← Singapore hubs Illustrator
Singapore English (English) $ SGD
Vikram is a freelance illustrator living in a HDB flat, balancing creative projects with the realities of Singapore's cost of living. This hub tracks the national schemes he relies on to manage his taxes, healthcare, and professional growth.
Keeping my finances compliant and optimized as a self-employed creative.
Income Tax for Self-Employed national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
Who qualifies All self-employed individuals earning net trade income.
What you get Tax deductions for business expenses like software subscriptions and hardware.
What it actually costs you Annual filing via myTax Portal; requires detailed expense records.
Common gotcha Forgetting to claim deductions for home-office electricity or internet bills.
MediSave Voluntary Contributions national · Central Provident Fund Board
Who qualifies Self-employed persons (SEP) with net trade income.
What you get Tax relief on voluntary contributions to MediSave account.
What it actually costs you Annual contribution; mandatory if net trade income exceeds $6,000.
Common gotcha Miscalculating the mandatory contribution amount based on net income.
GST Registration Exemption national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
Who qualifies Businesses with annual taxable turnover not exceeding $1 million.
What you get Exemption from charging and collecting GST on creative services.
What it actually costs you Must monitor annual turnover closely.
Common gotcha Assuming the $1M limit is based on profit rather than revenue.
Supplementary Retirement Scheme national · Ministry of Finance
Who qualifies Singapore citizens and residents.
What you get Tax deferral on contributions made to retirement account.
What it actually costs you Opening an account with a local bank; funds are locked until retirement.
Common gotcha Early withdrawal penalties of 5% plus tax.
Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Local SMEs and freelancers with ACRA registration.
What you get Up to 50% funding for IT solutions and equipment.
What it actually costs you Requires pre-approved vendor selection and claim submission.
Common gotcha Not checking if the software is pre-approved before purchase.
SkillsFuture Credit national · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Singaporeans aged 25 and above.
What you get $500 initial credit + $500 top-up for professional courses.
What it actually costs you Choosing a course from the SkillsFuture directory.
Common gotcha Credits expire if not used for specific top-up windows. Freelancers don't have company insurance, so I need to rely on national safety nets.
MediShield Life national · CPF Board
Who qualifies All Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
What you get Coverage for large hospital bills and selected outpatient treatments.
What it actually costs you Annual premiums paid via MediSave.
Common gotcha It is a basic plan; doesn't cover private hospital luxury wards fully.
Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Singaporeans based on household income or annual value of home.
What you get Subsidies for medical and dental care at participating clinics.
What it actually costs you Application via CHAS portal; must show card at clinic.
Common gotcha Not all clinics are CHAS-registered; check before booking.
Screen for Life national · Health Promotion Board
Who qualifies Singaporeans and PRs aged 40 and above.
What you get Subsidized health screenings for chronic diseases.
What it actually costs you Small co-payment fee at participating GPs.
Common gotcha Forgetting to book the appointment via the portal.
CareShield Life national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Singaporeans born in 1980 or later.
What you get Long-term care insurance for severe disability.
What it actually costs you Annual premiums deducted from MediSave.
Common gotcha It is not a medical insurance, but a disability income support.
Polyclinic Outpatient Subsidies national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies All Singapore citizens.
What you get Heavily subsidized consultation and medication fees.
What it actually costs you Queue time; bring NRIC.
Common gotcha Long waiting times during peak hours.
National Steps Challenge national · Health Promotion Board
Who qualifies All residents in Singapore.
What you get Rewards points for physical activity, redeemable for vouchers.
What it actually costs you Syncing a fitness tracker to the Healthy 365 app.
Common gotcha Tracker battery life and syncing issues.
Managing my HDB flat maintenance and utility costs.
HDB Concessionary Loan national · Housing & Development Board
Who qualifies Eligible first-time HDB buyers.
What you get Lower interest rates compared to bank loans.
What it actually costs you Eligibility assessment; must meet HDB rules.
Common gotcha Switching to a bank loan means you cannot return to HDB loan.
GST Voucher - U-Save national · Ministry of Finance
Who qualifies HDB households.
What you get Quarterly rebates on utility bills.
What it actually costs you Automatic credit to SP Group account.
Common gotcha Not checking if the rebate covers the full bill.
Home Improvement Programme (HIP) national · Housing & Development Board
Who qualifies Residents in older HDB blocks.
What you get Subsidized repairs for spalling concrete and toilets.
What it actually costs you Small co-payment portion.
Common gotcha Construction noise and dust during the process.
HDB Rental Rebates national · Housing & Development Board
Who qualifies Low-income tenants of public rental flats.
What you get Temporary reduction in monthly rent.
What it actually costs you Application through HDB branch office.
Common gotcha Requires annual re-assessment of income.
Utilities Save national · SP Group
Who qualifies All households.
What you get Energy efficiency advice and bill tracking.
What it actually costs you Registration on SP app.
Common gotcha Forgetting to set up auto-pay.
HDB Fire Insurance national · Housing & Development Board
Who qualifies All HDB flat owners.
What you get Coverage for structural damage to the flat.
What it actually costs you Small 5-year premium payment.
Common gotcha It does not cover home contents or renovations. Daily transport and community engagement.
Public Transport Concession national · Land Transport Authority
Who qualifies Eligible low-income workers and seniors.
What you get Discounted monthly travel passes.
What it actually costs you Application via TransitLink.
Common gotcha Must renew eligibility every year.
National Library Board Membership national · National Library Board
Who qualifies All Singapore residents.
What you get Free access to books, digital resources, and co-working spaces.
What it actually costs you Free registration.
Common gotcha Overdue fines for late returns.
CDC Vouchers national · Community Development Councils
Who qualifies All Singaporean households.
What you get Digital vouchers for heartland shops and hawkers.
What it actually costs you Redemption via Singpass.
Common gotcha Vouchers have an expiry date.
Singpass national · Government Technology Agency
Who qualifies All residents with NRIC/FIN.
What you get Single login for all government services.
What it actually costs you Setup on mobile app.
Common gotcha Losing access to the phone used for 2FA.
Free Museum Entry national · National Heritage Board
Who qualifies Singapore citizens and PRs.
What you get Free access to national museums.
What it actually costs you Present NRIC at counter.
Common gotcha Special exhibitions may still require tickets.
ActiveSG Membership national · Sport Singapore
Who qualifies All Singapore residents.
What you get Access to public pools and gyms at low rates.
What it actually costs you Registration via ActiveSG app.
Common gotcha Booking slots for popular pools can be competitive. 1states & territories — open one to see what it offers.
Singapore新加坡 As a self-employed illustrator, navigating the complex web of Singaporean grants, tax reliefs, and professional development support is critical for sustaining a creative career in a high-cost city.
NAC Arts Grant 国家艺术理事会艺术补助金 state · National Arts Council
Who qualifies Singaporean or PR artists with a proven track record of professional practice.
What you get Requires a detailed project proposal, budget breakdown, and portfolio of past works.
Common gotcha The application process is highly competitive and requires a clear demonstration of artistic merit and public impact.
SkillsFuture Training Exchange state · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Self-employed persons (SEPs) looking to upskill in digital tools or business management.
What you get Singpass login and course registration via the portal.
Common gotcha Ensure the course is SkillsFuture-approved before paying, or you won't be able to claim the subsidy.
National Library Board Arts Collection state · National Library Board
Who qualifies All Singapore residents with a library account.
What you get Library membership card.
Common gotcha Workspaces at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library require advance booking.
Artist Residency Programme state · National Arts Council
Who qualifies Professional illustrators and visual artists.
What you get Application form, portfolio, and artist statement.
Common gotcha Residencies are often tied to specific themes or community engagement requirements.
IRAS Self-Employed Tax Reliefs state · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
Who qualifies Self-employed individuals filing annual income tax.
What you get Accurate record-keeping of all business receipts and invoices.
Common gotcha You must maintain records for 5 years; IRAS is very strict about what counts as a 'business expense'.
MediSave Top-up Scheme state · CPF Board
Who qualifies Self-employed persons contributing to their own CPF MediSave account.
What you get Singpass and bank account details for GIRO setup.
Common gotcha Failure to contribute to MediSave as a self-employed person can result in penalties during tax filing.
Work Injury Compensation Insurance (Voluntary) state · Ministry of Manpower
Who qualifies Self-employed persons wanting protection against work-related accidents.
What you get Annual premium payment.
Common gotcha Most standard health insurance does not cover work-related injury for freelancers; this is a specific add-on.
E-Invoicing Registration Grant state · IMDA
Who qualifies Small business owners and freelancers using the Peppol network.
What you get Registration with a Peppol-ready service provider.
Common gotcha The grant is time-limited and requires proof of first invoice sent.
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
