fbpx
  • HOME
    • About Us
    • Collaborate
    • Featured
  • Moms & Dads
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Family Time
    • Work
      • Career
      • Business
      • Money
  • Fun With
    • Little Kids
    • Big Kids
    • Teenagers
  • Education
    • Local Schools
    • Tuition & Enrichment
    • Students
  • Lifestyle
    • Health & Beauty
    • Food
  • Travel
    • Travel With Kids
    • Travel For Work
    • Staycations
  • Workshops
  • Contact Us
Friday, November 20, 2020
  • Login
Universal Scribbles
  • HOME
    • About Us
    • Collaborate
    • Featured
  • Moms & Dads
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Family Time
    • Work
      • Career
      • Business
      • Money
  • Fun With
    • Little Kids
    • Big Kids
    • Teenagers
  • Education
    • Local Schools
    • Tuition & Enrichment
    • Students
  • Lifestyle
    • Health & Beauty
    • Food
  • Travel
    • Travel With Kids
    • Travel For Work
    • Staycations
  • Workshops
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
    • About Us
    • Collaborate
    • Featured
  • Moms & Dads
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Family Time
    • Work
      • Career
      • Business
      • Money
  • Fun With
    • Little Kids
    • Big Kids
    • Teenagers
  • Education
    • Local Schools
    • Tuition & Enrichment
    • Students
  • Lifestyle
    • Health & Beauty
    • Food
  • Travel
    • Travel With Kids
    • Travel For Work
    • Staycations
  • Workshops
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Engaging Parents

I Want To Pay Taxes

by Meiling Wong
in Engaging Parents
4
0
SHARES
43
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The IRAS (Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore) announced yesterday that they want to tax bloggers on all the non-monetary benefits, including sponsorship of products or services received in return for writing or reviewing the sponsors’ products. (Source: Channel News Asia)

After the initial WHAT?! I am willing and happy to pay the taxes. Here’s why…

First, it means that bloggers are recognized as a “professional” service provider! Next time a Public Relations professional tells me that I am not to publish something until the “main stream” media has a go at it first, I will loudly and proudly proclaim that BLOGGERS ARE MAINSTREAM NOW! We Pay Taxes people!! R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Second, by inducting us into the Hall of Taxes, we are placed on the same platform as “paid” Professionals, which means that the IRAS assumes that we EARN a substantial INCOME. Therefore, my logical mind says that I CAN and SHOULD now CHARGE a fee for my time, effort and writing, regardless of my numbers!! How else am I going to earn my income otherwise? Please go to this link for an update on my services (Oops! That page is still under construction.)

TAX

Here are a few snags that the IRAS overlooked.

1) Not all bloggers get paid hundreds or thousands of dollars for a review. It takes a lot of tenacity and hard work to gain a substantial following on social media and reach the status where they can command a paid fee. The bloggers who reached the summit are applauded and envied. For the most part, many bloggers (maybe just me) are still climbing. Whatever income we earn is quickly consumed by the costs of our transport, Wi-Fi, electricity and blogging equipment like camera, laptop, etc.

computers

2) Bloggers blog out of passion. Take me for instance, I became a parent blogger because I am passionate about my kids and I want to be the best parent I can for them. I also want to spend time and bond with them especially during their formative years. Blogging not only offers me the perfect platform for me to do so, but more importantly, it provides me with an opportunity to buffer our single-income family against the rising costs of modern living.

I am GRATEFUL to the businesses who invite me to review their spaces, products and services OR participate in their events. Without this partnership, many of our family outings will be conventional and uninteresting, maybe even non-existent.

THREE, it is simple business 101. If a business owner pays cash, he/she will expect a certain outcome, in this case write positively about the business. If the outcome is undetermined (as in up to the blogger), then the business owner might use a “test water’ approach i.e. the barter exchange to see if there is a right fit.

As bloggers, we have to declare this barter exchange as a “sponsorship”. AND we have to adhere to this thing called ethics that require us to write truthfully and responsibly.

Hence, when it comes right down to dollars and sense, the business communities are more willing to pay bloggers in kind. And I am a willing party to this exchange for the following reasons:

  1. It gives me flexibility of time with my children
  2. It keeps me connected to the professional industry.
  3. I am contributing to the social communities be it family, food, beauty or travel.
  4. My children are exposed to people, events and places that they might otherwise not have the opportunities to do so.

It is an eco-system that currently works for businesses and bloggers. The question I have for IRAS is, if the business communities are not willing to pay me cash, will the IRAS be willing to accept tax in kind? Can I invite IRAS to tag along with me to 20% of the media events I am invited to? Will they accept goodie bags and takeaways in lieu of the non-income that I receive?

Is the IRAS merely finding culprits in bloggers to pay for merchandise tax that big businesses write off as marketing or promotions liability? Are bloggers really the right people to tax? And by taxing bloggers, is IRAS once again committing the cardinal sin of stamping out free entrepreneur spirit in Singapore?

Like I said earlier, if I am getting paid cash to do a job, I will happily pay my taxes.

If you like what you read, connect with US on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates.

In the meantime, love yourself, love others, live strong and be free.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

You May Also Like:

Tags: BloggersSingapore BloggersSingapore Mom BloggersTaxViewpoints
ShareTweetShare
Previous Post

The Largest Family U Picnic 2016

Next Post

Talking Point – Lee Kuan Yew Commemoration Episode

Related Posts

My First 21km Finisher Medal As A Racy Mama – Mizuno Ekiden Run
Health & Beauty

My First 21km Finisher Medal As A Racy Mama – Mizuno Ekiden Run

by Meiling Wong
08/11/2017
Blog Purpose – Be Brave. I Dare You.
Blog Trains

Blog Train: Peek Into My Week As A Mom Blogger

by Meiling Wong
19/03/2017
Bloggers Fellowship
Career

Bloggers Fellowship

by Meiling Wong
15/11/2017
Blog Train: What Singapore Means To Me
Blog Trains

Blog Train: What Singapore Means To Me

by Meiling Wong
21/03/2017
Blog Trains

Blog Train: Mummy’s ‘Me-Time’

by Meiling Wong
08/05/2017
Blog Trains

Blog Train: Dear Mummy…

by Meiling Wong
22/03/2017
Next Post
Remembering Lee Kuan Yew A Year After

Talking Point - Lee Kuan Yew Commemoration Episode

Comments 4

  1. Adeline says:
    5 years ago

    Hahaha I love the idea of inviting IRAS to tag along on 20% of your media events! That would be absolutely hilarious! Plus, how do you put a value on say, an opening of a bookshop, or a free mall show? Hmm…

    Reply
    • Meiling Wong says:
      5 years ago

      Hi Adeline,

      Yes, I agree with you. This whole taxation on bloggers is a little vague. I do wonder what has triggered this channel of attention on us. ;-p

      Reply
  2. MummyEd says:
    5 years ago

    Lol!! Actually IRAS don’t really care what we do, even interest on $ sitting in the bank is taxable right, so it’s not surprising that they are highlighting to bloggers about where dues need to be paid (literally, right??).

    Reply
    • Meiling Wong says:
      5 years ago

      Hi Edlyn,

      That’s true. As mommies, we work 24-7 and are not paid for it. We get no benefits, tax-relief as moms unless we work as employees. As mummy bloggers, we also get paid in kind only and are doing it for the kids. So, we are not paid on all fronts but are being taxed. Sigh.. Just needed some comic relief on the irony of the situation. Maybe I should write to Josephine Teo.. Hahah.. what do you think?

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

CONNECT WITH US

Search

No Result
View All Result

Giveaways

LIKE Us on Facebook

SuperWebTricks Loading...

Be The First To Know

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive monthly updates and exclusive invites!

Popular Stories

  • 11 Introduction Ideas to Begin Your English Compositions

    11 Introduction Ideas to Begin Your English Compositions

    11 shares
    Share 11 Tweet 0
  • Common DSA Questions Asked In Interviews

    13 shares
    Share 13 Tweet 0
  • PSLE: How To Score A-star in Composition Writing

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 30+ Movies About Parent-Child Relationships To Watch With Kids

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How Can Parents Help To Prepare For PSLE Oral (English)

    6 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 0
Currently Playing

My little Chef & the Song Cho Bread Maker

My little Chef & the Song Cho Bread Maker

00:05:02

DIY: How to make Fluffy Slime at home!

00:04:03

LEGO Boost Review and Unboxing!

00:05:03
  • Editors & Contributors
  • Media Agencies
  • Seminars & Events
  • Corporate & Academic Workshops
  • Testimonials

Copyrights © 2012 - 2020 All rights reserved by Universal Scribbles.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
    • About Us
    • Collaborate
    • Featured
  • Moms & Dads
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Family Time
    • Work
      • Career
      • Business
      • Money
  • Fun With
    • Little Kids
    • Big Kids
    • Teenagers
  • Education
    • Local Schools
    • Tuition & Enrichment
    • Students
  • Lifestyle
    • Health & Beauty
    • Food
  • Travel
    • Travel With Kids
    • Travel For Work
    • Staycations
  • Workshops
  • Contact Us

Copyrights © 2012 - 2020 All rights reserved by Universal Scribbles.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.