In Singapore, not all companies file the same type of XBRL financial statements. Depending on a company’s size, status, and regulatory profile, it may be required to submit Full XBRL or Simplified XBRL when filing Annual Returns with ACRA.
Understanding the difference between the two helps SMEs avoid over-preparing, under-preparing, or submitting the wrong format — all of which can lead to delays and unnecessary costs.
Full XBRL is the most comprehensive XBRL filing format required by ACRA. It involves detailed tagging of a company’s financial statements using ACRA’s full XBRL taxonomy.
Under Full XBRL, companies must submit:
Each line item and selected disclosures must be tagged accurately. This format provides regulators with a high level of transparency and comparability across companies.
Full XBRL is typically required for:
Simplified XBRL is a reduced version of Full XBRL, designed to ease compliance for smaller, less complex companies.
Under Simplified XBRL, companies submit:
Fewer line items and disclosures are required, significantly reducing tagging complexity.
Simplified XBRL generally applies to:
While simpler, accuracy is still critical — figures must remain consistent with the company’s financial statements.
The main differences lie in scope, complexity, and level of detail.
Choosing the correct format is not optional — filing the wrong type can result in rejection or rework.
Even with fewer requirements, many SMEs still find Simplified XBRL challenging. The most common issues don’t come from the taxonomy itself, but from underlying financial data problems.
These include:
Simplified does not mean careless — the data must still be accurate, structured, and compliant.
Whether a company files Full or Simplified XBRL, preparation becomes far easier when financial records are clean and standardized throughout the year.
AI-powered bookkeeping platforms like ccMonet help SMEs by:
When your financial data is already structured, XBRL mapping — in any format — becomes a straightforward compliance step rather than a year-end scramble.
Full XBRL and Simplified XBRL serve different regulatory needs, but they rely on the same core requirement: accurate, well-organized financial data.
For SMEs, the goal isn’t just to choose the correct format, but to prepare in a way that minimizes effort, risk, and stress every year.
If you want XBRL filing — full or simplified — to feel routine instead of overwhelming, it starts with how your financial data is managed day to day.
👉 Learn how AI-powered bookkeeping helps Singapore SMEs stay XBRL-ready with ccMonet
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