KABUL (SW): The finance laws bind each and every citizen to pay a certain amount of tax on income earned in the country but it has emerged that a number of singers/ musicians have long be evading it.
Article 73 about “Income on Earnings from Exhibitions” states clearly that those individuals who earn via theater, films, radio, television, music, sports etc must pay the government 10 percent income tax on the sold tickets for the show.
Musician Baryalay Wali affirmed that since the government does not financially support him or pay him a regular salary hence he does not pay income tax. Wali however, mentioned that he did pay a wholesome amount while obtaining the license for music in the first place.
Defending musicians, Jawaid Khusnod, a singer, told Salamwatandar that the government does collect tax from them indirectly. The artists’ community complained that they used to receive regular stipend from the government in the good old days but that was not the case anymore.
Rasoul Zmaray, Director Music Production and Learning said in this regard that only 8 singers and 17 instrument players have officially registered themselves at the Ministry of Culture and Information (MoCI). The government confirms that it does not collect income tax from the singers.
Ajmal Hameed Abdul Rahimzai, spokesman for the Ministry of Finance lamented the fact that not all singers pay income tax despite earning handsome amount of money on regular basis. He added the MoCI has been asked to register all singers and send their details to the Ministry of Finance for the purpose.
ENDS
