What changed

The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004 has been updated to its current version. This revision incorporates amendments made up to December 1, 2021, and became effective on December 31, 2021. The Act's primary purpose is to establish the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority and define its functions and powers.

This update represents a consolidation of existing legislation rather than a new regulatory imposition. Compliance officers should ensure they are referencing the most current version of the Act for any regulatory requirements related to accounting and corporate matters in Singapore. No immediate actions are required beyond maintaining awareness of the updated statutory text.

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Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004 Status:
Current version
as at 27 Mar 2026
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- Subsidiary Legislation
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| Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004 |

| 2020 REVISED EDITION |

| This revised edition incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 December 2021 and comes into operation on 31 December 2021 |

| An Act to establish and incorporate the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, to provide for its functions and powers, and for matters connected therewith. |

| [1 April 2004] |

| PART 1
| PRELIMINARY |

| Short title |

| 1. This Act is the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004. |

| Interpretation |

| 2. —(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
\| “Authority” means the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority established under section 3; \|

\| “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority appointed under section 5(1)(a) and includes any temporary Chairperson of the Authority; \|

\| “chartered accountant” means a person registered or deemed to be registered as a Chartered Accountant of Singapore under Part 6B; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] \|

\| “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity; \|

\| “debenture” includes debenture stock; \|

\| “Deputy Chairperson” means any person who is appointed under section 5(3)(a) to be the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority; \|

\| “member” means a member of the Authority; \|

\| “public accountant” means a person who is registered or deemed to be registered in accordance with the Accountants Act 2004 as a public accountant; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] \|

\| “Public Accountants Board” means the Public Accountants Board established under section 3 of the Accountants Act (Cap. 2, 2001 Revised Edition) repealed by the Accountants Act 2004; \|

\| “Registry of Companies and Businesses” means the Government department known as the Registry of Companies and Businesses; \|

\| “securities”, in relation to a company, includes shares, debentures, bonds and other securities of the company, whether or not constituting a charge on the assets of the company; \|

\| “shares” includes stocks. [5/2018; 44/2018] \|

\| (2)  A reference in this Act to a written law specified in the Second Schedule includes a part of a written law specified in that Schedule. [44/2018] \|

\| (3)  To avoid doubt, a reference to “company” in the definition of “securities” in subsection (1), and in section 7(2)(b), includes a VCC as defined in the Variable Capital Companies Act 2018. [44/2018] \| | “Authority” means the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority established under section 3; | “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority appointed under section 5(1)(a) and includes any temporary Chairperson of the Authority; | “chartered accountant” means a person registered or deemed to be registered as a Chartered Accountant of Singapore under Part 6B; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] | “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity; | “debenture” includes debenture stock; | “Deputy Chairperson” means any person who is appointed under section 5(3)(a) to be the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority; | “member” means a member of the Authority; | “public accountant” means a person who is registered or deemed to be registered in accordance with the Accountants Act 2004 as a public accountant; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] | “Public Accountants Board” means the Public Accountants Board established under section 3 of the Accountants Act (Cap. 2, 2001 Revised Edition) repealed by the Accountants Act 2004; | “Registry of Companies and Businesses” means the Government department known as the Registry of Companies and Businesses; | “securities”, in relation to a company, includes shares, debentures, bonds and other securities of the company, whether or not constituting a charge on the assets of the company; | “shares” includes stocks. [5/2018; 44/2018] | (2)  A reference in this Act to a written law specified in the Second Schedule includes a part of a written law specified in that Schedule. [44/2018] | (3)  To avoid doubt, a reference to “company” in the definition of “securities” in subsection (1), and in section 7(2)(b), includes a VCC as defined in the Variable Capital Companies Act 2018. [44/2018] |
| “Authority” means the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority established under section 3; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority appointed under section 5(1)(a) and includes any temporary Chairperson of the Authority; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “chartered accountant” means a person registered or deemed to be registered as a Chartered Accountant of Singapore under Part 6B; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “debenture” includes debenture stock; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “Deputy Chairperson” means any person who is appointed under section 5(3)(a) to be the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “member” means a member of the Authority; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “public accountant” means a person who is registered or deemed to be registered in accordance with the Accountants Act 2004 as a public accountant; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “Public Accountants Board” means the Public Accountants Board established under section 3 of the Accountants Act (Cap. 2, 2001 Revised Edition) repealed by the Accountants Act 2004; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “Registry of Companies and Businesses” means the Government department known as the Registry of Companies and Businesses; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “securities”, in relation to a company, includes shares, debentures, bonds and other securities of the company, whether or not constituting a charge on the assets of the company; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “shares” includes stocks. [5/2018; 44/2018] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (2)  A reference in this Act to a written law specified in the Second Schedule includes a part of a written law specified in that Schedule. [44/2018] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (3)  To avoid doubt, a reference to “company” in the definition of “securities” in subsection (1), and in section 7(2)(b), includes a VCC as defined in the Variable Capital Companies Act 2018. [44/2018] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PRELIMINARY | Short title | 1. This Act is the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004. | Interpretation | 2. —(1)  In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
| “Authority” means the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority established under section 3; |

| “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority appointed under section 5(1)(a) and includes any temporary Chairperson of the Authority; |

| “chartered accountant” means a person registered or deemed to be registered as a Chartered Accountant of Singapore under Part 6B; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] |

| “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity; |

| “debenture” includes debenture stock; |

| “Deputy Chairperson” means any person who is appointed under section 5(3)(a) to be the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority; |

| “member” means a member of the Authority; |

| “public accountant” means a person who is registered or deemed to be registered in accordance with the Accountants Act 2004 as a public accountant; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] |

| “Public Accountants Board” means the Public Accountants Board established under section 3 of the Accountants Act (Cap. 2, 2001 Revised Edition) repealed by the Accountants Act 2004; |

| “Registry of Companies and Businesses” means the Government department known as the Registry of Companies and Businesses; |

| “securities”, in relation to a company, includes shares, debentures, bonds and other securities of the company, whether or not constituting a charge on the assets of the company; |

| “shares” includes stocks. [5/2018; 44/2018] |

| (2)  A reference in this Act to a written law specified in the Second Schedule includes a part of a written law specified in that Schedule. [44/2018] |

| (3)  To avoid doubt, a reference to “company” in the definition of “securities” in subsection (1), and in section 7(2)(b), includes a VCC as defined in the Variable Capital Companies Act 2018. [44/2018] | | “Authority” means the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority established under section 3; | “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority appointed under section 5(1)(a) and includes any temporary Chairperson of the Authority; | “chartered accountant” means a person registered or deemed to be registered as a Chartered Accountant of Singapore under Part 6B; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] | “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity; | “debenture” includes debenture stock; | “Deputy Chairperson” means any person who is appointed under section 5(3)(a) to be the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority; | “member” means a member of the Authority; | “public accountant” means a person who is registered or deemed to be registered in accordance with the Accountants Act 2004 as a public accountant; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] | “Public Accountants Board” means the Public Accountants Board established under section 3 of the Accountants Act (Cap. 2, 2001 Revised Edition) repealed by the Accountants Act 2004; | “Registry of Companies and Businesses” means the Government department known as the Registry of Companies and Businesses; | “securities”, in relation to a company, includes shares, debentures, bonds and other securities of the company, whether or not constituting a charge on the assets of the company; | “shares” includes stocks. [5/2018; 44/2018] | (2)  A reference in this Act to a written law specified in the Second Schedule includes a part of a written law specified in that Schedule. [44/2018] | (3)  To avoid doubt, a reference to “company” in the definition of “securities” in subsection (1), and in section 7(2)(b), includes a VCC as defined in the Variable Capital Companies Act 2018. [44/2018] |
| PRELIMINARY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Short title | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1. This Act is the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Act 2004. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interpretation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2. —(1)  In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
| “Authority” means the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority established under section 3; |

| “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority appointed under section 5(1)(a) and includes any temporary Chairperson of the Authority; |

| “chartered accountant” means a person registered or deemed to be registered as a Chartered Accountant of Singapore under Part 6B; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] |

| “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity; |

| “debenture” includes debenture stock; |

| “Deputy Chairperson” means any person who is appointed under section 5(3)(a) to be the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority; |

| “member” means a member of the Authority; |

| “public accountant” means a person who is registered or deemed to be registered in accordance with the Accountants Act 2004 as a public accountant; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] |

| “Public Accountants Board” means the Public Accountants Board established under section 3 of the Accountants Act (Cap. 2, 2001 Revised Edition) repealed by the Accountants Act 2004; |

| “Registry of Companies and Businesses” means the Government department known as the Registry of Companies and Businesses; |

| “securities”, in relation to a company, includes shares, debentures, bonds and other securities of the company, whether or not constituting a charge on the assets of the company; |

| “shares” includes stocks. [5/2018; 44/2018] |

| (2)  A reference in this Act to a written law specified in the Second Schedule includes a part of a written law specified in that Schedule. [44/2018] |

| (3)  To avoid doubt, a reference to “company” in the definition of “securities” in subsection (1), and in section 7(2)(b), includes a VCC as defined in the Variable Capital Companies Act 2018. [44/2018] | | “Authority” means the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority established under section 3; | “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority appointed under section 5(1)(a) and includes any temporary Chairperson of the Authority; | “chartered accountant” means a person registered or deemed to be registered as a Chartered Accountant of Singapore under Part 6B; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] | “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity; | “debenture” includes debenture stock; | “Deputy Chairperson” means any person who is appointed under section 5(3)(a) to be the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority; | “member” means a member of the Authority; | “public accountant” means a person who is registered or deemed to be registered in accordance with the Accountants Act 2004 as a public accountant; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] | “Public Accountants Board” means the Public Accountants Board established under section 3 of the Accountants Act (Cap. 2, 2001 Revised Edition) repealed by the Accountants Act 2004; | “Registry of Companies and Businesses” means the Government department known as the Registry of Companies and Businesses; | “securities”, in relation to a company, includes shares, debentures, bonds and other securities of the company, whether or not constituting a charge on the assets of the company; | “shares” includes stocks. [5/2018; 44/2018] | (2)  A reference in this Act to a written law specified in the Second Schedule includes a part of a written law specified in that Schedule. [44/2018] | (3)  To avoid doubt, a reference to “company” in the definition of “securities” in subsection (1), and in section 7(2)(b), includes a VCC as defined in the Variable Capital Companies Act 2018. [44/2018] | | | | | |
| “Authority” means the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority established under section 3; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority appointed under section 5(1)(a) and includes any temporary Chairperson of the Authority; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “chartered accountant” means a person registered or deemed to be registered as a Chartered Accountant of Singapore under Part 6B; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “debenture” includes debenture stock; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “Deputy Chairperson” means any person who is appointed under section 5(3)(a) to be the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “member” means a member of the Authority; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “public accountant” means a person who is registered or deemed to be registered in accordance with the Accountants Act 2004 as a public accountant; [Act 36 of 2022 wef 01/04/2023] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “Public Accountants Board” means the Public Accountants Board established under section 3 of the Accountants Act (Cap. 2, 2001 Revised Edition) repealed by the Accountants Act 2004; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “Registry of Companies and Businesses” means the Government department known as the Registry of Companies and Businesses; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “securities”, in relation to a company, includes shares, debentures, bonds and other securities of the company, whether or not constituting a charge on the assets of the company; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| “shares” includes stocks. [5/2018; 44/2018] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (2)  A reference in this Act to a written law specified in the Second Schedule includes a part of a written law specified in that Schedule. [44/2018] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (3)  To avoid doubt, a reference to “company” in the definition of “securities” in subsection (1), and in section 7(2)(b), includes a VCC as defined in the Variable Capital Companies Act 2018. [44/2018] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |