MPs worry about tax breaks for prostitutes

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MPs worry about tax breaks for prostitutes
Tax office has deal with sex industry
by Mike Wilcox
18-12-2008

Christian Democrat and Christian Union MPs are demanding to know if it is true that prostitutes can receive 20 percent of their wages tax free.

The apparent tax break covers professional expenses including the cost of special underclothes, beauty treatments and make-up. Similar tax breaks for other occupations were apparently scrapped as early as 2001.

Unfair
The MPs say it is unfair. Classical musicians, for example, are not allowed to deduct the cost of evening dress, such as tailcoats, for tax purposes. The official line is that the clothes are not deductible because they can be used outside working hours. While finding it worthy of note that MPs from the Christian parties are tabling questions about prostitutes' underwear, Paul Tang of the Labour Party also wants clarification from the government.

A ministry of finance spokesman denies the sex workers get 20 percent of their wages tax free. However, he says they, like all people, have the right to have legitimate expenses paid for by their employers. For every 100 euros earned by prostitutes, employers are able to return about 15 percent to them to cover expenses incurred. He stresses that the tax office "absolutely doesn't give anything away".

Clubs
However, the mass-circulation De Telegraaf newspaper reports that the tax office cut a deal with the sex industry in June. This was despite an earlier Supreme Court ruling putting an end to tax breaks for things such as clothing. The deal is even better if prostitutes work in clubs, because then even the cost of bedding, cleaning and condoms are paid for tax-free by the boss.

Source

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