How to Diagnose XBRL Filing Errors Before Submitting to ACRA

Filing financial statements in XBRL format with ACRA is a compliance requirement for many Singapore companies. Yet for finance teams and business owners, XBRL submissions can quickly become stressful — especially when errors appear at the final validation stage.

The problem isn’t just technical. Most filing errors stem from mismatched data, incorrect mapping, or inconsistencies between financial statements and corporate information. The good news? Many of these issues can be diagnosed — and prevented — before submission.

Here’s how to catch XBRL filing errors early and ensure a smoother submission process to ACRA.

1. Start With Clean, Finalised Financial Statements

XBRL errors often begin long before the file is generated.

Before converting to XBRL format, ensure:

• Your profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement are finalised
• Figures reconcile across all reports
• Totals and subtotals match supporting schedules
• Prior-year comparatives are accurate

Even small rounding differences can trigger validation warnings during XBRL conversion. Reconcile thoroughly before you begin mapping.

2. Check Data Consistency Across Reports

ACRA’s validation rules check logical relationships between fields. Common inconsistencies include:

• Total assets not equal to total liabilities plus equity
• Net profit not aligning with retained earnings movement
• Cash balances inconsistent between balance sheet and cash flow statement
• Share capital figures that don’t match company records

Review cross-references manually before uploading. A simple balance mismatch is one of the most common — and preventable — causes of rejection.

3. Review Taxonomy Mapping Carefully

XBRL requires financial data to be mapped to specific taxonomy elements. Errors typically occur when:

• Revenue is mapped to the wrong category
• Expenses are incorrectly classified
• Non-applicable tags are left populated
• Mandatory fields are omitted

Incorrect mapping can trigger technical validation errors or create misleading disclosures.

Using structured tools designed for financial statement preparation — such as those built into modern AI-assisted reporting systems — significantly reduces the risk of taxonomy mistakes.

4. Validate Shareholding and Corporate Information

XBRL filings don’t only contain financial figures. They also include:

• Share capital details
• Director information
• Company registration data
• Equity structure

Mismatches between financial statements and ACRA records often cause rejection. Always cross-check:

• Paid-up capital
• Number of shares issued
• Currency denomination
• Changes in equity during the financial year

These fields must align exactly with official corporate records.

5. Watch for Formatting and Technical Validation Errors

Even when the numbers are correct, formatting issues can lead to errors such as:

• Negative values entered incorrectly
• Mandatory notes missing
• Incorrect reporting period dates
• Units (thousands vs full amounts) entered inconsistently

Run pre-validation checks before submission. Many tools allow preview validation — use it every time.

6. Reduce Manual Conversion Risks

Traditional preparation methods — moving data between Excel, Word, and standalone XBRL tools — increase the risk of inconsistencies. Copy-paste errors, outdated drafts, or version confusion frequently cause filing delays.

AI-powered financial reporting platforms are reducing these risks by:

• Pulling data directly from structured financial records
• Auto-generating compliant financial statements
• Ensuring consistency between reports and disclosures
• Reducing manual mapping steps

For accounting professionals, tools like the UFS (Unaudited Financial Statement) solution by ccMonet streamline financial report preparation before XBRL conversion. By generating structured, consistent financial statements in a fraction of the traditional time, the risk of downstream filing errors is significantly reduced.

7. Perform a Final Logical Review Before Submission

Before clicking “submit” to ACRA, conduct a final checklist review:

• Do totals reconcile across all statements?
• Does equity movement tie to net profit?
• Are all mandatory disclosures completed?
• Are company details consistent with ACRA records?
• Has validation been run without critical errors?

Think of it as a pre-flight check. A 10-minute review can prevent rejection, resubmission, and unnecessary compliance stress.

Filing to ACRA Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful

XBRL errors are rarely random. They usually reflect underlying inconsistencies, mapping mistakes, or manual workflow gaps. By cleaning your data early, validating logically, and using structured preparation tools, you can dramatically reduce submission risks.

For accounting professionals looking to streamline financial statement preparation before XBRL filing, explore how AI-assisted reporting tools can simplify the process and improve accuracy.

👉 Learn more at https://www.ccmonet.ai/ and discover how modern financial reporting solutions can support faster, more reliable compliance workflows.

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