Income earned by non-resident public entertainers is subject to withholding tax. Taxable income includes both cash and non-cash payments less allowable deductible expenses.

Taxable income subject to withholding tax

Gross income refers to both cash and non-cash 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

Income due and payable to non-resident public entertainer on or before 31 Oct 2022

Non-taxable income (not subject to withholding tax)

As a concession, the following benefits provided by the payer are not taxable:

  • Accommodation (excluding value of food) for short-term engagement of 60 days or less in any calendar year; and
  • Cost of airfare.

Where accommodation is provided for 61 days and above in a calendar year, the cost of accommodation for the entire stay is taxable.

Deductible expenses

Only expenses which are wholly and exclusively incurred by the non-resident public entertainer in the production of the Singapore-sourced income and which are not reimbursed by the payer are deductible against the gross income.

Concession on deductible expenses

As a concession, the following costs incurred by the non-resident public entertainer are deductible:

  • Accommodation (excluding value of food) for short-term engagement of 60 days or less in any calendar year; and
  • Cost of airfare.

Where the stay in Singapore is for 61 days and above in a calendar year, the cost of accommodation for the entire stay is not deductible.

Non-deductible expenses

  • Private expenses (e.g. value of food and ground transfers to and from airport); and
  • Expenses incurred to put the public entertainer in a position to earn the income (e.g. transport expenses incurred from hotel to venue of service and back).

Income due and payable to non-resident public entertainer on or after 1 Nov 2022

The above administrative concessions will be withdrawn for income due and payable to the non-resident public entertainer on or after 1 Nov 2022. With the withdrawal, the following rules apply:

Taxability of income

  • Cost of airfare borne by the payer and cost of accommodation provided/reimbursed by the payer - Such income that is due and payable to the non-resident public entertainer from 1 Nov 2022 onwards will be taxable, regardless of the period of engagement in a calendar year.

Deductibility of expenses

  • The costs of airfare and accommodation (excluding value of food) incurred by the non-resident public entertainer in respect of income due and payable on or after 1 Nov 2022 will be deductible against the gross income of the non-resident public entertainer, regardless of the period of engagement in a calendar year. This is provided that the following conditions are met:
    1. The non-resident public entertainer’s principal place of business is outside Singapore;
    2. The non-resident public entertainer was carrying on the same activity prior to his trip to Singapore; and
    3. The sole purpose of the non-resident entertainer’s trip to Singapore is to perform the services in Singapore.
  • Only expenses which are wholly and exclusively incurred by the non-resident public entertainer in the production of the Singapore-sourced income, and not private or capital in nature, are tax deductible.
  • Business expenses such as cost of ground transfers from and to airport and transport from hotel to venue of service and back are deductible against the gross income of the non-resident public entertainer;
  • Private expenses such as value of food are not deductible.

 

FAQs

#1 Deduction of food and transport expenses

Can I deduct my food and transport expenses from the gross income?

No, food and transport expenses are not deductible as they are considered private expenses that were not incurred to earn your income.

#2 Deduction of airfare and accommodation

Can I deduct the cost of the airfare and accommodation incurred by me from the gross income?

(a) Income due and payable to the non-resident public entertainer on or before 31 Oct 2022

You can deduct the cost of airfare incurred by you from your gross income.

For accommodation, you can deduct the cost of accommodation incurred for short-term engagement of not more than 60 days in the calendar year from your gross income.

Where accommodation is incurred for more than 60 days in the calendar year, the cost of the entire stay is not deductible.

(b) Income due and payable to the non-resident public entertainer on or after 1 Nov 2022

The costs of airfare and accommodation (excluding value of food) incurred by you in respect of income due and payable on or after 1 Nov 2022 will be deductible against your gross income, regardless of the period of engagement in a calendar year. This is provided that the following conditions are met:

i. Your principal place of business is outside Singapore;

ii. You were carrying on the same activity prior to your trip to Singapore; and

iii. The sole purpose of your trip to Singapore is to perform the services in Singapore.

#3 Non-cash gifts and prize money

Competition winners usually receive non-cash gifts such as trophies, souvenirs or tokens in addition to the prize money. Are such gifts subject to withholding tax?

Such gifts are not subject to withholding tax if they are not substantial in value and are not given in a form of disguised payment for services.

As a guide, a gift is of substantial value if it exceeds $100. If a gift's value is $100 or more, the full value of the gift is subject to withholding tax.

The threshold of $100 is applicable per event. For example, if a sportsman has won a gift in two events, both gifts are not subject to withholding tax if each gift does not exceed $100.