← Singapore hubs Tattoo Artist
Singapore English (English) $ SGD
Zara is a self-employed tattoo artist navigating the freelance landscape in Singapore. She balances her creative passion with the pragmatic realities of CPF contributions, business registration, and managing her own health and retirement security.
As a freelancer, I am responsible for my own retirement savings and tax obligations.
CPF MediSave national · Central Provident Fund Board
Who qualifies Self-employed persons earning >$6,000 net trade income annually.
What you get Mandatory savings for healthcare expenses.
What it actually costs you Calculated based on net trade income; requires annual filing.
Common gotcha Many freelancers forget to contribute, leading to a lump sum bill at the end of the year.
IRAS Income Tax Filing national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
Who qualifies All self-employed individuals earning income.
What you get Legal compliance and access to government grants.
What it actually costs you Annual tax return filing; requires keeping records of business expenses.
Common gotcha Not deducting allowable business expenses reduces your tax relief.
Voluntary CPF Top-up national · Central Provident Fund Board
Who qualifies Any Singaporean or PR.
What you get Tax relief and higher interest rates for retirement.
What it actually costs you Cash top-up; irreversible once deposited.
Common gotcha Funds are locked until retirement age.
SkillsFuture Credit national · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Singaporeans aged 25 and above.
What you get $500 initial credit for approved courses.
What it actually costs you Time; requires Singpass login.
Common gotcha Credits expire if not used for specific course types.
InvoiceNow national · IMDA
Who qualifies All business owners.
What you get Faster payment processing and digital efficiency.
What it actually costs you Setup time with an accounting software provider.
Common gotcha Requires compatible e-invoicing software.
ACRA BizFile national · Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
Who qualifies Anyone starting a business.
What you get Legal status to operate as a sole proprietorship.
What it actually costs you $115 registration fee; annual renewal.
Common gotcha Failure to renew registration leads to penalties. I don't have a corporate health plan, so I rely on national schemes to keep costs manageable.
MediShield Life national · Central Provident Fund Board
Who qualifies All Singaporeans and PRs.
What you get Large hospital bill coverage.
What it actually costs you Premiums paid via MediSave.
Common gotcha It is a basic plan; does not cover everything.
CHAS Blue/Orange/Green national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Singaporeans based on household income.
What you get Subsidies for GP visits and dental care.
What it actually costs you Application via Singpass; no fee.
Common gotcha Must visit a CHAS-accredited clinic.
Screen for Life national · Health Promotion Board
Who qualifies Singaporeans and PRs.
What you get Highly subsidized health screenings.
What it actually costs you Small co-payment fee.
Common gotcha People often ignore the invitation letters.
CareShield Life national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies All Singaporeans and PRs born 1980 or later.
What you get Long-term disability support.
What it actually costs you Annual premiums.
Common gotcha It is mandatory and automatic.
National Vaccination Programme national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Free or subsidized vaccinations.
What it actually costs you Booking appointment via portal.
Common gotcha Not all vaccines are free.
Polyclinic Subsidies national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies All Singaporeans.
What you get Heavily subsidized primary care.
What it actually costs you Standard consultation fees.
Common gotcha Long waiting times. Living in Singapore is expensive; I use these to stretch my budget.
GST Voucher Scheme national · Ministry of Finance
Who qualifies Lower-to-middle income Singaporeans.
What you get Annual cash payouts and U-Save rebates.
What it actually costs you Automatic based on tax filing.
Common gotcha Must ensure your address is updated with ICA.
CDC Vouchers national · People's Association
Who qualifies All Singaporean households.
What you get Digital vouchers for heartland shops.
What it actually costs you None; claimed via Singpass.
Common gotcha They expire after a set period.
Public Transport Concession national · Land Transport Authority
Who qualifies Specific groups (students, seniors, etc).
What you get Lower fare rates.
What it actually costs you Application for concession card.
Common gotcha Not available to general working adults.
NLB Membership national · National Library Board
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Free access to books, digital resources, and workspaces.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Late fees on books.
ActiveSG Credits national · Sport Singapore
Who qualifies All Singaporeans and PRs.
What you get Credits for gym and pool entry.
What it actually costs you None.
Common gotcha Credits expire if not used.
Singpass national · GovTech
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Single login for all government services.
What it actually costs you Setup on phone.
Common gotcha Losing your password requires a trip to a kiosk. I need to stay compliant and keep my skills sharp to stay competitive.
Enterprise Development Grant national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Registered businesses.
What you get Funding for business upgrading.
What it actually costs you Detailed project proposal.
Common gotcha Very competitive and requires clear ROI.
Productivity Solutions Grant national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Local SMEs.
What you get Subsidies for pre-approved tech solutions.
What it actually costs you Upfront payment.
Common gotcha Must use pre-approved vendors.
IPOS IP Registration national · Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
Who qualifies Business owners.
What you get Legal protection for designs.
What it actually costs you Registration fees.
Common gotcha Registration is territorial.
SMEs Go Digital national · IMDA
Who qualifies SMEs.
What you get Advice on digital adoption.
What it actually costs you Time.
Common gotcha Can be overwhelming for solo artists.
SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit national · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Eligible employers.
What you get Reimbursement for training costs.
What it actually costs you Must meet CPF contribution criteria.
Common gotcha Requires active CPF contributions.
ACRA Annual Return national · ACRA
Who qualifies All registered businesses.
What you get Maintains legal status.
What it actually costs you Filing fee.
Common gotcha Late filing penalties are steep. 1states & territories — open one to see what it offers.
Singapore新加坡 Singapore offers a highly structured environment for creative entrepreneurs, providing significant grants for business digitalization and professional skills upgrading.
Productivity Solutions Grant state · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Singapore-registered businesses with at least 30% local shareholding.
What you get Up to 50% funding support for pre-approved digital solutions like booking systems or accounting software.
What it actually costs you Requires a Corppass login and a valid quote from a pre-approved vendor.
Common gotcha You must apply for the grant before you sign any contract or make payment to the vendor.
Enterprise Development Grant state · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies SMEs that are ready to upgrade business capabilities or innovate.
What you get Co-funding of up to 50% of qualifying project costs including consultancy and software.
What it actually costs you Detailed project proposal and financial projections; approval can take 8-12 weeks.
Common gotcha The project must be substantive and show clear productivity gains.
SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit state · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Employers who have contributed to the Skills Development Levy.
What you get One-off $10,000 credit to cover up to 90% of out-of-pocket expenses for business transformation.
What it actually costs you No application needed; it is automatically credited if you meet the criteria.
Common gotcha Check your eligibility via the portal as it is tied to CPF contributions.
Digital Resilience Bonus state · IMDA
Who qualifies F&B and Retail businesses (including personal services) adopting digital solutions.
What you get Payouts of up to $5,000 for adopting PayNow Corporate and e-invoicing.
What it actually costs you Must have an active UEN and a corporate bank account.
Common gotcha Payouts are tiered based on the complexity of the digital tools adopted.
SkillsFuture Credit (Initial & Top-up) state · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies All Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above.
What you get $500 initial credit plus periodic top-ups for approved courses.
What it actually costs you Singpass login; you pay the remaining course fee after credit deduction.
Common gotcha Credits expire if not used, though government top-ups often have specific validity periods.
Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) state · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Singapore Citizens based on household income or Annual Value of home.
What you get Subsidies for medical and dental care at participating private clinics.
What it actually costs you Must present physical NRIC or digital ID at the clinic.
Common gotcha The subsidy amount depends on your card color (Blue, Orange, or Green).
ActiveSG Credits state · Sport Singapore
Who qualifies All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.
What you get $100 initial credit to use for gym entry, swimming pools, or sports classes.
What it actually costs you Download the app and verify your identity via Singpass.
Common gotcha Credits are non-transferable and expire one year after issuance.
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
