closing your accounts, it ensures compliance and strategic planning, helping your business stay on track, meet all requirements, and plan for future budget forecasts.

Key benefits include:

  • Staying compliant with ACRA and IRAS requirements
  • Accurate financial reporting for better decision-making
  • Identifying growth opportunities and cost management

Good preparation keeps your company organised, confident, and ready to start the new financial year smoothly.

Common Challenges in Financial Year-End Processes

Many companies face problems during their financial year-end. Common issues include:

  • Mistakes in year-end accounting procedures caused by incomplete or missing records
  • Rushed submissions to meet deadlines for financial statements and tax reporting
  • Confusion over adjustments, accruals, and reconciliations

Early planning reduces stress and avoids last-minute mistakes.

Outsourcing accounting business

Financial Year-End Checklist for Singapore Companies

A detailed financial year-end checklist helps you stay organised and meet all reporting and tax submission deadlines. Below are the key steps for Singapore businesses.

Organise and Reconcile Financial Records

  • Record all transactions accurately in your accounting system
  • Reconcile accounts payable, accounts receivable, and bank statements
  • Verify outstanding balances with supporting documents

Good record-keeping, supported by reliable accounting and bookkeeping services, ensures everything is in order before the year ends.

Review Year-End Accounting Procedures

  • Record all accruals, prepayments, and adjustments
  • Verify stock counts and inventory valuation
  • Update depreciation and review fixed assets

Completing these year-end accounting procedures ensures your books are correct and up to date.

Prepare Financial Statements

  • Prepare the Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statements
  • Ensure compliance with Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS)
  • Review notes and disclosures for accuracy

Strong financial reporting gives a clear picture of your company’s performance and supports better decision-making. Working with an experienced accounting team can help ensure your year-end procedures comply with Singapore Financial Reporting Standards (SFRS).

Tax Compliance Tasks

  • Submit Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) within three months of your financial year end
  • File your corporate tax returns (Form C-S or C) with IRAS
  • Utilise tax benefits like Partial Tax Exemption (PTE) and Start-Up Tax Exemption (SUTE)

Early preparation and the support of experienced corporate tax advisors can help you meet all tax requirements without rushing at the last minute.

Fulfil Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

  • File your Annual Returns with ACRA after finalising your financial statements
  • Prepare for audits if required
  • Complete directors’ resolutions and Annual General Meeting (AGM) requirements

Staying compliant with these regulations helps your business maintain a good reputation and avoid penalties.

Employee and Payroll Compliance

  • Verify CPF contributions, salaries, and benefits are recorded correctly
  • Submit Form IR8A and related reports to IRAS
  • Account for bonuses, claims, and leave balances

Accurate payroll processing supported by compliant payroll management services ensures that both HR and finance records remain aligned at year-end.

Streamlining Financial Year-End Closing

The financial year-end closing checklist can seem like a lot of work, but it becomes much easier with early planning and good systems in place.

Start the Process Early

Start reviewing accounts, reconciling transactions, and checking records before your financial year-end date. Doing things early helps prevent errors and gives you time to fix any issues.

Leverage Technology for Efficiency

Use accounting software to save time and reduce mistakes.

  • Choose tools that connect with payroll and tax systems.
  • Automate parts of financial reporting to avoid manual data entry.

Technology makes your financial year-end closing process faster and smoother.

Engage Professional Services

Working with a professional accountant or corporate services provider can make the process easier.

  • Experts can handle year-end accounting procedures and make sure your business follows ACRA and IRAS rules.
  • They can also help prepare financial statements, manage audits, and file returns.

Engaging expert support allows your team to focus on daily operations while professionals manage compliance and ensure accuracy.

Conduct Regular Reviews

Don’t wait until the end of the year to review your books. Conduct monthly or quarterly checks to stay on top of your accounts. Regular reviews help identify issues early and reduce last-minute pressure during the financial year-end closing period.

Investing in talent

How Professional Services Simplify Financial Year-End Reporting

Professional corporate service providers can help companies handle the financial year-end more efficiently.

Here is how:

  • Expertise in Financial Reporting and Compliance: Professionals understand local accounting and tax requirements, helping you stay compliant and meet all deadlines.
  • Time and Cost Efficiency: Outsourcing your financial year-end checklist saves time and helps prevent costly mistakes.
  • Error Reduction: Trained accountants carefully review your records to ensure everything is accurate.

By working with professionals, your company can handle the year-end process confidently and avoid unnecessary stress.

Closing Your Books the Right Way

Financial year-end is vital for compliance and planning. A clear, structured financial year-end checklist makes the process easier and more organised, while also ensuring accurate financial reporting.

Leveraging technology, maintaining proper records, and engaging professional support can make your financial year-end closing process simple, accurate, and stress-free.

Get expert help from BoardRoom Singapore today to ensure your financial year-end closing is accurate, compliant, and hassle-free.

Contact BoardRoom for more information:

Ng Hui Xian

Head of Accounting and Tax

E: [email protected]

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Why Digital Finance Transformation Is a Leadership Imperative

Why Digital Finance Transformation Is a Leadership Imperative

khushbuthakkar

Finance leaders today are navigating an era of heightened expectations. Beyond delivering accurate financial reports, they are under pressure to drive business performance, manage organisational risk and contribute to long-term strategic direction. This evolution reflects a broader shift in the finance function – from operational stewardship to strategic leadership.

At the heart of this shift is digital finance transformation. More than automating transactions or upgrading legacy systems, it is a fundamental reimagining of how finance teams operate, collaborate and create value.

By integrating cloud-based platforms, connected data, and intelligent technologies, digital transformation enables finance leaders to unlock real-time insights, enhance compliance, and build operational resilience. It empowers them to move beyond the back office and take their seat at the leadership table – informing business decisions with speed, accuracy and foresight.

For CFOs ready to lead this change, the opportunity is clear: transforming the finance function not just to keep up but to get ahead is driving the future of business.

Finance Transformation

The finance function is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Digital disruption, new regulatory mandates, and rising expectations from stakeholders are reshaping the role of finance across industries. No longer confined to reporting past performance, finance teams – and particularly CFOs – are expected to be drivers of value creation, guiding strategy, enabling growth and ensuring long-term resilience.

“A CFO is not there to handle day-to-day reporting,” says Yang Shuzhen, Director of Regional Accounting Services at BoardRoom Group. “They play a more strategic role – translating the company’s goals into financial terms and advising the board on how to deliver them.”

Today’s CFO is expected to look beyond numbers, drawing on years of experience to connect financial insight with broader business planning.

Yet, many finance teams are still operating in silos – reliant on spreadsheets, fragmented systems, and manual processes that limit agility and visibility. In this model, accessing accurate and timely data for decision-making is often challenging. As compliance requirements grow and real-time reporting becomes the norm, these legacy approaches are no longer sustainable.

Finance transformation offers a path forward. It is not about technology alone – it is an enterprise-level shift that reimagines how finance operates, collaborates and creates impact. At its core, transformation enables finance leaders to align people, processes and platforms in a way that accelerates decision-making, improves compliance and supports scalability.

By embracing an integrated, insight-led, and technology-enabled operating model, CFOs can shift the finance function from a cost centre to a strategic partner. In doing so, they position finance as a key contributor to business performance and agility in a fast-changing world.

The Strategic Role of Technology in the Finance Function

Technology is no longer just a support tool for modern finance teams – it is the foundation for transformation. As business conditions shift and compliance standards evolve, finance leaders must build future-ready functions that are agile, accurate and insight-led. Achieving this means moving beyond standalone systems and spreadsheets and investing in integrated platforms that streamline processes and unlock real-time decision-making.

“The technology you choose needs to support more than just operational tasks,” says Shuzhen. “It should provide one source of truth – eliminating the need for manual reconciliation and giving leaders accurate, timely data to plan ahead.”

System integration is central to this shift. With the right infrastructure, finance teams can reduce errors, eliminate delays and support collaboration across departments.

Key Finance Automation Tools

The following finance automation tools help teams work smarter, faster, and with greater confidence:

  • Cloud-based accounting software and ERP platforms enable real-time visibility and scalability across multiple entities.
  • E-invoicing in finance accelerates workflows, improves compliance and eliminates reliance on paper-based processes.
  • XBRL reporting compliance ensures financial reporting and disclosures are automated, standardised and accurate.
  • Finance dashboard software brings data to life – delivering on-demand insights to guide forecasting, scenario planning and performance tracking.

These represent a small fraction of the ever-growing suite of finance automation tools that are reshaping the future of the finance function. Others include financial process automation systems that reduce manual workloads and improve reporting efficiency, and RPA in finance, which enables bots to handle repetitive tasks such as reconciliations, invoice matching, and data entry.

As Hui Xian Ng, Head of Accounting & Tax, BoardRoom Group, shares, “Technology helps organisations stay ahead rather than play catch-up. When leaders get the insights they need, when they need them, it becomes a strategic investment that benefits both growth and profitability.”

When deployed with the right governance and vision, these systems become critical assets – building transparency, enabling smarter decisions and preparing finance functions to support growth at speed. Rather than treating digital tools as bolt-ons, future-ready finance teams embed them as core capabilities that drive long-term value.

This mindset marks a broader shift – what many call digital transformation and the finance function. It is no longer about isolated upgrades but embedding digital intelligence throughout the financial ecosystem.

The Leadership Playbook for Transformation

Successful finance transformation starts at the top. While technology and systems are critical enablers, leadership defines the vision, sets the tone and drives momentum. For CFOs and senior finance leaders, transformation is not just a project – it is a strategic shift that demands clarity of purpose and cross-functional alignment.

“A lot of businesses start transformation with the right intentions, but without a clear directive, it can become fragmented,” says Shuzhen. “One client described it as building a monster – too many disconnected systems that no one understood. That’s why transformation must be led with intent and focus.”

To begin or accelerate the journey, finance leaders should first assess the purpose behind their transformation and ask the following key questions:

  1. Are our systems designed to enable forward-looking insights or just historical reporting?
  2. Do we have real-time access to the data we need for strategic planning?
  3. Are we investing in tools that scale and adapt or fixing problems in silos?

 

With these questions as a foundation, CFOs can develop a finance digital transformation roadmap – prioritising quick wins, identifying resource needs and establishing ownership across departments. Crucially, transformation cannot live within finance alone. It requires collaboration between finance, IT, operations, and executive leadership to ensure that new tools and processes are aligned with broader business goals.

According to Hui Xian, transformation efforts fall short when they’re seen as just a finance initiative. Sustainable change depends on organisation-wide buy-in and the alignment of people, systems, and processes.

This is where BoardRoom plays a vital role. BoardRoom provides integrated outsourced accounting and tax services and advisory, helping clients scale both vertically across capabilities and horizontally across markets. This cohesive model ensures that finance leaders never navigate change alone but are supported by experienced partners every step of the way.

Transform Finance, Lead with Vision

Finance transformation is no longer optional – it is essential for organisations that want to stay compliant, resilient and strategically competitive. By rethinking how finance operates, investing in integrated technology, and leading with clarity, CFOs can elevate their teams from transactional processors to trusted business advisors.

Choosing the right accounting firm and corporate service provider that helps leaders navigate all aspects of business plays a pivotal role in achieving this outcome. For leaders ready to modernise their finance function, BoardRoom offers the expertise, tools and regional reach to guide them through every step of the journey.

Learn more about our accounting, finance and tax services and how we can help you build a future-ready finance function.

Contact BoardRoom for more information:

Ng Hui Xian

Head of Accounting and Tax

E: [email protected]