Received Your InvoiceNow Date From IRAS? Here’s a 90-Day Plan to Get Ready Early

Created On: November 13, 2026
Article, Singapore

Modified On: November 13, 2026

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Summary:

IRAS is phasing in mandatory InvoiceNow (Peppol-based e-invoicing) for GST-registered businesses. Existing registrants have dates between 1 April 2028 and 1 April 2031, with smaller businesses first, and overseas vendors are excluded. From their date, businesses must send invoice data to IRAS via an IMDA-accredited Access Point Provider, while GST returns continue as before. The article recommends a 90-day readiness plan: review software and clean up records (days 1-30), choose a provider and configure the system (days 31-60), then test, train staff and go live at least a week before the deadline (days 61-90). It warns against starting too late, assuming the vendor handles everything, skipping data clean-up, and not informing trading partners.

The notice from IRAS arrives, and the finance team has questions straight away. Is this mandatory? What has to change, and by when? For most GST-registered SMEs, the news is manageable. The InvoiceNow requirement Singapore businesses now face has a phased timeline, and many existing registrants have dates between 2028 and 2031.

A practical approach is to initiate the process early. Read on to understand the significance of the date and who it covers. Here’s your guide to understand how your business can brace for readiness within 90 days.

What Your IRAS InvoiceNow Date Means

The national e-invoicing network of Singapore goes by the name “InvoiceNow”. It runs on Peppol, an international standard, and IMDA introduced it in 2019. Invoice data is transferred directly from the accounting system of the supplier into the buyer’s.

Your IRAS InvoiceNow date marks when the business must begin sending invoice data to IRAS over this network. A copy of that data is sent to IRAS through an IMDA-accredited Access Point Provider. For businesses registered before 2026, IRAS set each date using total annual supplies made in 2025. IRAS also offers an Excel calculator for teams that want to confirm their phase. Before the date, activating the submission feature is optional.

InvoiceNow works in a different way from emailing a PDF. The invoice travels as structured data that the buyer’s software reads automatically. GST returns also continue as before. That filing now comes with invoice-level detail behind it.

Who Is Affected and What Happens If You Delay

Under the guidance of IRAS, the requirement covers GST-registered businesses in phases. Existing registrants move across between 1 April 2028 and 1 April 2031, with smaller businesses first. Overseas entities, including those under the Overseas Vendor Registration regime, are excluded.

The date is a compliance obligation, and that’s the reason IRAS expects transmission from that point onward. In most cases, delay shows up in the quality of the rollout. When the timeline is compressed, it leaves limited room for testing, which can disrupt routines at the end of the month. On the other hand, a planned approach can spread the responsibilities across three months, which proves to be more manageable.

A 90-Day Plan for InvoiceNow Readiness

A logical approach is to split the work into three monthly phases. This section shows how to prepare for InvoiceNow in 90 days along with normal operations. The finance lead signs off each phase before the next one begins. This plan can be suitable for a business with an IRAS date in 2028 or later, though it compresses well for nearer dates.

Days 1 to 30: Review the Starting Point

A common question is what to do after receiving InvoiceNow notice from IRAS, and the first month answers it. The work here is review and preparation. Many accounting packages already carry InvoiceNow-Ready accreditation, and that’s why the check is often quick.

A review of the current invoicing process and accounting software
Confirmation from the software vendor on InvoiceNow-Ready status
An internal owner named, with the external accountant involved early
Clean customer and supplier records, including UENs, GST numbers and addresses

Days 31 to 60: Select and Set Up

In the second month, the process progresses from planning to setting up. Grants and free-of-charge solutions are available for eligible businesses, and IRAS lists them on its InvoiceNow page.

Registration of the business on the InvoiceNow network through the chosen provider
System configuration and mapping of invoice fields
Activation of the GST submission feature, where the software offers it

How to Choose an InvoiceNow Access Point Provider

Many SMEs reach the network through their accounting software, which connects to an accredited Access Point. Businesses with in-house systems usually connect to an Access Point directly. Here are four criteria that can help during the comparison.

A connection that works with the existing accounting or ERP software
Fees for onboarding, invoice volumes, and annual renewal set out upfront
Local support, with response times agreed in writing
Onboarding time that suits the business comfortably before the IRAS date

The website of IMDA carries the current list of accredited providers for shortlisting.

Days 61 to 90: Testing and Go-Live

The third month tests the set-up through real transactions. A smooth InvoiceNow implementation depends on this stage. Trading partners also benefit from early notice of the change, along with the Peppol ID of the business.

Test invoices exchanged with a willing customer or supplier
Training for finance and sales-admin staff
A written workflow covering rejected or failed invoices
Go-live at least one week before the IRAS date

Finance staff review the first few submission cycles closely once the system is live.

Common Pitfalls During Preparation

Four common pitfalls can create pressure in the later stages.

The first is starting in the final 30 days, which squeezes testing.
The second is assuming the software vendor has done everything, although the business is responsible for activation and field mapping.
Skipping the data clean-up process is the third, since errors in UENs and GST numbers flow straight into live invoices.
The fourth is a quiet rollout that leaves trading partners unprepared.

A Manageable Date with an Early Start

For existing registrants, the dates have been set between April 2028 and April 2031. With this timeline, firms can comfortably proceed with a planned rollout over three months. Businesses that consult a vendor to check and clean up the data are better poised to finish the process with minimal hurdles. Reach out to us for an InvoiceNow readiness consultation, as our team can provide the 90-day checklist and consistent assistance along with the accounting software provider.

Ready to get started? Talk to the IMC team today for an InvoiceNow readiness consultation.

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Received Your InvoiceNow Date From IRAS? Here’s a 90-Day Plan to Get Ready Early

Summary:

What Your IRAS InvoiceNow Date Means

Who Is Affected and What Happens If You Delay

A 90-Day Plan for InvoiceNow Readiness

Days 1 to 30: Review the Starting Point

Days 31 to 60: Select and Set Up

How to Choose an InvoiceNow Access Point Provider

Days 61 to 90: Testing and Go-Live

Common Pitfalls During Preparation

A Manageable Date with an Early Start

Received Your InvoiceNow Date From IRAS? Here’s a 90-Day Plan to Get Ready Early

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