XBRL Filing for New Companies: A First-Timer's Checklist

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Most XBRL guidance assumes an established company with a company secretary who already knows the drill. This one is for a newly incorporated company figuring it out from scratch.

The first-year timeline

Unlike some jurisdictions where different filings run on separate clocks, Singapore's system ties your AGM, Annual Return, and XBRL financial statements together — all counted from your financial year end (FYE), which you set when the company was formed.

What to sort out on day one

1. Confirm who your company secretary is, and whether CorpPass access is already set up. See our CorpPass registration guide.
2. Confirm your financial year end and whether your company is listed or non-listed — this sets your 5-month or 7-month filing window.
3. Check your likely Full vs Simplified XBRL eligibility early, using the S$500,000 revenue-and-assets test in our Full vs Simplified guide.
4. Check whether a dormant or EPC exemption might apply if the company will be low-activity in its first year — see our dormant and exempt companies guide.

Common first-filing mistakes

• Assuming a dormant first year means nothing to file. It often doesn't remove the obligation entirely — specific statutory tests apply.
• Leaving CorpPass setup until the deadline is close. Access setup can take longer than expected the first time.
• Not confirming Full vs Simplified eligibility before starting to prepare in BizFinx, which wastes effort if the wrong template is chosen.
• Confusing the audit exemption threshold with the Simplified XBRL threshold — they are different tests.

A practical order to work through

1. Confirm your company secretary and CorpPass access situation.
2. Confirm your FYE and listed/non-listed status.
3. Check Full vs Simplified XBRL eligibility.
4. Check for likely dormant/EPC exemptions before your first filing is due.
5. Download the free XBRL Filing Readiness Checklist below for the full pre-filing review.