Singapore Promoter Fined

The Singapore-based concert promoter who brought stars like Lady Gaga, Pussycat Dolls and Dionne Warwick to the Asian city-state has been penalized by local tax authorities for failing to report income and setting aside taxes from performers’ fees.

LAMC Productions will have to pay more than $250,000 in penalties – three times the taxes due the government – as well as a fine of $25,000.

According to the Straits Times, event promoters must withhold taxes on fees paid to non-resident performers and then later forward this money to the Comptroller of Income Tax.

The disputed funds involved five contracts with management for overseas acts who performed in Singapore in 2008 and 2009, including Stereophonics, Pussycat Dolls, Lady Gaga, Keane and Dionne Warwick.

The tax is levied at 15 percent of the performance fee, but LAMC underreported the taxes it owed the government. It’s not clear if the underreporting was deliberate or a mistake.

Straits Times reports that the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore advised LAMC directors James Knudson and Lauretta Alabons on how to calculate the tax to be withheld before they informed the Authority of the amount and paid the tax.