InvoiceNow for new companies in Singapore

If you are incorporating a new company in Singapore and plan to register for GST voluntarily from 1 April 2026 onwards, InvoiceNow is mandatory from the effective date of your GST registration — not a future phase you can plan for later.

This means you need a Peppol ID and an InvoiceNow-ready accounting system set up before you issue your first invoice.

Who this applies to

New voluntary GST registrants from 1 Apr 2026 — InvoiceNow is mandatory from Day 1 of your GST effective date.

New compulsory GST registrants — your mandatory date depends on when your GST registration becomes effective. Check the phased timeline.

Not GST-registered — InvoiceNow is not mandatory yet, but you can adopt it voluntarily. IRAS encourages it.

Not sure which category you fall into? Check your InvoiceNow readiness.

What to set up before Day 1

If you are registering for GST voluntarily from 1 April 2026, treat InvoiceNow readiness as part of your company setup — alongside ACRA registration, bank account opening, and CorpPass activation.

  1. 1
    Choose an InvoiceNow-ready accounting solution. You need software that can generate e-invoices in Peppol BIS format and transmit them to IRAS through the InvoiceNow network. See how to choose an InvoiceNow-ready solution.
  2. 2
    Register for a Peppol ID. Your provider will register your Peppol ID using your UEN. This typically takes 1–3 business days. See the Peppol ID registration guide.
  3. 3
    Set up your chart of accounts and GST codes. Your accounting system needs the correct GST tax codes (SR, ZR, ES33, etc.) and a chart of accounts aligned with IRAS requirements before you can generate compliant invoices.
  4. 4
    Send a test e-invoice. Before your GST effective date, send a test invoice through the Peppol network to confirm your setup works end-to-end.
  5. 5
    Apply for the InvoiceNow transition grant. The S$1,000 grant is available to offset your onboarding costs. Apply through the Business Grants Portal.

The advantage of starting compliant

Established businesses need to migrate existing workflows, retrain staff, and reconcile old processes. A new company has none of that baggage. If you set up InvoiceNow-ready accounting from Day 1, you skip the migration entirely:

  • •Every invoice you issue is compliant from the start — no backlog to reconcile
  • •Your staff learn one workflow, not two
  • •GST F5 returns can be auto-populated from your invoice data
  • •You are eligible for the transition grant while funds are available

What if I'm not registering for GST yet?

If your company's taxable turnover is below the S$1 million threshold and you are not voluntarily registering for GST, InvoiceNow is not mandatory. But IRAS encourages all businesses to adopt it, and you can register for a Peppol ID to start receiving e-invoices from GST-registered suppliers.

If your revenue is approaching the threshold, plan ahead — once GST registration becomes compulsory, your mandatory InvoiceNow date will depend on the phase your registration falls into.

Critical Mass Cloud — built for new Singapore businesses

Critical Mass Cloud gives you accounting with InvoiceNow e-invoicing built in, CPF payroll, GST F5 filing, IRAS AIS submissions, and e-signatures in a single platform designed for Singapore compliance from Day 1. IMDA accreditation in progress.

Check your InvoiceNow readiness

Find your mandatory date and get a compliance checklist — takes 30 seconds.

Readiness Checker

Questions

Do new companies in Singapore need InvoiceNow?

If your new company voluntarily registers for GST from 1 April 2026 onwards, you must use InvoiceNow from the effective date of your GST registration. If you are not GST-registered, InvoiceNow is not yet mandatory but IRAS encourages adoption.

When should a new company set up InvoiceNow?

Before you issue your first invoice. If your GST registration is effective from Day 1, you need a Peppol ID and an InvoiceNow-ready solution operational on that date. Allow 1–2 weeks for registration and testing.

Can I start using InvoiceNow before GST registration?

Yes. Any Singapore business can register for a Peppol ID and start receiving e-invoices through InvoiceNow, even without GST registration. The requirement to transmit invoice data to IRAS only applies once you are GST-registered.

Related

Sources

Information in this guide is sourced from IRAS (iras.gov.sg) and IMDA (imda.gov.sg) . Verify current regulations before making compliance decisions.