InvoiceNow Singapore: what founders need to know now
InvoiceNow is becoming mandatory for GST-registered businesses. Find out when it affects you, what grants you qualify for, and how Grof gets you compliant without the hassle.
What is InvoiceNow?
InvoiceNow is Singapore's nationwide e-invoicing network, built on the international Peppol standard and managed by IMDA. Instead of emailing a PDF invoice, your accounting software sends structured invoice data directly to your customer's software, even if they use a different accounting platform. Introduced by IMDA in 2019, it's now also the backbone of IRAS's push to digitalise GST reporting.
The key shift: InvoiceNow isn't just a nice-to-have for efficiency anymore. Since 1 May 2025, IRAS has been progressively requiring GST-registered businesses to transmit their invoice data straight to IRAS through the InvoiceNow network. This is the GST InvoiceNow Requirement.
The IRAS InvoiceNow timeline
IRAS is phasing in the GST InvoiceNow Requirement rather than switching it on for everyone at once. Here's where things stand.
| Phase | Who it applies to | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Soft launch | Voluntary early adopters | 1 May 2025 |
| Wave 1 | Newly incorporated companies registering for GST voluntarily | 1 Nov 2025 |
| Wave 2 | All new voluntary GST registrants, regardless of incorporation date | 1 Apr 2026 |
| Wave 3 | Smaller existing GST-registered businesses | From 1 Apr 2028 |
| Final wave | All remaining GST-registered businesses | By 1 Apr 2031 |
If you're already GST-registered and were registered before 2026, IRAS will notify you of your specific mandatory date by mid-2026. In the meantime, IRAS publishes a GST InvoiceNow Implementation Date Calculator so you can self-check where you fall.
If you're not GST-registered: the mandate itself only applies to GST-registered businesses. But if voluntary GST registration is on your roadmap, registering after 1 April 2026 means InvoiceNow adoption becomes a condition of that registration, not something you can defer. Several IRSPs also offer free InvoiceNow solutions to non-GST-registered businesses, so there's little downside to connecting early.
How to implement InvoiceNow: a step-by-step overview
Check whether the requirement applies to you yet
Use IRAS's Implementation Date Calculator against your GST registration status and annual supplies.
Choose your route onto the network
Either an IMDA-accredited InvoiceNow-Ready Solution Provider (IRSP), the simpler route for most SMEs, or an Access Point Provider if you're integrating your own ERP or finance system.
Complete KYC via Corppass
Singapore-registered businesses need Corppass to verify their identity before transacting on InvoiceNow.
Activate InvoiceNow on your accounting software
Or onboard a new one, since many common platforms, like Xero and QuickBooks, support it natively once activated.
Retrieve your Peppol ID
Along with your customers' Peppol IDs, via the SG Peppol Directory, so invoices route correctly.
Start transmitting invoice data
Either automatically through your accounting software or, if IRAS applies to you, directly to IRAS for GST reporting.
Connecting to Peppol: what it actually involves
Peppol is the international standard InvoiceNow runs on — it's what lets two businesses on completely different accounting systems exchange structured invoices without manual re-keying. In practice, connecting means:
- Getting a unique Peppol ID for your business, tied to your UEN
- Choosing an access route: an accredited IRSP (bundled into your accounting software) or an Access Point Provider (if you're connecting your own ERP)
- Verifying your business through Corppass
- Listing yourself on the SG Peppol Directory so counterparties can find and invoice you
What are the benefits of InvoiceNow-Ready solutions?
Faster payments, fewer disputes
Structured data reduces manual entry errors that delay invoice approval.
Streamlined GST compliance
Invoice data flows to IRAS automatically, which can support faster GST audits and refunds.
Less admin overhead
No more chasing missing PDFs or reconciling mismatched invoice details by hand.
Audit-ready records
A consistent digital trail of every invoice issued and received.
Grant-supported adoption
Most SMEs can get connected using existing or free tools rather than building anything from scratch.
Grants available for InvoiceNow adoption
IMDA offers several grants to offset the cost of connecting to InvoiceNow (current tiers, per IMDA's InvoiceNow Grants programme):
GST-registered, up to S$4M in annual supplies
For businesses subscribing to an IRSP or connecting via an Access Point.
Businesses above S$4M annual supplies
For those integrating their own ERP or finance system.
Large enterprises
With a trading network of at least 200 suppliers or customers.
InvoiceNow Accelerate Programme
Businesses incorporated on or after 1 April 2024 can access a period of free InvoiceNow services through participating solution providers.
Network bonus
Available to any business on the network for sending its first 10 e-invoices within 12 months.
Grant terms, eligibility windows, and closing dates change as IMDA updates the programme, so we'd always recommend confirming current terms on IMDA's InvoiceNow Grants page.
Understanding the new requirements, with ease
You don't need to become an expert to get this right. You need someone who already is one. We help you assess where your business actually stands, using your incorporation date, GST registration status, and annual supplies, so getting InvoiceNow-ready means cleaner books, fewer manual errors, and GST returns that are easier to defend if IRAS ever asks questions.
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