No Penalties Imposed for Filing Extensions
BizFile has been having issues with the system, and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) is well aware of it.
BizFile users have had to be patient for the past week as ACRA works to resolve the system slowness with urgency. ACRA has acknowledged the issue and thanks to its users for their patience while apologising for the inconvenience experienced.
With intermittent issues still expected, ACRA expects traffic on its portal to remain high. Thus, it continues to seek the understanding and patience of its BizFile users. Where possible, users are urged to avoid logging in during peak hour to minimise the system slowness.
Steps have also been taken to appease the concerns of Corporate Service Providers (CSPs) waiting to file their annual returns and conduct other transactions. For those concerned over missing deadlines last week, rest assured ACRA has provided a solution. They have notified the key professional bodies concerned to provide relief.
CSPs with annual returns due from 8 September 2020 to 31 October 2020 will be granted an extension until 30 November 2020 to file. The same deadline applies for ad hoc and statutory filings. No late penalties will be imposed.
ACRA is also suspending the “Update Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC) until December 2020. Companies will now have until 31 March 2021 to file their Register of Registrable Controllers information. This is applicable to Limited Liability Partnerships.
Conclusion
ACRA wants to assure all BizFile users that it has committed the necessary manpower and resources. Hopefully, this issue can be resolved expeditiously. Should you require assistance with critical or time-sensitive transactions, contact ACRA’s helpdesk at 6248 6028.
