Cinematograph Film Hire Duty Rules - Singapore Statutes Online

Cinematograph Film Hire Duty Act

(CHAPTER 40, Section 23)

Cinematograph Film Hire Duty Rules

R 1

REVISED EDITION 1990

(25th March 1992)

[24th March 1972]

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Cinematograph Film Hire Duty Rules.

Definition

2. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires, “duty” means the film hire duty charged and leviable on the gross receipts derived or deemed to have been derived from the renting of films under section 4 of the Act.

Duty when payable

3. Duty shall be payable after registration to the Director-General quarterly not later than one month after the last day of March, June, September and December of each year, or not later than one month after a period of 13 weeks beginning on a day approved by the Director-General, at the office of the Director-General or at any place he may, in writing, direct.

Procedure for payment

4. Whenever duty is due, the registered renter shall either personally or through his authorised agent submit a return in such form as the Director-General may require, duly certified by such registered renter or his authorised agent, and after endorsement by a senior officer of customs, pay the duty and obtain a receipt for the duty paid.

Arrears of duty

5. Without prejudice to any action which may be taken against him for any contravention of the Act, a renter on first registration shall pay any arrears of duty which have accrued since the date he commenced to rent films.

Application for registration

6. Every application for registration under section 5 of the Act shall be made to the Director-General specifying —

(a)	the name, address and identity card number of the applicant;
(b)	the date when such applicant was registered under the provisions of the Business Registration Act (Cap. 32), together with the registration number or was incorporated under the provisions of the Companies Act (Cap. 50);
(c)	whether the applicant is also a producer, director, distributor, exhibitor or owner of films, giving details thereof;
(d)	the country of origin, language and type of films which the applicant normally rents;
(e)	the names and addresses of persons or firms from whom the applicant acquires films for renting and the persons or firms to whom the applicant hires films;
(f)	the estimated number of films rented out each quarter by the applicant and where such films are normally kept;
(g)	the estimated gross receipts from the renting of such films;
(h)	the cinemas, theatres or other places where such films are exhibited;
(i)	the prices charged by exhibitors for admission inclusive of entertainments duty collected under the Entertainments Duty Act (Cap. 94) in respect of all cinemas, theatres and places where such films are exhibited; and
(j)	the security which the applicant offers for the payment of film hire duty,

and enclosing a certificate from the Comptroller of Income Tax that the applicant is liable to income tax in Singapore under the provisions of the Income Tax Act (Cap. 134).

Investigations

7. For the purpose of verifying the accuracy of the particulars given by any applicant in accordance with rule 6, the Director-General may direct a senior officer of customs to make any investigation which is necessary.

Security for payment of duty

8. If the Director-General is satisfied that an applicant has fulfilled all the requirements and is otherwise a person fit for registration, he shall so inform the applicant in writing and may, if necessary, require him to lodge adequate security for the payment of film hire duty under the Act.

Returns

9.—(1) Every return under section 8 of the Act shall be in such form as the Director-General may require.

(2) There shall be attached to such return a list of the titles of films rented during the quarter and the gross rental allocated to each film, and such particulars as are in the list shall agree with the details in the books kept by the registered renter in accordance with section 6 of the Act.

(3) The registered renter shall furnish such other particulars as may from time to time be required by the Director-General.

Verification of return

10. Each return referred to in rule 9 shall, on completion and signature by the registered renter, be checked by a senior officer of customs who shall endorse such return and pass it for payment of duty.

Duty of hirer or exhibitor of film

11.—(1) A hirer or exhibitor of films or a proprietor of a cinema, theatre or place shall, on receipt of a notice from the Director-General requiring him not to advertise or exhibit any film on the ground that the renter of such film has not paid the duty thereon or is not registered with the Director-General, take steps forthwith to prevent the advertisement or exhibition of such film.

(2) A hirer or exhibitor of films or a proprietor of a cinema, theatre or place who advertises or exhibits any film knowing that the renter of such film has not paid the duty thereon or is not registered with the Director-General or after having received the notice from the Director-General referred to in paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day during which such film is exhibited.

Offences

12. Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with rules 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

[G.N. Nos. S 90/72; S 105/72; S 251/79; S 287/86]

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