AGMs & Annual Returns: What Singapore Companies Need to Know in 2025

Singapore has built a reputation as one of the world’s most efficient and transparent jurisdictions for doing business — and a big part of that rests on strict but sensible corporate compliance requirements. Two key obligations that every private limited company must stay on top of are the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the Annual Return (AR) filing. 

If you're a company director, secretary, or corporate service provider, here's your refresher for 2024. 

🧾 What Is an Annual General Meeting (AGM)? 

An AGM is a yearly meeting where shareholders are presented with the company’s financial statements and have the opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns about the company’s performance. 

Under Section 175 and 201 of the Companies Act, AGMs are required unless your company qualifies for an exemption (more on that below). 

💡 Exemptions from Holding an AGM (Private Companies): 

Since 2017, private companies can choose not to hold AGMs if: 

• All shareholders approve a resolution to dispense with the AGM; or 

• Financial statements are sent to shareholders within 5 months after FYE and no shareholder requests an AGM within 14 days. 

  
  

In such cases, all resolutions (e.g., approving financial statements) must be passed via written means. 

⏳ When Must the AGM Be Held? 

If your company is not exempt, then: 

• AGM must be held within 6 months after the financial year-end (FYE). 

• Financial statements must be not more than 6 months old at the date of the AGM. 

For public companies, the timeline is shorter — AGMs must be held within 4 months after FYE. 

📝 What Is an Annual Return (AR)? 

An Annual Return is a mandatory filing to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). It contains essential information about your company, including: 

• Company officers (directors and secretary) 

• Shareholders and share capital 

• Financial statements (if required) 

Filing the AR on time is crucial to maintaining your company’s good standing — and avoiding penalties. 

📅 When Must the Annual Return Be Filed? 

The deadline for AR filing depends on your company type and AGM obligations: 

Scenario	AR Filing Deadline
Company holding an AGM	Within 7 months after FYE
Company not required to hold an AGM	Within 5 months after FYE

🔁 The filing is done through BizFile+, ACRA’s online portal. A filing fee of S$60 applies for most private companies. 

⚠️ Penalties for Non-Compliance 

Late filing can be costly: 

• S$300 per late AR (automatically imposed by ACRA) 

• Repeated non-compliance may lead to: 

• Disqualification of directors 

• Striking off of the company 

• Prosecution for more serious breaches 

✅ Compliance Checklist (AGM + AR) 

Here’s a simple workflow to keep your company compliant: 

✅ 1. Prepare financial statements (audited or unaudited, depending on exemption status) 

✅ 2. Determine AGM obligation (exempt or not)

✅ 3. If AGM required, hold it within 6 months of FYE

✅ 4. File Annual Return on BizFile+ 

✅ 5. Maintain proper records and supporting resolutions 

🧑‍💼 How CSPs Add Value 

Corporate service providers can: 

• Monitor key deadlines 

• Prepare and file the AR on your behalf 

• Advise on whether your company qualifies for the no AGM regime 

• Ensure timely preparation of financial statements and board/shareholder resolutions 

💬 Final Thoughts 

While the AGM and Annual Return requirements in Singapore might seem routine, they are foundational pillars of corporate governance. With ACRA’s increasing use of automated penalties and the Corporate Service Providers Act 2024 adding further compliance layers, it pays to stay vigilant — or better yet, stay ahead. 

Need help streamlining your annual obligations? Partner with a registered CSP who can keep your filings accurate, timely, and stress-free.