PERMIT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR FOREIGN CHARITABLE PURPOSES
Mr KC Wong, 63-year-old artist wants to raise
funds for the Balinese affected by the Oct 12 2002 attacks.
He intends to raise money by selling Bali-themed paintings by local artists and
he has managed to collect nearly $40,000 worth of art, donated by himself and
his friends, for his cause within days.
Mr Wong and three artist friends will start selling their works of art from
today except that they do not have a permit to raise funds for a foreign
charitable cause.
Singaporeans who wish to raise funds for a foreign charitable cause must
apply for a licence from the Commissioner of Charities.
This is required under the Charities (Fund-Raising Appeals For Foreign
Charitable Purposes) Regulations 1994.
Application forms can be downloaded from the Inland Revenue Authority of
Singapore's (Iras) website at www.iras.gov.sg under charities.
If all the requisite information is given together with the application form,
the permit can usually be processed within one day.
Mr Wong and his friends would not need to apply for a
licence if they sold their paintings without telling the public that they are
for fund-raising, then donated the income to the Balinese. Their income in this
case would be subject to income tax.
On the other hand, the artists must apply for a licence if they intend to tell
the public that the proceeds from the sale of the paintings are for a charitable
cause.
Permits are generally granted to applicants who
are not individuals but part of an association or a registered group.