A company can move its financial year end to suit a group, a holding company, a seasonal business or a new owner. ACRA allows it within limits, and the change affects the dates for your AGM, annual return and tax filings. We check eligibility, file the change, and prepare the accounts for the period that results.
Last reviewed 17 October 2026. Source: ACRA.
ACRA’s rules
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which years can be changed | The current or the immediately preceding financial year |
| Who cannot change | A company that missed its AGM, annual return or financial statements deadlines |
| Maximum length | A financial year longer than 18 months needs ACRA’s approval |
| Second change | If you changed on or after 31 August 2018 and want to change again within 5 years, approval is needed |
| Supporting documents | Required if the revised year end is more than 18 months from the year’s start, or the change falls within five years of the last one |
| Fee | Free |
| Processing | Immediate if no approval is needed; up to 14 working days if approval is needed |
| How | Bizfile through Corppass, “Update change of financial year end date” |
What changes after the change
The period between the old and the new year end becomes a financial year in its own right, shorter or longer than twelve months. It has its own financial statements. Dates that follow the year end move with it: an annual return is due 7 months after the year end and an AGM within 6 months for a non-listed company, and the estimated chargeable income (ECI) is due within 3 months after the year end. ACRA’s page does not cover tax, so we confirm the tax treatment of the change period with IRAS rules case by case.
GST accounting periods run on their own cycle and are not set by the financial year end. See GST services.
What we do
- Check eligibility: AGM, annual return and financial statements all up to date.
- Test the proposed date against the 18-month limit and the five-year rule.
- File the change on Bizfile, with supporting documents where approval is needed.
- Reset the calendar: the new AGM, annual return and ECI dates.
- Prepare the accounts for the change period through annual compilation or unaudited accounts.
- Update your tax filings with corporate tax services.
Example (illustration only)
ABC Pte Ltd has a 31 December year end. The current year started on 1 January 2026, and the new owner wants 30 June. A year end of 30 June 2027 makes an 18-month year, which is not longer than 18 months, so ACRA approval is not needed, and the change is updated immediately. A year end of 30 September 2027 would make 21 months, so approval and supporting documents would be required.
Questions we get asked
Can we change if we are late on the annual return? No. ACRA does not allow a change where the AGM, annual return or financial statements deadlines were missed.
How often can we change? Within 5 years of a previous change (on or after 31 August 2018), ACRA approval is needed.
Can a foreign company change its year end? ACRA’s page says foreign companies can use Bizfile for this but lists no separate rules. Ask us.
These filings are part of our company secretarial services.
Sources
- ACRA: Updating changes to your financial year end
- ACRA and IRAS deadlines as stated on the Company Secretarial Services page
General information, not professional advice for your specific situation.
Changing your year end?
Tell us your current year end, the date you want and whether your AGM and annual return are up to date, and we will check it against ACRA’s rules. Ask us to change your year end.