VietNamNet Bridge - According to the latest report, by April 11, only 44 out of 210 artists who were invited to go to the tax offices to make personal income tax declarations have performed this duty.

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According to the Tax Department, the sources of income of singers are extremely diverse. There are incomings with receipts and also incomings without contracts or written agreements that the tax agency cannot control.

Topping the black list of the tax authorities is a female singer, who recently was the judge of a popular reality show. She is also an image representative for many major brands but she paid very low personal income tax. In 2009, this singer paid only VND37 million ($1,600) of tax, equivalent to VND3.1 million/month or the total income of around VND20 million ($1,000) a month.

It is ridiculous that her reputation is on the rise, her remuneration is increasing but her tax payment is reducing, from VN37 million in 2009 to VND30.6 million in 2010 and only VND8.1 million in 2011.

Another female singer who is also known as an MC, contestant of TV shows, and recently the judge of a TV reality show has not declared personal income tax since 2009. A very famous overseas Vietnamese comedian is also in the same situation.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Bureau, some singers declared personal income tax but they paid very low tax compared to their real income. For example, a male MC of many TV game shows paid very modest tax, VND18.8 million ($900) in 2009, VND27.8 million in 2010, and VND54 million in 2011.

As being revealed by the tax authorities, the highest tax that a top male singer in Vietnam paid in 2011 was only VND373 million ($18,000). The tax office did not accept that figure and asked the singer to declare his income again. Finally, he paid up to VND773 million ($33,000) of tax.

A folk singer declared personal income tax of only VND13.3 million ($600) in 2009 but the tax authorities requested her to declare income again. She had to pay additional tax of up to VND400 million ($20,000).

Ms. Le Thi Thu Huong - Vice Director of Ho Chi Minh City Tax Bureau - said in the past four years, the bureau assigned district tax departments to manage the collection of personal income tax of artists and this form of management did not work well. The bureau is collecting information of the income of artists in collaboration with show organizers, night clubs, etc.

T. Van