Setting up a Singapore company means choosing accounting software that understands Singapore's tax framework—not just a general-purpose tool with a toggle for currency. GST filing, ACRA reporting, CP14 director declarations, and statutory deadlines are non-negotiable. Many platforms marketed as 'global' either require manual workarounds or miss deadlines because the logic isn't baked in. We tested three widely used platforms against Singapore's actual requirements. The gaps are real, and they cost time. Singapore's core accounting rules: what must be automated Singapore imposes specific rules that your software must handle without human intervention: GST (Goods and Services Tax): 8% standard rate. Applies to most supplies of goods and services. Some exemptions (financial services, residential property, insurance). Quarterly filing (IRAS). Late returns attract penalties. CP14 filing: Directors' statutory declaration confirming accuracy of financial statements. Due within 30 days of approval at annual general meeting (AGM). Paper filing, but signatures must be correct. ACRA reporting: Annual financial statements filed with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. Deadline: 5 months after financial year-end. Format matters—ACRA rejects malformed submissions. Tax clearance: Companies must be GST-registered if turnover exceeds SGD 1 million. Deregistration requires IRAS approval. Withholding tax: 10% on service fees to non-residents (with exceptions). Must be tracked and remitted separately. Xero: solid multi-country foundation, GST-native but CP14 gaps Xero has been the default for many Southeast Asian SMBs. Its GST handling is native and reliable. What Xero does well: GST is built into invoice creation. Tax codes are pre-configured for Singapore rates. Quarterly filing worksheets auto-populate from invoice data. Multi-currency support and bank reconciliation work smoothly across Singapore and regional operations. Audit trails are solid for ACRA submissions. Where Xero requires manual work: CP14 filing is not native. You export financial statements, print them, sign them physically or via a separate e-signature tool, then file with ACRA manually. No workflow to check director signatures or track submission status. Withholding tax tracking exists but requires manual configuration and journal entry. Not a designed feature. ACRA XML export is not automated. You manually generate statements, format them, and upload to ACRA's portal. A single format error bounces the filing. For a Singapore-only business, Xero's GST strength outweighs the CP14 friction. For multi-country operations, the gaps widen. Wave: free, but Singapore support is minimal Wave is popular for cost-conscious startups. Its pricing is transparent: free accounting, optional payroll and payment processing. What Wave does: Basic invoicing and expense tracking. Bank reconciliation. Multi-currency support. Singapore compliance gaps: GST is not automated. You must manually tag transactions for GST and calculate quarterly filings yourself. Wave offers no tax code framework or filing worksheet. No ACRA or CP14 support. No withholding tax logic. Wave works as a transaction ledger, not as compliance software. If you file GST and CP14 yourself and your accountant does the heavy lifting, Wave saves on licence cost. But it shifts compliance work to you or your accountant. Orin: unified platform with GST and contract filing integration Orin combines accounting with CRM, unified messaging , contracts, and team chat in one platform. For Singapore SMBs, the accounting layer is purpose-built for GST, CP14, and ACRA workflows. GST automation: Tax codes are pre-configured for Singapore. Invoices auto-tag GST, and quarterly worksheets populate directly from transaction data. Quarterly GST reports can be exported in IRAS-compatible format, reducing manual formatting. CP14 and contract workflows: Financial statements integrate with Orin's contract and e-signature module . Directors sign CP14 declarations inside the platform, with timestamp and audit trail. Submission status is tracked. Deadlines are flagged in the calendar. Broader integration: Because invoicing sits alongside CRM pipeline and client contact management , payment matching happens in context. Unpaid invoices don't hide in a separate system. Team chat keeps finance discussions and approvals in one place, reducing email loops. What Orin requires manual work on: Withholding tax still needs journal entry setup, though it's simpler than in Xero. Some edge-case GST exemptions (e.g., certain financial instruments) require manual tagging. Comparison: feature by feature Feature Xero Wave Orin GST automation Native, quarterly filing support Manual tagging only Native, IRAS export CP14 filing Manual export + separate signing Not supported Native e-signature + deadline tracking ACRA submission Manual XML export Not supported Scheduled export + audit trail Withholding tax Manual configuration Not supported Sim