Accounting software in Singapore costs S$0 to S$373 a month on Zoho Books and S$42 to S$99 on Xero (5 November 2026 prices). Your InvoiceNow date decides how soon you need a compliant tool. IRAS phases existing GST-registered businesses into InvoiceNow on 1 April 2028, 2029, 2030 or 2031, by annual supplies (e-Tax guide, 9 March 2026). Xero, QuickBooks and Zoho Books differ on price, plan limits and IRAS reporting.
Accurate as of 5 November 2026. Every figure, date and rule on this page was checked against its source on that date, and the page is rechecked monthly.
IRAS phases GST-registered businesses into InvoiceNow by annual supplies
If you are an existing GST-registered business, your InvoiceNow date is 1 April 2028, 2029, 2030 or 2031, and your annual supplies pick the year.
IRAS sets the phase from total annual supplies, meaning the value in Box 4 of your GST return, for accounting periods ending in calendar year 2025. This guide covers the three products whose vendors publish Singapore plans on pages readable on 5 November 2026: Xero, QuickBooks and Zoho Books. ABSS and Financio sit outside it because their vendor pricing pages were unreadable on that date.
| Group | Start date | Days after 5 November 2026 | Annual supplies band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newly incorporated companies registering voluntarily | 1 November 2025 | Already in force | Incorporated within 6 months of the application |
| All new voluntary GST registrants | 1 April 2026 | Already in force | Any |
| New compulsory registrants, and existing registrants with S$200,000 or less | 1 April 2028 | 513 | Not applicable for new registrants; S$200,000 or less for existing ones |
| Existing registrants | 1 April 2029 | 878 | More than S$200,000, up to S$1,000,000 |
| Existing registrants | 1 April 2030 | 1,243 | More than S$1,000,000, up to S$4,000,000 |
| Existing registrants | 1 April 2031 | 1,608 | Above S$4,000,000 |
Start dates of the GST InvoiceNow Requirement by group, with days counted from 5 November 2026.
Does InvoiceNow replace your GST return?
No, InvoiceNow adds invoice data submission to IRAS, and you still file GST returns and keep proper records.
IRAS requires the invoice data by the earlier of two dates: the day you file the GST return and the filing due date of that return. The GST Singapore Explained guide covers the input tax and output tax behind the return.
How do you find your phase when your accounting period is short?
Extrapolate the supplies filed in the short period to a 365-day equivalent, then read the band in the table above.
Take a 275-day period, 1 April 2025 to 31 December 2025, with S$600,000 of supplies. The 365-day equivalent is S$600,000 × 365 ÷ 275 = S$796,364. That sits above S$200,000 and below S$1,000,000, so the start date is 1 April 2029, which is 878 days from 5 November 2026.
InvoiceNow-Ready software sends your invoice data to IRAS once its submission feature is on
An InvoiceNow-Ready accounting solution, connected through an IMDA-accredited Access Point, carries your invoice data to IRAS after you switch the GST InvoiceNow Submission feature on.
IRAS lists three steps: confirm the solution is InvoiceNow-Ready, register for InvoiceNow and obtain a Peppol ID, then test that invoice data reaches IRAS. Off-the-shelf products need the submission feature enabled. In-house systems need a connection to IRAS, which takes 3 to 12 months.
Which transactions does your software send to IRAS?
Your software sends the invoice data you report in the GST return, and a short list of transaction types stays out.
| Transaction | Sent to IRAS | How it is sent | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard-rated, zero-rated and exempt supplies, including credit notes | Yes | Invoice by invoice | Paragraph 7.1 |
| Standard-rated and zero-rated purchases, including credit notes | Yes | Invoice by invoice | Paragraph 7.1 |
| An invoice with one in-scope line | Yes | The entire invoice or credit note | Paragraph 7.4 |
| Point-of-sale, simplified tax invoice and petty cash transactions | Yes | Aggregated submission is allowed | Paragraph 7.9 |
| Deemed supplies, reverse charge, exempt financial services, out-of-scope supplies | No | Not required | Paragraph 7.2 |
What the GST InvoiceNow Requirement covers, by transaction type, from the IRAS e-Tax guide second edition (9 March 2026).
Is there a free way to meet the requirement?
Yes, for micro businesses with no finance or accounting software, free solutions with basic InvoiceNow features exist.
The IMDA and IRAS brochure lists these free options for businesses without an existing solution. Other businesses pick a product from IMDA's accredited InvoiceNow-Ready Solution Provider list at go.gov.sg/invoicenowirsp. Businesses with in-house systems approach an accredited Access Point Provider at go.gov.sg/invoicenowap.
How do you get a Peppol ID?
Ask your software provider to register your UEN in the SG Peppol Directory, and it issues your Peppol ID.
Xero registers you through its Invoici from Xero app, using your UEN and a CorpPass authorisation. Zoho Books connects through CorpPass or Sigpass, and its page states that the Peppol ID activates within 24 to 48 hours. The Understanding the UEN System guide explains the number you register with.
Source: Zoho Books, November 2026
Xero, QuickBooks and Zoho Books publish different prices, plan limits and IRAS reporting status
Zoho Books lists the lowest entry price, Xero lists its invoice limits on the pricing page, and QuickBooks shows users per plan but no S$ price on the pages checked.
Xero prices include GST. Zoho Books prices exclude local taxes, so the two columns below are not directly comparable.
| Software | Plan | S$ a month | Limit or note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xero | Starter | 42 | Quotes and 20 invoices, 5 bills; the page does not say whether the limit resets monthly |
| Xero | Standard | 77 | Invoices and bills listed as included; auto-reconcile included |
| Xero | Premium | 99 | Adds multiple currencies, the only plan with them |
| Zoho Books | Free | 0 | Free plan alongside the paid plans |
| Zoho Books | Standard | 18 (15 on annual billing) | 14-day free trial across paid plans |
| Zoho Books | Professional | 36 (30 on annual billing) | Labelled most popular on the page |
| Zoho Books | Premium | 54 (45 on annual billing) | New organisations default to Premium during the trial |
| Zoho Books | Elite | 193 (150 on annual billing) | Per organisation |
| Zoho Books | Ultimate | 373 (300 on annual billing) | Per organisation |
| QuickBooks | Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, Advanced | Not shown | 1, 3, 5 and 25 users, each plus accountant access |
Published Singapore plan prices and limits for three accounting products on their vendors' own pages, checked 5 November 2026.
Source: Zoho Books, November 2026
Source: Zoho Books, November 2026
Source: QuickBooks, November 2026
What does Xero cost over 12 months after its November price rise?
Xero costs S$504, S$924 or S$1,188 over 12 months at list price, which is S$36, S$84 or S$48 more than the old prices.
Xero raised Singapore prices on 1 November 2026 for new and existing subscribers, and removed its multi-organisation discount. For Starter, 12 × S$42 = S$504 against 12 × S$39 = S$468, a rise of S$36. With the three-month offer for new Singapore customers, Starter costs 3 × S$8.40 + 9 × S$42 = S$25.20 + S$378 = S$403.20.
| Plan | Monthly before 1 November 2026 (S$) | Monthly from 1 November 2026 (S$) | 12 months at new price (S$) | Extra per year (S$) | 12 months with 3-month offer (S$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 39 | 42 | 504 | 36 | 403.20 |
| Standard | 70 | 77 | 924 | 84 | 739.20 |
| Premium | 95 | 99 | 1,188 | 48 | 950.40 |
Xero Singapore plan cost over 12 months, GST included, before and after the 1 November 2026 price change; the offer applies to first-time Singapore customers and Xero reserves the right to change or cancel it.
How much does annual billing save on Zoho Books?
Annual billing cuts the 12-month cost of the paid Zoho Books plans by 17 to 22 percent.
Zoho's page lists a monthly price and a lower price for yearly billing on each paid plan, before local taxes. Professional costs 12 × S$36 = S$432 on monthly billing and 12 × S$30 = S$360 on annual billing, a saving of S$72.
| Plan | 12 months, monthly billing (S$) | 12 months, annual billing (S$) | Saving (S$) | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 216 | 180 | 36 | 16.7% |
| Professional | 432 | 360 | 72 | 16.7% |
| Premium | 648 | 540 | 108 | 16.7% |
| Elite | 2,316 | 1,800 | 516 | 22.3% |
| Ultimate | 4,476 | 3,600 | 876 | 19.6% |
Zoho Books Singapore plan cost over 12 months by billing option, excluding local taxes, from prices checked 5 November 2026.
Source: Zoho Books, November 2026
Each vendor's own page leaves a different InvoiceNow question for you to confirm
IRAS lists registering a Peppol ID and enabling the GST InvoiceNow Submission feature as separate steps, and the three vendor pages describe them differently.
| Software | Stated on the vendor page | Not stated on the page | Ask before you subscribe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xero | E-invoicing is included in Starter, Standard and Premium, not in the free trial; registration is free; you send to Singapore recipients only | How invoice data reaches IRAS; the page says IRAS "plans to ask GST-registered businesses to use this service" | Is the GST InvoiceNow Submission feature live on my plan today? |
| QuickBooks | A native InvoiceNow experience built with Fonoa, pending full IMDA accreditation; individual and consolidated e-invoicing | Direct reporting to IRAS, listed as a later release; no go-live date | When does direct IRAS reporting start, and is accreditation complete? |
| Zoho Books | Sends and receives through a Peppol-accredited access point provider; both parties need Peppol registration; a GST F5 module is offered | Whether invoice data reaches IRAS; the provider's accreditation status | Does the access point connect to IRAS for my GST InvoiceNow submission? |
InvoiceNow statements on Xero, QuickBooks and Zoho Books vendor pages, checked 5 November 2026.
Source: QuickBooks, November 2026
Source: Zoho Books, November 2026
What does an ASR+ listing tell you about a product?
An ASR+ listing tells you IRAS integration-tested the product for up to three digital tax products, and IRAS gives no warranty about it.
IRAS tiers its Accounting Software Register Plus by how many of three products the software supports: Corporate Income Tax return submission, GST return submission, and InvoiceNow as a PEPPOL-ready solution approved by IMDA. IRAS tests integration only, so ask each developer about security and functionality. Example entries on the IRAS page carry listing periods ending 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024, so check the dates before you rely on a listing.
A five-step checklist takes you from shortlist to a tested IRAS submission
Work through five steps in order, and plan for 3 to 12 months if you run an in-house system.
| Step | Action | Time the source states | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Find your phase | Read Box 4 for accounting periods ending in 2025 and match it to the table above | Start date 1 April 2028 to 1 April 2031 | IRAS e-Tax guide, paragraphs 5.5 to 5.8 |
| 2. Check the solution | Look up the product on IMDA's accredited list, or pick a free solution | None stated | IMDA and IRAS brochure |
| 3. Register a Peppol ID | Register your UEN through the provider and authorise with CorpPass | 24 to 48 hours (Zoho Books) | Vendor help pages |
| 4. Test the submission | Switch on GST InvoiceNow Submission and confirm data reaches IRAS | 3 to 12 months for in-house systems | IRAS e-Tax guide, paragraph 13 |
| 5. Submit and keep records | Send invoice data by the earlier of the filing date and the due date; keep records for at least 5 years | At least 5 years | IRAS e-Tax guide, paragraphs 8.3 and 12.3 |
Ordered checklist for meeting the GST InvoiceNow Requirement, with the time each source states, checked 5 November 2026.
If your main task is sending invoices rather than running the books, the Invoicing software guide covers that route.
General guidance as of 5 November 2026, not legal advice.