Best Accounting Software Singapore
Singapore accounting firms work within a compliance framework set by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). GST at 9%, corporate income tax at 17%, and mandatory XBRL financial statement filing for certain companies shape what accounting software needs to do in the Singapore market.
This guide covers accounting platforms used by Singapore accounting firms, focusing on IRAS compliance, GST filing, and multi-client management.
Key Requirements for Singapore Accounting Firms
Accounting software for Singapore clients should support:
- GST filing: 9% GST with direct or agent-assisted filing via IRAS myTax Portal
- XBRL reporting: Companies required to file in XBRL format with ACRA (applies to Singapore-incorporated companies filing full or simplified XBRL)
- Corporate income tax: Annual CIT return (Form C/C-S/C-S Lite) preparation support
- Corppass integration: Businesses and tax agents access government services through Corppass
- Withholding tax: Payments to non-residents subject to withholding tax under the Income Tax Act
- CPF contributions: Mandatory Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions for Singapore citizens and PRs
| Platform | GST / IRAS | CPF Payroll | Multi-Client | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xero | GST support, indirect filing | Via Xero Payroll (SG) | Yes | Cloud-first SG practices |
| Zoho Books | GST support | Via Zoho Payroll (SG) | Yes | Zoho ecosystem clients |
| NetSuite | Multi-currency, tax config | Via NetSuite Payroll | SuiteAccountant | Enterprise/mid-market clients |
| Sage Intacct | Multi-currency, tax config | Via third-party | Partner program | Enterprise clients |
Xero
Xero has a significant presence in Singapore and has been available in the market since 2012. It supports Singapore GST at 9%, GST F5/F8 return preparation, and payroll with CPF contribution calculations for Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
IRAS filing is done via the IRAS myTax Portal rather than direct API submission from Xero — accounting firms typically prepare GST returns in Xero and submit through the IRAS portal using their tax agent credentials. This is the standard workflow for most cloud accounting software in Singapore.
Key Features
- Singapore GST configuration (standard rated, zero-rated, exempt supplies)
- GST F5 and F8 return preparation
- Xero Payroll for Singapore with CPF calculation and CPF Board e-submission
- Singapore dollar and multi-currency transaction support
- Bank feeds from DBS, OCBC, UOB, Standard Chartered, and other Singapore banks
- Unlimited users per client subscription
- Xero HQ for multi-client practice management
Best For
Singapore accounting firms building a cloud-first practice, particularly those managing SME clients across a range of industries. Xero’s Singapore bank coverage, CPF-compliant payroll, and multi-client tools make it well-suited for practices of any size.
Zoho Books
Zoho Books supports Singapore GST, including GST F5 return preparation and GST rate configurations for standard-rated, zero-rated, and exempt transactions. It integrates with Zoho Payroll for Singapore, which handles CPF contributions and IRAS Auto-Inclusion Scheme (AIS) employee income reporting.
Key Features
- Singapore GST configuration and F5 return reporting
- Zoho Payroll integration with CPF calculations and IRAS AIS submission
- Accountant portal for multi-client management
- Built-in workflow automation
- Zoho ecosystem integration (CRM, Inventory, Projects, Expense)
Best For
Singapore accounting firms whose clients are embedded in the Zoho ecosystem, or businesses that want their accounting tightly integrated with CRM and operations tools within a single vendor.
NetSuite
NetSuite is Oracle’s cloud ERP platform and is used by larger Singapore organisations with complex multi-entity structures, international operations, or industry-specific workflow requirements. IRAS GST is configured via NetSuite’s tax engine, and XBRL reporting can be handled through third-party integrations or manual export.
Key Features
- Multi-currency and multi-subsidiary accounting for regional headquarters
- Singapore GST configuration with tax reporting
- Multi-entity consolidation for holding companies with Singapore subsidiaries
- SuiteAccountant for external accountant access
- Integration with Salesforce, ADP, and other enterprise platforms
Best For
Singapore accounting firms advising mid-market or enterprise clients with regional operations, complex reporting requirements, or multi-entity structures that require full ERP functionality.
Sage Intacct
Sage Intacct is available in Singapore through the Sage partner network, targeting mid-market organisations in sectors like financial services, nonprofits, and professional services. Like NetSuite, it handles Singapore tax through configuration rather than direct IRAS API integration.
Key Features
- Multi-entity consolidation and inter-entity eliminations
- Dimensional reporting for granular financial analysis
- Multi-currency for regional operations
- Accountant partner program for multi-client access
- Revenue recognition automation for SaaS and professional services clients
Best For
Singapore firms advising mid-market clients with complex financial reporting needs that have outgrown standard cloud accounting software.
XBRL Filing
Singapore-incorporated companies that are not exempt from audit are generally required to file financial statements in XBRL format with ACRA. This is separate from the accounting software used for day-to-day bookkeeping.
XBRL filing is typically done through:
- BizFinx (ACRA’s free preparation tool)
- Third-party XBRL preparation software that integrates with accounting platforms
- Accounting firms that prepare XBRL filings manually from the accounts produced in Xero, Zoho, or similar software
Most Singapore accounting firms handle XBRL preparation as a separate workflow from their accounting software, exporting the required data and preparing the XBRL tagging in a dedicated tool. When evaluating accounting software for Singapore clients, XBRL is typically handled downstream rather than natively within the accounting platform.
Choosing for a Singapore Practice
For most Singapore accounting firms managing SME clients:
- Xero is the most common choice for cloud-first practices, with the strongest bank coverage, CPF-compliant payroll, and multi-client management tools.
- Zoho Books is a solid option for firms or clients already in the Zoho ecosystem.
- NetSuite or Sage Intacct serve larger clients with enterprise requirements.
The Singapore market has also seen growth in locally-built platforms like Deskera — though these are not currently listed in this directory, they are worth evaluating for firms primarily serving Singapore SMEs.