The short answer
- ECI is due within three months of the financial year end.
- No ECI is needed if annual revenue is S$5 million or less and the ECI is nil.
- Filing early, with GIRO in place, earns more interest-free monthly instalments: up to 10 when filed within a month of the year end.
- If a company that should file does not, IRAS can issue an estimated assessment, and the tax is payable even while the company disputes the figure.
Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) is the company's own estimate of its taxable profit for the year just ended, filed with IRAS before the full tax return. IRAS uses it to raise an early assessment so tax starts flowing months before the return is due. For most small companies it is either a two-minute filing or not needed at all.
Who must file
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When is it due? | Within three months of the financial year end |
| Who can skip it? | A company with revenue of S$5 million or less and a nil ECI |
| Why file early? | Companies paying by GIRO get more interest-free monthly instalments, up to 10 |
Every company files ECI within three months of the end of its financial year, unless it qualifies for the waiver. There is no ECI form to file if both of these are true:
- Annual revenue is S$5 million or less, and
- The ECI is nil, meaning no taxable profit after adjustments
Both conditions must be met. A company with revenue of S$800,000 and taxable profit of S$40,000 must file. So must a company with revenue of S$6 million and a loss: it files a nil ECI.
The first year
A new company files its first ECI within three months after its first financial year end. If the first period runs 18 months, the first ECI is due 21 months after incorporation. Choose the year end at incorporation with this in mind: see choosing the year end.
Why file early
A company paying corporate tax by GIRO can spread the tax over interest-free monthly instalments. The earlier the ECI is filed, the more instalments it gets: up to 10 when ECI is filed within one month of the year end, and fewer the later it is filed. A company that files after the three-month deadline loses the instalment benefit and pays in one sum.
| Example: tax payable S$60,000 | Filed within 1 month | Filed in month 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Instalments | Up to 10 | Fewer |
| Monthly payment at 10 instalments | S$6,000 | Larger and sooner |
| What it needs | Books closed within weeks of year end, GIRO in place | GIRO in place |
For a profitable company, early ECI is a cash flow tool. It also forces an early close, which helps everything that follows: the AGM, the annual return and the tax return. Check the exact number of instalments on the IRAS GIRO page linked below before you plan around it.
If you do not file
When a company that should file ECI does not, IRAS may raise an estimated Notice of Assessment based on its own view of the company's income. The tax on that assessment must be paid within one month, even if the company disagrees. The company can then file its return or object, and IRAS revises the assessment. In practice the estimate is rarely in the company's favour.
Revising an ECI
An ECI is an estimate, and can be revised before the return is filed if the numbers change, for example after the audit. A large difference between ECI and the final return draws questions, so base the estimate on draft accounts, not on a guess.
How we prepare it
- Close the books for the year, with bank reconciliations and accruals done.
- Make the main tax adjustments: add back non-deductible costs, deduct capital allowances and losses brought forward.
- Apply the start-up or partial exemption: see corporate tax for new companies.
- File through myTax Portal with Corppass, and confirm GIRO is active.
The ECI waiver checker tells you in a few seconds whether you need to file and by when.
Questions people ask
When is ECI due?
Within three months of the financial year end.
When can a company skip ECI?
When annual revenue is S$5 million or less and the ECI is nil.
Do I have to file ECI if my company made a loss?
Only if annual revenue exceeds S$5 million. A company with revenue of S$5 million or less and nil ECI does not need to file.
What happens if ECI is not filed?
IRAS may issue an estimated Notice of Assessment. The tax on it must be paid within one month even if the company disagrees, and the company loses the GIRO instalment benefit.
Talk it through with an adviser
Tell us your structure and deadlines. We reply with what applies to you and a fixed-fee proposal.
Sources
General information only, last reviewed 11 November 2026. It is not advice for your situation. Laws and practice change, and the official sources linked above prevail. Speak to a qualified adviser before you act.
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