This is a well designed website, www.acra.gov.sg - very colorful and neatly arranged.
The only drawback is that you need to be an expert in the structure of the website, before you can find out how to file your annual return. There must be several dozen buttons and links. You need to know all of them to get the right page to make your submission.
After you have overcome this challenge, you still have to submit your annual return on many webpages. Each webpage has to be carefully read, as you are warned about the consequence of making a mistake, and will be punished under Singapore law.
Each webpage has an option to "Save" or "Next" or "Submit" and you need to be an expert to know the difference in all these functions. If you call the helpdesk, the staff can guide you - provided that you can get through to the helpdesk.
ACRA could have simplified the process significantly, if they are willing to talk to me. But they will probably not want to talk to me, although I have given many feedback to them on this matter.
The only drawback is that you need to be an expert in the structure of the website, before you can find out how to file your annual return. There must be several dozen buttons and links. You need to know all of them to get the right page to make your submission.
After you have overcome this challenge, you still have to submit your annual return on many webpages. Each webpage has to be carefully read, as you are warned about the consequence of making a mistake, and will be punished under Singapore law.
Each webpage has an option to "Save" or "Next" or "Submit" and you need to be an expert to know the difference in all these functions. If you call the helpdesk, the staff can guide you - provided that you can get through to the helpdesk.
ACRA could have simplified the process significantly, if they are willing to talk to me. But they will probably not want to talk to me, although I have given many feedback to them on this matter.
Maybe ACRA prioritise their response to the various feedback given to them.
ReplyDeleteSo if you haven't heard from them, probably it is low on their priority list. And the lowest ones are usually ignored.
Perhaps you should think about how to make it go high on their priority list.
ACRA require the business entity to answer several questions about their situation, so that their can give the approprite form for the entity to fill up. But the planners forget that these questions are difficult to answer - for the lay person.
ReplyDeleteFor exmaple, ACRA ask are you an EPC? What is an EPC? It meant, after some research, exempt private company. But, what are the criteria to be an exempt company?
I had my annual accounts ready to file the return. I am happy to submit the information available on the annual accounts. There is no need to ask me all the difficult questions.
A common sense approach is to ask the entity to file the standard information. For the larger companies, ACRA can have a follow up form to ask for additional information.
This will reduce the complexity of the ACRA website.
very true, I am a web designer for more than 15 years and I myself have problem trying to look for some filing at the site, what a shame.
ReplyDeleteThey are getting from bad to worse ... I have ald commented by filling feedbacks forms to them back in 2013 and till date today 2018 they have not replied or call me ...it is still not user friendly .... this will bring many business owners to let other staffs or outsider to help them do up and when business owners kena conned because of the user unfriendlyness ...
ReplyDeleteDo u think acra will pay for the damages ?
ReplyDelete