Covid-19 has affected many people. Music teachers are not spared too. Some of our lessons are stopped. We can’t teach as usual, and hence a fall in income.
Our Singapore government has announced many measures to help our people tide through this crisis.
As The Happy Pianist is one of Singapore’s top piano agency, we work with hundreds of piano teachers, and many of us are freelance teachers.
And I know your concerns too.
“What reliefs can I get?”
“How to apply?”
“Do I qualify or not?”
There are many articles on Covid-19 government reliefs, but none are written for music teachers. Hence I find it important to write this, especially for our own piano teachers.
Many piano teachers have asked me a lot of questions. Now, let me do my best to answer your questions after doing all the research (from real sources of course!).
Answers are valid as of 6th April 2020 after announcement of 3rd Budget, The Solidarity Budget by DPM Heng Swee Keat. If there’s further updates, this page will update accordingly.
Here are the two reliefs that will be applicable to most teachers – Temporary Relief Fund ($500) and Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme ($9000)
.
1. Temporary Relief Fund
For who?
For individuals who lost their job or faced an income loss of at least 30%.
What do you get?
One-time $500 Cash
Who is eligible?
- Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR aged 16 and above
- Gross monthly household income of $10,000 or below or monthly per capita income equal of $3,100 or below
- Not on ComCare assistance.
When can I apply?
Application period between 1st to 30th April 2020.
How to apply?
You can go down to any community centre to apply. But you need to wait and queue. Online application available as of 6th April 2020. (See below for online application instructions)
How to calculate gross monthly household income?
Household monthly income is calculated by taking the monthly income of your family members (sharing the same address as reflected in NRIC) combined together.
How to calculate monthly per capita income?
With the household income, you divide by the number of people in your family members with same address.
If total is $12,000, with 5 family members staying together, then per capita income is $2400 (you qualify!).
Visit this government website to do the calculation: Click here to visit.
What do I need to bring when I apply at a Community Centre?
- Bring your NRIC and supporting documents. You can only apply for yourself.
- Bring supporting documents to show that your income is affected.
- Have PayNow setup because they will pay via PayNow.
If you’re teaching in a music school and you get an email or letter from your boss that there will be a drop in salary or being issued unpaid leave, show this document. You can just show on your phone. No need to print out.
If you’re a freelance music teacher, you can show messages of your parents or students stopping lessons due to the Covid-19. You can just show on your phone. No need to print out.
If you don’t have any documents, you can also go down to apply. They will still ask you to fill up forms and declare your income and information.
How long will they take to PayNow you the $500?
Likely 3-5 working days once approved.
.
Latest: Online Application for Temporary Relief Fund.
How to apply:
1. Visit this government page : go.gov.sg/temporary-relief-fund
2. Login with Singpass and fill up particulars.
Like your home address and contact details. Below are information you need to prepare.
3. Insert your household income, and your gross monthly income before covid-19.
4. Upload proof of income before covid-19.
This portion is optional, but try to upload any income proof you have. If you’re fully freelance teaching, you can upload receipts you issue to your students for a particular month. If you’re teaching in a music school, you can upload your payslip.
5. Insert income after covid-19, and upload proof.
Uploading proof is optional, but again, try to upload proof of income fall. You can upload screenshots of your parents or students messaging you for stopping of lessons, or music school informing you to go on unpaid leave.
6. Ensure all information is correct and submit.
Once approved, you’ll get the $500 in your bank account via Paynow, paid to you within 3-5 days. We received replies that there are some teachers who is unsuccessful in getting this relief.
This is probably due to lack of proof of income or drop in income. So do gather your income proofs before submitting your application.
Most teachers should qualify for this Temporary Relief Fund. So please apply.
.
2. Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS)
For who?
Singaporean Self-employed persons. (SEPs)
What do you get?
Quarterly cash payouts of $3000 in May, July and October. Total $9000.
Who is eligible? (Latest eligibility criteria on 6th April 2020)
- Started work as Self-Employed on or before 25th March 2020
- Small Income from Employment (Previously is No Employee Income)
- Net Trade Income of $100,000 or below.
- Live in property with an annual value of $21,000 or below. (Previously $13,000)
- Do not own two or more properties
- Assessable income of spouse is $70,000 or below.
When can I apply?
If you’re 37 years old and above in 2020, and you declare positive Self-Employed income to IRAS or CPF Board for work year 2018, you will get the payout automatically.
Otherwise, you need to apply. Application details to be announced. Those who miss some criteria may appeal too. More details to be announced by the government.
Frequently Asked Questions about criteria above:
.
Started work as Self-Employed on or before 25th March 2020
Qn: How do the government know if I started as a self-employed freelance piano teacher before 25th March 2020?
Some self-employed professionals like taxi-drivers, real estate agents, hawker need to be licensed before they can start work, hence the starting date is very clear. If you have registered your profession as a sole-proprietor with ACRA and you file your trade income with IRAS, the starting date is clear as well.
But to be a freelance piano teacher, you don’t need to be licensed. You can start accept students and start teaching even without registering as a sole-proprietor with ACRA (yes, this is correct!). You just need to file tax by reporting your earnings as trade income every year. And this is what most piano teachers do every year.
So if you have started teaching years ago, and have filed your tax annually, your NOA from IRAS is proof of your starting date as a self-employed person. So you should qualify.
Qn: I only started work as Self-employed in 2019. Am I eligible?
Here’s the tricky one. You started as self-employed in 2019. Right now is 2020, and you want to file your tax for earnings in 2019. But then comes this crisis, and you have yet to file your tax, and IRAS have yet to issue you your NOA also. Which also means there is no proof that you started teaching in 2019. How?
By right, you should be eligible, because you fulfil their criteria of a self-employed before 25th March 2020. However, the challenge is in proving you have started work as a self-employed in 2019. If you can prove, you stand a chance.
Based on my research online, there are comments that SIRS relief online application will be available after 27th April 2020. Meanwhile, the original tax filing deadline for individuals (employees and self-employed) is 18th April 2020. This deadline has been extended to 31st May 2020.
What does this mean?
Here’s my suggestion: You can file your income tax with IRAS for your self-employed income in 2019 now. Submit as early now before 20th April 2020, so that they have record that you are a self-employed in 2019. So when the SIRS relief application is open on 27th April or later, you have fulfilled the criteria of being a self-employed in 2019.
You’re going to file income tax anyway, so submit earlier the better. Filing tax early doesn’t mean pay tax early. But it helps at qualifying for the criteria, especially if you started as self-employed teacher in 2019.
Filing tax for the first-time as self-employed? Read more at IRAS website.
.
Small Income From Employment (Previously No Employee Income)
*Latest update after Solidarity Budget on 6th April 2020*
You are now eligible if you have small income from employment. How small is small? Your employment income should not be more than $2300 a month. Income criteria revealed on this government page.
If you are teaching private students only or you get students from our music agency, then you fulfil this criteria. Because you do not receive a salary from any music school.
Qn: I teach in a music school, and also teach freelance private students. Am I eligible?
If you’re under contract in your music school with a regular salary, this means you receive employee income. If your employee income is below $2300/month, then you’re eligible.
If you are engaged on a ad-hoc basis, such as doing one-time group class, or piano accompaniment for students in a school only during exam period and get paid a one-time engagement fee, you’re eligible. Because that is not considered a salary.
Qn: If I’m employed by a music school, what relief can I get?
Music schools will get a relief from the government, in the form of Job Support Scheme. The government will co-fund 25% of the first $4600 of your monthly salary for the school, for 9 months. Co-fund 75% for entire of April. (As announced in Solidarity Budget)
The government give support to the music school so to encourage them to keep their employees (you, the teacher). This relief is for your music school to keep you as a teacher (which means to continue to pay you salary) during this tough period.
.
Live in property with an annual value of $21,000 or below. (Previously $13,000)
Qn: How to check the annual value of my property?
Most accurate way to check, is to login to IRAS MyTax portal. Click this link.
Check under ‘View Property Portfolio”
Based on government data, the median annual value of all HDB flats in 2018 is $9,600.
Here’s a breakdown by property size and type and the median annual value.
1 or 2 Room: $5100
3 Room: $7860
4 Room: $9600
5 Room: $10,380
Executive & Other: $10,680
Non-Landed: $22,200
Landed: $34,200
This means if you stay in HDB, even for 5 room or larger HDBs, you will likely be eligible. As of 6th April, you are eligible if your AV is $21,000 and below. Meaning if you stay in condominiums, you may qualify now. So do check your IRAS account for exact AV of your property.
Qn: What if I stay with my parents and we stay in condominiums or landed?
That means the government will take the AV your parents’ property. Yes, this may seem unfair, but that’s the guideline for now. Many people have voiced out this as well. If you miss this criteria, you may appeal too.
.
Assessable income of spouse is $70,000 or below.
Qn: What is assessable income?
Based on government definition, assessable income is the total income minus allowable deductions (like expenses, donations).
Let’s say your spouse earn $7000 a month. Annual income will be $84,000.
Let’s say the tax deductibles is $15,000 (NS Relief, Parent Relief…etc)
So your spouse assessable income is $69,000 (you qualify!)
Qn: What if your spouse assessable income is higher? And you also have kids to support? This criteria is quite unfair right?
The government have received feedback about this as well, so they are open for you to appeal.
Most teachers should be eligible for the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme, but may miss out on 1 or 2 criteria. Many other freelancers of other professions have voiced out their concerns too, hence you can appeal for it once announced.
Still confused with the criteria? You can check out this website by NTUC, where it explains to you the SIRS eligibility one by one.
.
I hope this posts help you understand more about the government reliefs that will help you tide through this tough period. Feel free to share with any other music teachers to help them too.
If you have any questions, feel free to comment below. or contact us here. We will try to help 🙂
This post will be updated when there are new measures announced.
Looking for more students? Join us as a piano teacher here. or violin teacher, guitar teacher, cello teacher, vocal teacher 🙂
What if im in national service? Am I eligible?
Hi Teme, if you’re in National Service, they have certain rules and guidelines what kind of income you can get outside of your NS income. Example, you’re not allowed to seek employment income outside of NS allowance (cos I’ve been through NS as well). Also, NS should still be paying you allowance during this period, so I think there’s no drop in income, hence you can’t qualify for the $500 Temporary Relief Fund. And also, you can’t be self-employed if you’re doing NS, right?
Hello, I am Jessica and I am a full time music teacher in one of the music school in Singapore. I’d like to ask for your advice regarding the financial impact of Covid-19 to my music school. Is there any personal address or trade union that represents us as teachers, to whom I can discuss my situation with? Thank you
Hi Jessica, for relief schemes for music school teachers, it will be same for normal job employees as well. You may want to discuss with your music school directly. Alternatively, you can approach MOM or write in to your MP in your area. I don’t think there’s a trade union for music school teachers.
hello, thank you for providing this comprehensive guide it is really helpful as it answered many of the questions I have as a freelancer. I am just wondering in addition to this, what would be a suitable method for freelance private teachers to keep track of the cash/income received? Because we have to submit our personal income for tax purposes right? Or do you only declare if you earn more than some amount? Hope there can be some information on this 🙂
Hi Hayley, sure. To keep your earnings clean and tidy, it will be good if you can issue receipts to your parents or students or customers whenever you collect lesson fees. You keep a record of your earnings in an excel sheet, for your monthly earnings. When it’s time to submit your income for tax purposes, your excel sheet will have your earning records. So whatever you earn, you have to report to IRAS. And this is not just for IRAS. In future instances where you need to take loans from banks or HDB for purchase of your home, all these income statements, IRAS tax filing will be needed. So do start recording and filing your taxes as soon as you start your freelance teaching 🙂
Hello, thanks for the replies it definitely helped to cleared up my doubts. I’ve also read your updated content about the SIRS for self-employed but I am in a predicament. I started work as a freelancer and thus I have not received any NOA nor NFS. I did not receive any notification to file income tax return either.
How can I now declare as a self-employed teaching freelancer?
On my tax portal the only option I can click on is file tax return form. But I do not actually earn over $22k for the past year.
Can I still fill in the form for the part on income (self-employed) to trigger the system that I am self-employed? Otherwise, how do freelancers (who do not earn other income) declare income?
Also, I started freelancing late 2019 and a search shows the employer is under AIS but my contract terms was independent contractor. Even though their AIS was received it was not in my records so am I still considered a self-employed personnel? Greatly appreciate any suggestions :))
Hey Hayley, let me try my best to help.
1. For filing for tax, as long as you earn $6000 in 1 year, you can report. $6000 a year is $500/month salary. This amount you earn is considered trade income in your tax filing. With this amount, you’re also required to top up your medisave (paying yourself for future medical bills). So if you do earn $6000 or more in 2019, you can file your tax. Yes, you can still file your income tax even if you did not get notification. As you’re self-employed, so if you don’t file, government also don’t know if you’re earning any income. So they deem you as ‘unemployed’.
2. As far as I know, there is no section in IRAS to ‘declare as self-employed’ or not. But how they see, is how you report your earnings. If you receive a salary, with monthly CPF Contribution from your employer (with a company name), then you’re considered an employee. CPF is paid monthly, and CPF have your records.
If you’re a self-employed, you don’t have monthly CPF contribution from any company, and you declare your earnings as ‘Trade Income’ in tax filing. You have to do your own calculation and put in the amount you earn. So if you only have ‘Trade Income’, IRAS knows you’re a self-employed.
3. Ya, independent contractor means you’re not their employee. So it means you’re more like an ad-hoc contract worker. You can consider that a self-employed also. With the current update, even if your employee salary is below $2300, you can still apply for the SIRS.
Hope it helps. Feel free to clarify 🙂
since I just started freelance end last year, and trade income tax filing is only for jan 2019-dec 2019 right, the total do not add up to $6000. so is it still recommended that I file for tax return and declare income under “trade income”?
or can I wait for ntuc to open applications and appeals for self-employed funding scheme on 20 April and submit tax return form thereafter?
I guess you can still file your tax even if you earn below $6000 last year. Tax filing is extended to 31st May, so no rush yet. Yeap, maybe can wait for NTUC appeal out and see how it goes 🙂
Actually, you can declare as self employed on CPF online. I literally just realised this on April 1st and declared… Hopefully I can appeal for this, since one of the criteria is “declared as self-employed before 25th March”
oh that’s good! yeap, do appeal when appeal is out 🙂
Regarding the self employed CPF, mine piano classes are not regular but ad hoc. I thought ad hoc or contract basic no need ?but then if there is no CPF, then there is no relief from Govt ….
For self-employed income aka trade income, there is no need to contribute CPF. If you’re teaching freelance, private lessons, ad hoc or not, they are all considered self-employed income. So yes, no need to pay CPF. But you need to contribute medisave. Medisave contribution amount is based on the trade income you file to IRAS based on your trade income.
hi, just to clarify, do receipts have to be signed by both parent and tutors if IRAS required to see proof? What is classified as allowable expenses for freelance tutors? (transport/gifts for students/stationery/assessment books etc) Not too sure of what platforms i can utilise to get specific answers for these queries, thank you for taking your time to read these 🙂
Hi, I am so thankful to find your blog and detailed info. I have a question:
I own a Pte Ltd company servicing pre sch and pri sch on contract basis. Due to the current situation, all contracts stopped until further notice. Although I am still paying myself monthly salary, the company suffers in the next few months. I don’t know which relief should I apply for and which one I am eligible.
I am also a freelance piano teacher teaching only 7 students a week. 4 students have decided not to do zoom lessons. I declared personal income tax based on my company’s salary to me. Which means I cannot apply for the temporary relief funds.
Hi Chin Yee, thanks for your question. And I understand your situation, and I feel sorry for you, because I think you fall through the gaps of the reliefs.
1. You can’t get temporary relief fund ($500), because your income didn’t drop 30% of more. You mentioned you continue you pay yourself the same salary even after all your school contracts are stopped.
2. You can’t get the self-employed SIRS ($9000), because you’re not considered self-employed. You are considered an employee of your own Pte Ltd company with a monthly salary and CPF contribution. Even
3. You can’t get the JSS (job support scheme for companies), because there’s a clause stated that the JSS does not support the salary of the company director (who is your yourself).
This is a suggestion by my friend who is also a director of his own company (basically a 1-man pte ltd like yours). He issued an unpaid leave notification for this own company, because his business is also affected. Salary drops 50% for the month of April onwards. This decision is made back in early March even before the reliefs are announced. And he is eligible for the $500 relief. And his claim is real as his business has no revenue. You may want to consider this option.
Feel free to clarify more. 🙂
Thank you. Would you know if there is any website that I could appeal? May I know if your friend continue to pay CPF even though there is no income for the month?
The appeal website will be out after 20th April. Like a few days time. When out, i’ll update here the link as well. For my friend, he still pay himself salary, about 20% of his usual salary (80% drop). Yes, still pay CPF.
CPF is according to the salary, which is the 20% ?
Yes. CPF paid on the 20% of the pay
I also have a question on self employed as a piano teacher and owning a company. Do I submit 2 seperate incomes tax or together? The self employed part is other income?
Oh, is together, because you’re paying individual income tax. In your submission, you state your employment income (the one your company pays you), and your trade income (your freelance piano lesson fees). This is same for anyone who is working full-time in any company as an employee, and doing part-time work (part-time tutor, music class, grab..etc). Outside of employee income is under trade income.
Hi, i have a question regarding about the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS). As i’m currently teaching in a music school for years but classes are suspended since this month due to covid-19. For the past years of teaching, I never have to file any income tax because my annual gross income is less than $22,000.
I start giving private lessons in 2018 on per lesson per charge basis but didn’t declare income tax for self employed as the income is not fixed. Am i still eligible for the SIRS? What should i do to qualify for the SIRS? Or eligible for other schemes?
Thank you.
Hi Wei, thanks for your questions. Let me correct a few things you mention.
1. “For the past years of teaching, I never have to file any income tax because my annual gross income is less than $22,000.”. Based on IRAS law, if you earn $6000 a year and above ($500/month), you have to file income tax. But if your annual income is $22,000 and below, the tax payable is very low (or zero). So do note, even if you know yourself your income is below $22,000 and you may not need to pay tax, you still need to file income tax, and let IRAS come back and tell you that you don’t earn enough to pay any tax. This is different from ‘Oh, I earn less, so don’t need to pay tax, so don’t need to file tax also’.
2) “but didn’t declare income tax for self employed as the income is not fixed.”
For this part, you still have to declare income tax regardless if your income is fixed or not. As long as you earn income, $6000 a year and above, you have to declare.
Based on your sharing, you didn’t declare anything, you’re considered as jobless and an unemployed person in the record of the government. Not a self-employed person. So you fail the first criteria of a self-employed person.
At the time of this comment on 25th April, you can still file your income for year 2019. To report the income you earn in 2019 to IRAS. By filing your income tax for 2019, stated the amount you earn under Trade Income, it indicates that you started working as a Self-Employed in 2019. And this means you fulfil the first criteria of ‘a self-employed person on or before 25th March 2020″.
You can check this NTUC website for the complete criteria: https://www.ntuc.com.sg/sirs/
Hope it helps 🙂
Thank you for your reply. My music school and i still do CPF contribution monthly since I started working for them. Does that mean that the iras wouldn’t know if I’m employed based on CPF contribution?
If now i were to start filing income tax for both my employment with the music school and self employment, will i be charged? Like any penalties?
Thank you
Ok. If your music school did contribute CPF to you, that means you’re an employee under the school. The amount earn is considered Salary. So you declare your own private students’ fees as trade income (self-employed income).
I don’t know about any penalties, but I do know IRAS is quite fair if you misunderstood anything about income tax filing. And considered you’re still young and just entered the workforce, they can advise you accordingly, than outright penalize you. But now since that you know a bit about income tax filing, do file accordingly ya 🙂
Thank you for taking time to reply.
I am a freelancer for about 20 years. 3 years ago I terminated my sole proprietor Company and registered a Private Limited Company. My nature of work still the same…
But my application was rejected by NTUC.
I don’t know why they rejected me without analyse case by case..??