← Singapore hubs Event Planner
Singapore English (English) $ SGD
Stephanie is a busy freelance event planner navigating the gig economy in Singapore. This hub tracks the essential government portals, tax obligations, and professional support schemes she uses to keep her business running and her personal finances stable.
Essential for managing my freelance income and staying compliant with IRAS and ACRA.
BizFile+ Registration national · ACRA
Who qualifies Any individual starting a sole proprietorship or partnership.
What you get Legal business entity status to issue invoices and open business bank accounts.
What it actually costs you $115 for registration plus $16.20 for business name approval.
Common gotcha You must renew your business registration annually to avoid late fees.
Income Tax for Sole Proprietors national · IRAS
Who qualifies Self-employed individuals with net trade income.
What you get Tax assessment and payment plans for business earnings.
What it actually costs you Annual filing between March and April; requires proper expense records.
Common gotcha Many forget to deduct allowable business expenses to lower their taxable income.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Registration national · IRAS
Who qualifies Businesses with annual taxable turnover exceeding $1 million.
What you get Authority to charge GST on event services.
What it actually costs you Requires strict quarterly accounting and digital filing.
Common gotcha Voluntary registration is possible if you have many corporate clients who expect GST invoices.
PayNow for Business national · ABS
Who qualifies Registered business entities.
What you get Instant payments from clients using UEN or QR codes.
What it actually costs you Linked to your business bank account; no transaction fees for most banks.
Common gotcha Ensure your UEN is correctly linked to your business bank account, not your personal one.
SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Businesses that have contributed to CPF and invested in workforce transformation.
What you get Up to $10,000 credit to offset costs of business transformation initiatives.
What it actually costs you Requires proof of qualifying spend on training or consultancy.
Common gotcha The credit is automatically triggered; check your eligibility on the portal.
GoBusiness Licensing national · MTI
Who qualifies Businesses requiring specific licenses for events (e.g., music, public entertainment).
What you get Centralized platform to apply for and manage multiple government licenses.
What it actually costs you Varies by license type; processing time ranges from 7 to 30 days.
Common gotcha Applying too late for event permits can lead to last-minute cancellations. As a freelancer, I need to manage my own retirement savings and Medisave contributions.
Voluntary Medisave Contributions national · CPF Board
Who qualifies Self-employed persons.
What you get Tax relief on voluntary contributions to your Medisave account.
What it actually costs you Variable; requires manual top-up via CPF portal.
Common gotcha You must contribute to Medisave to be eligible for certain government health subsidies.
Supplementary Retirement Scheme national · MOF
Who qualifies Singaporeans and PRs aged 18+.
What you get Tax-deferred savings for retirement.
What it actually costs you Annual contribution cap applies; funds are locked until retirement age.
Common gotcha Withdrawals before retirement age are subject to a 5% penalty and full tax.
Retirement Sum Topping-Up Scheme national · CPF Board
Who qualifies CPF members.
What you get Tax relief for topping up your own or family members' CPF accounts.
What it actually costs you Cash transfer; funds are non-reversible.
Common gotcha The tax relief is capped at $8,000 per year for self-toppings.
Singpass national · GovTech
Who qualifies Citizens and PRs.
What you get Secure access to all government digital services.
What it actually costs you Free; requires smartphone and biometric setup.
Common gotcha Keep your Singpass password secure; never share your OTP.
CPF Nomination Scheme national · CPF Board
Who qualifies All CPF members.
What you get Ensures your CPF savings go to your intended beneficiaries.
What it actually costs you Free; requires two witnesses.
Common gotcha If you don't nominate, your CPF savings will be distributed according to intestacy laws.
MyInfo national · GovTech
Who qualifies All Singpass users.
What you get Auto-fills forms for government and private sector applications.
What it actually costs you Free; requires consent for each data share.
Common gotcha Check that your personal details are updated in MyInfo before applying for loans.
I need to stay competitive in the events industry by learning new tech and management skills.
SkillsFuture Credit national · SSG
Who qualifies Singaporeans aged 25+.
What you get $500 initial credit + $500 top-up for approved courses.
What it actually costs you Must select courses from the SkillsFuture directory.
Common gotcha Credits expire if not used, though recent top-ups have no expiry.
SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy national · SSG
Who qualifies Singaporeans aged 40+.
What you get Up to 90% subsidy for course fees.
What it actually costs you Must enroll in eligible CET courses.
Common gotcha Check if your chosen course is eligible for this specific subsidy before paying.
Training Allowance Grant national · SSG
Who qualifies Self-sponsored individuals attending specific full-time courses.
What you get Allowance to offset income loss during training.
What it actually costs you Requires full-time commitment to the course.
Common gotcha Not all courses offer this; check the course listing carefully.
Workfare Skills Upgrading Award national · Workforce Singapore
Who qualifies Lower-income workers undergoing training.
What you get Cash award upon completion of relevant training.
What it actually costs you Must meet income eligibility criteria.
Common gotcha Ensure your training provider submits the completion data to SSG.
SkillsFuture Series national · SSG
Who qualifies All Singaporeans.
What you get Short, modular courses in high-growth sectors like digital marketing.
What it actually costs you Heavily subsidized fees; pay the remaining balance.
Common gotcha Courses fill up quickly; register early.
NLB Learning Resources national · NLB
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Free access to LinkedIn Learning and professional e-books.
What it actually costs you Free with your library account.
Common gotcha You need to log in via the NLB app to access premium content. As a freelancer, I don't have corporate health insurance, so I rely on national schemes.
MediShield Life national · CPF Board
Who qualifies All Singaporeans and PRs.
What you get Basic health insurance for large hospital bills.
What it actually costs you Premiums paid via Medisave account.
Common gotcha It is a basic plan; you might want an Integrated Shield Plan for better coverage.
CHAS Blue/Orange/Green national · MOH
Who qualifies Singaporeans based on household income.
What you get Subsidies for visits to GP and dental clinics.
What it actually costs you Application required; card issued by mail.
Common gotcha Always show your CHAS card before payment at the clinic.
Screen for Life national · HPB
Who qualifies Singaporeans aged 40+.
What you get Subsidized health screenings for chronic diseases.
What it actually costs you Low flat fee for screening at participating GPs.
Common gotcha You must check your eligibility online before booking.
CareShield Life national · MOH
Who qualifies Singaporeans born in 1980 or later.
What you get Long-term care insurance for severe disability.
What it actually costs you Premiums paid via Medisave.
Common gotcha It is mandatory; you are automatically enrolled.
ActiveSG Credits national · SportSG
Who qualifies All Singaporeans and PRs.
What you get Credits to book sports facilities and gym entries.
What it actually costs you Free sign-up; credits expire if not used.
Common gotcha Booking slots for popular pools/gyms open at specific times.
HealthHub national · MOH
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Centralized view of your medical records and appointments.
What it actually costs you Free; login with Singpass.
Common gotcha Not all private clinic records are synced automatically. 1states & territories — open one to see what it offers.
Singapore新加坡 Singapore offers a highly structured ecosystem of business grants and professional development subsidies that help event planners scale operations and upskill in a competitive market.
Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) state · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Singapore-registered businesses with at least 30% local shareholding.
What you get Up to 50% funding for qualifying project costs to upgrade business processes or venture overseas.
Common gotcha The application process is rigorous; you need a solid business case, not just an idea.
Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) state · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies SMEs registered and operating in Singapore.
What you get Funding of up to 50% for pre-approved IT solutions and equipment for event management.
Common gotcha You must purchase from pre-approved vendors listed on the portal.
SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) state · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Employers who have contributed to the Skills Development Levy.
What you get One-off credit of $10,000 to cover up to 90% of out-of-pocket expenses for business transformation.
Common gotcha The credit has a specific expiry date; use it before it lapses.
Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant state · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies SMEs looking to expand event services into overseas markets.
What you get Up to 50% support for third-party costs like market entry or overseas marketing.
Common gotcha Must be applied for before you sign any contracts with overseas partners.
SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) state · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Singapore Citizens aged 40 and above.
What you get $4,000 in credits to offset course fees for career transition or upskilling.
Common gotcha Credits are non-transferable and expire if not used within the designated timeframe.
Training Allowance Grant (TAG) state · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Employers sending staff for approved training.
What you get Offsets the cost of employee salaries while they are away for training.
Common gotcha Claims must be submitted within 30 days of course completion.
Workfare Skills Support (WSS) state · Workforce Singapore
Who qualifies Lower-wage employees or self-employed persons.
What you get Cash training allowance and fee subsidies for attending certified courses.
Common gotcha Requires meeting specific income criteria to qualify.
One honest app. Real lives, real businesses. Free for what people need, paid only for what runs a business — on our own model, our own metal.
Where we run
Bangalore + Czechia
Our own metal · GDPR · DPDPA
