Acra
ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) is Singapore's national statutory regulator for business registration, financial reporting, public accountants, and corporate service providers, operating the BizFile portal and supporting digital ecosystem for Singapore-incorporated entities, CSPs, and audit firms.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Acra does
ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) is a Singapore statutory board under the Ministry of Finance, established in 2004, that serves as the national regulator for business registration, financial reporting, public accountants, and corporate service providers. It regulates every company, foreign company, LLP, limited partnership, and variable capital company registered in Singapore, and under the CSP Act 2024, all entities providing corporate services in Singapore. Its primary constituents are local and foreign businesses, Corporate Service Providers (CSPs), registered public accountants and audit firms, and the general public seeking corporate transparency information.
ACRA operates a digital platform ecosystem anchored by BizFile (bizfile.gov.sg), the mandatory online portal for company registration, annual return filing, share management, and business information purchases. Supporting infrastructure includes the ACRA API Marketplace (apimall.acra.gov.sg) for programmatic third-party access to registry data, trustBar for verification of business entity authenticity, XBRL filing tools (BizFinx PrepTool and patches) for structured financial statement submission, VCC eServices for variable capital company-specific filings, and ACRA Academy eLearning for accountancy professional development. Ask Ada, an AI-powered chatbot on BizFile, provides automated answers to common queries. The platform integrates with national digital identity systems Singpass and Corppass for authentication of individuals and businesses.
ACRA's operating model is that of a government regulatory authority rather than a commercial enterprise. Its revenue mechanics are a mix of government appropriations and transactional fees from filing services and paid business information products (with free business profiles and registers provided after incorporation), supplemented by certified Information Service Providers authorized to resell ACRA data. Enforcement is proactive, including the 2024 striking off of 50,000+ non-compliant entities, director disqualification, and imposition of fines (e.g., a $108,000 fine for authorising false filings). ACRA's market is essentially the entire Singapore corporate ecosystem, served through mandated digital filings rather than voluntary product adoption.
Acra firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Acra
- Legal name
- Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
- Website
- https://acra.gov.sg
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) is Singapore's national statutory regulator for business registration, financial reporting, public accountants, and corporate service providers, operating the BizFile portal and supporting digital ecosystem for Singapore-incorporated entities, CSPs, and audit firms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Acra industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Business Registry and Corporate Regulation
- NAICS
- Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (92613)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regulator/Authority Connectivity & Submission Gateways (APIs, Portals) (FSAFAKAN)
Keywords
Where Acra is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Acra business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Acra product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ACRA is Singapore's national regulator for business registration, financial reporting, public accountants, and corporate service providers. It operates the Bizfile online portal as the central gateway for company registration, annual return filings, and business information purchases, supplemented by an API Marketplace, trust*Bar verification service, XBRL financial filing tools, VCC eServices portal, and ACRA Academy e-learning platform. The offering enables statutory compliance with the Companies Act, beneficial ownership transparency, and FATF-aligned AML/CFT requirements across Singapore's corporate ecosystem.
Product overview
ACRA operates as Singapore's national business registry and corporate regulator, providing a digital platform ecosystem centered on Bizfile for business registration and filings. The core offering includes the Bizfile portal for all corporate filings, the ACRA API Marketplace for third-party integrations, XBRL filing tools for financial statements, trust*Bar for verification services, and VCC eServices for variable capital companies. Supporting services include ACRA Academy for professional development and the Ask Ada chatbot for user support. The platform enables compliance with Singapore's corporate regulatory requirements including annual returns, beneficial ownership registers, and financial reporting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bizfile: Online filing and information portal for business registration and filing services
- VCC eServices
- API Mall
- trustBar
- ACRA Academy
Products and services
- Bizfile ACRA's primary online portal enabling businesses and intermediaries to register entities, file annual returns, update company particulars, manage shares, purchase business information products, and submit statutory filings in Singapore. Available 24/7 via Singpass and Corppass authentication.
- ACRA API Marketplace Developer portal providing programmatic access to ACRA's registry data and services through APIs. Enables third-party developers, CSPs, and other businesses to integrate automated filings, business data retrieval, and real-time compliance verification into their own systems and applications.
- trust*Bar ACRA Verification Service enabling users to confirm the authenticity of business entities registered in Singapore and verify their filings. Supports corporate transparency and counterparty due diligence by validating entity status and registration details.
- XBRL Filing Tools (BizFinx PrepTool) Software suite including BizFinx PrepTool and accompanying patches for preparing and filing financial statements in XBRL format. Supports Singapore-incorporated companies in meeting their statutory financial reporting obligations, with periodic performance optimisation updates ahead of peak filing periods.
- VCC eServices Dedicated electronic services portal for Variable Capital Companies (VCCs) operating in Singapore. Enables VCCs to manage their regulatory filings, striking-off procedures, and ongoing compliance requirements separately from standard company filings.
- ACRA Academy (eLearn) E-learning portal delivering professional development and training resources aligned with the Skills Framework for Accountancy. Supports continuing professional development for accountancy professionals, with courses drawn from partner institutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- ACRA struck off 50,000 non-compliant entities in 2024, demonstrating proactive enforcement of compliance standards
Companies that use Acra
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Acra technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
Acra partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Acra competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Companies House (UK): United Kingdom's statutory registrar of companies, performing the same core function as ACRA: incorporation, maintenance of company records, public access to filings, and digital service delivery. Frequently benchmarked internationally as a peer corporate registry.
- Delaware Division of Corporations: US state's corporate registry and a leading international competitor for offshore incorporations; offers similar incorporation, annual report, and information services to ACRA, and is a benchmark in cross-border entity formation.
Regional players
- Companies Registry (Hong Kong): Hong Kong's corporate registry under the IRO; a direct functional peer providing incorporation, annual return filing, and public search services, and a key regional competitor for entity formation versus Singapore.
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs (India): India's central regulator for company registration, LLPs, and oversight of company secretaries; operates the MCA21 portal analogous to BizFile, with similar registry, filing, and public information access functions for the Indian market.
- State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR, China): China's central regulator covering business registration, market supervision, and competition enforcement; functionally similar to ACRA for company registration and registry maintenance across the Chinese market.
Others
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF): Global AML/CFT standard-setter; ACRA's beneficial ownership and CSP regimes are explicitly aligned with FATF standards, making FATF an ecosystem shaper rather than a direct competitor but a highly material peer from a regulatory-design perspective.
Broad incumbents
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC): Australia's integrated corporate, markets, and financial services regulator; performs company registration and oversight similar to ACRA but also regulates securities, markets, and consumer credit — making it a broader incumbent relative to ACRA's narrower remit.
- Enterprise Singapore (ESG): Singapore's statutory board under MTI overseeing business development, standards, and enterprise growth; complements ACRA's registry role with enterprise capability-building, and shares overlapping government ecosystem positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Acra social profiles
Digital presenceAcra compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Acra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Acra leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Acra funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Acra M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Acra
What does Acra do?
ACRA is Singapore's national regulator for business registration, financial reporting, public accountants, and corporate service providers. It operates the Bizfile online portal as the central gateway for company registration, annual return filings, and business information purchases, supplemented by an API Marketplace, trust*Bar verification service, XBRL financial filing tools, VCC eServices portal, and ACRA Academy e-learning platform. The offering enables statutory compliance with the Companies Act, beneficial ownership transparency, and FATF-aligned AML/CFT requirements across Singapore's corporate ecosystem.
Is Acra a public or private company?
Acra is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Acra founded?
Acra was founded in 2004. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Acra based?
Acra is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
Who are Acra's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Companies House (UK) and Delaware Division of Corporations. Regional players are Companies Registry (Hong Kong), Ministry of Corporate Affairs (India) and State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR, China). Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG).
Does Acra have an API?
Yes. ACRA provides APIs through its API Marketplace (apimall.acra.gov.sg) for business information, filing, and verification services. The platform enables third-party developers and businesses to integrate with ACRA's registry systems for automated filings, data retrieval, and regulatory compliance. APIs support business registration filings, annual return submissions, and access to company information products. Developer documentation is at www.apimall.acra.gov.sg.
What industry is Acra in?
Acra's product category is Government Business Registry and Corporate Regulation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAFAKAN, Regulator/Authority Connectivity & Submission Gateways (APIs, Portals). Its NAICS code is 92613.