What is taxable and subject to withholding tax?
Gross income refers to both monetary and non-monetary payments and includes, but not limited to:
For artistes
- Artiste Fees
- Allowances e.g. per diem
- Benefits-in-kind
For sportsmen
- Match fees
- Prize money
- Tournament winnings
- Win bonuses
- Allowances e.g. per diem
- Benefits-in-kind
- Non-cash gifts/prizes exceeding $100
What is not taxable? (withholding tax does not apply)
As a concession, the following benefits provided by the payer are not taxable:
- Accommodation (excluding value of food) provided for a short-term engagement of 60 days or less in any calendar year
Example: Where accommodation is provided for say, 70 days in the calendar year, the cost of the entire stay is taxable
What expenses are deductible?
- Only expenses which are wholly and exclusively incurred by the entertainer in the production of the Singapore-sourced income, and which are not reimbursed by the payer, are tax deductible.
As a concession, the following costs incurred by the entertainer are deductible:
- Accommodation (excluding value of food) for a short-term engagement of 60 days or less in any calendar year
Example: If the stay in Singapore is 70 days in the calendar year, the cost of the entire stay is not deductible
What expenses are not deductible?
- Private expenses (eg value of food and ground transfers from and to airport)
- Expenses incurred to put the entertainer in a position to earn the income ( eg transport expenses incurred from hotel to venue of service and back)