Total tax deductible donations to charities exceeded $1 billion in 2012, the highest amount received in the last decade.

The latest annual report from the Commissioner of Charities (COC) released on Wednesday noted that this was due to higher contributions made to the charity sector by corporations and members of the public last year. Corporate and individual donations rose 16 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

In its report, the COC also noted that charity regulations and governance were tightened in recent years. In addition to the current regulations that charities have to follow, the COC will also soon make available to the public on its Charity Portal the financial statements of all charities.

"The COC Office will continue in its efforts to improve governance, accountability and transparency in the charity sector. We will also closely engage charities and IPCs to enhance their access, along with the public's, to information on Singapore's charity sector via the Charity Portal," it said. The COC Annual Report is available at www.charities.gov.sg