InvoiceNow and the future of indirect tax compliance
Navigating Singapore’s tax landscape
In this country-specific Q&A, we provide an overview of tax laws and regulations applicable in Singapore.
GST
InvoiceNow: A practical roadmap of what businesses should be doing
By: Jeremy O’Neill
25 Jun 2026 3 min read
As InvoiceNow shifts from an initiative to a mandatory requirement, businesses need to move beyond awareness and start preparing for implementation. While timelines may be phased, the impact on systems, data and processes can be significant – particularly for organisations with complex invoicing or legacy environments.
Who must comply and when
Goods & Services Tax (GST) registered businesses will be required to submit invoice data to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) via the InvoiceNow network, with mandatory participation introduced progressively across the following phases:
What businesses should be doing now
Below is a practical roadmap that businesses can use to structure planning from “now” through to their mandatory adoption date. The roadmap is designed to be scalable – SMEs can complete it quickly, while larger businesses can run it as a formal programme.
- Identify in‑scope entities, transaction types, and invoice flows
- Confirm readiness milestones and decision points
- Decide on InvoiceNow‑Ready solution vs ERP integration (or hybrid)
- Confirm target architecture, integration approach, and controls
- Map invoice data fields and mandatory data elements
- Review GST determination logic (including edge cases)
- Resolve data ownership and governance
- Configure solutions, integrations, validations, and audit trails
- Run UAT and scenario testing (including adjustments/credit notes)
- Prepare cutover plan and operational runbooks
- Establish dashboards/monitoring for exceptions and data quality
- Implement periodic “health checks” and continuous improvements
- Identify automation opportunities (e.g., pre‑filing checks, validation alerts)
Quick win checklist (for the next 30–60 days)
- Appoint an internal owner (tax/finance) and an IT counterpart
- Document current invoice flows and system landscape
- Identify the top 10 GST risk scenarios in invoicing (e.g. mixed supplies, one-off supplies, cash sales, expense claims, retrospective adjustments etc)
- Decide whether this aligns with any broader ERP/finance transformation programme
A subtle but important point: Treat this as tax transformation, not compliance
Companies that treat InvoiceNow as “another compliance deadline” often face avoidable disruption – rushed implementation, data issues at go‑live, and poor adoption across the business. Those that approach it as part of a broader transformation are more likely to gain:
- Better invoice and master‑data discipline
- Stronger controls and auditability
- Reduced downstream compliance effort
- Greater readiness for the next phase of digital tax change
Tax transformation is here to stay
Tax transformation is here to stay. Nothing remains stationary in the 21st century. As digitalisation accelerates, tax authorities and businesses alike must adapt to new expectations and new technologies.
InvoiceNow is a clear signal of where indirect tax compliance is heading – toward structured data, stronger controls, and increasing automation. Companies that take action now, align efforts with broader finance transformation plans, and build the right foundations (systems, data, processes and governance) will come out ahead in the long run.
How we can help
We support businesses across the full InvoiceNow journey – from early readiness through implementation and post‑go‑live optimisation. We focus on practical, commercially‑focused advice that helps client meet regulatory expectations while strengthening their finance and tax operating models.
Typical support areas include:
- Readiness assessment and roadmap development
- Impact and gap analysis across systems, data and GST processes
- Data integrity review and GST controls design
- Implementation support (testing, issue resolution, cutover planning)
- Post‑implementation health checks and optimisation
Authors
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Jeremy O’Neill
Jeremy is a Director in the Goods and Services tax (GST) service line in Grant Thornton Singapore. He specialises in indirect tax matters and also has experience in UK and UAE.View Profile
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