Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has signed into law a bill that exempts local artists from paying taxes.<\/p>\n
During the 37th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival proclamation signing at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center last Thursday, Torres signed House Bill 20-42 into Public Law 20-56.<\/p>\n
The new law, authored by Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan), exempts local fishermen as well as local artists who are registered with the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture from paying taxes as long as they receive a gross income below $20,000. <\/p>\n
Artists who receive over $20,000 will only pay a tax of 1 percent. <\/p>\n
Torres said the Flame Tree Arts Festival proclamation signing was the perfect time to sign the bill into law after it was proposed nearly nine months ago. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the perfect timing [to sign this bill] so they [local artists] can showcase their work tax-free,\u201d said Torres.<\/p>\n
Torres believes that artists should be exempted from paying taxes because many local artists produce art not as their main source of income, but because of their passion for culture. <\/p>\n
\u201cPeople who create art really love\u2026 it\u2019s just something they love to do so we should incentivize them by exempting them from taxes,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
As an artist himself, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Robert Hunter said this takes a lot of weight off the shoulders of local artists. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou know that artists don\u2019t make that much money, so this is a big relief\u2026you can\u2019t beat that,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Hunter said this is only the first step in improving the livelihood of all local artists in the CNMI. <\/p>\n
Demapan, the author of H.B. 20-42, said that the bill includes all artists and any form of art and the only requirement is to make sure to register with the CCAC. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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