Australia Takes Liberal View on Tax Deductions for Work

[Ralph]

Aussie prostitutes get tax break
Associated Press
TAX BREAK: Australian Taxation Office says that the prostitution is one of the occupations of the country.

Sydney: Prostitutes, strippers and lap dancers can claim tax deductions for adult toys and lingerie, officials said on Friday. The Australian Taxation Office, issued a list of deductible items for the sex industry.

Condoms, lubricants, gels and oils are among a myriad of other items that these workers can claim against tax, according to a fact sheet issued on the office's Web site.

While they cannot claim deductions for fitness classes that keep them in shape, the tax office ruled they can claim the cost of dance lessons.

"You can claim the cost of replacing or repairing things like equipment, adult novelties and other apparatus used in your work," the office advises, under a section titled 'tools of trade'.

"This is just another one of our occupational lists that we put together to help people," a taxation office spokeswoman said on customary condition of anonymity.

[jbuck919]

Years ago I read an article on the IRS going after a high-class hooker in New York who lived lavishly on her earnings but reported a pauper's income on her tax return (or filed none at all; I can't remember). How they do this I don't know, but the IRS caught up with her and told her they didn't care how she made her living as long as she made a fair report of her income and paid her taxes.

Now if New York State would just forgive my taxes during the period when I'm living abroad....

[Werner]

Did it ever occur to you that New York State takes pride in having such a classy constituent abroad? Isn't that worth paying taxes for?

[jbuck919]

Did it ever occur to you that New York State takes pride in having such a classy constituent abroad? Isn't that worth paying taxes for?

[Ralph]

Years ago I read an article on the IRS going after a high-class hooker in New York who lived lavishly on her earnings but reported a pauper's income on her tax return (or filed none at all; I can't remember). How they do this I don't know, but the IRS caught up with her and told her they didn't care how she made her living as long as she made a fair report of her income and paid her taxes.

Now if New York State would just forgive my taxes during the period when I'm living abroad....

*****

Federal and state law require that income derived from criminal enterprises be reported. Because that would be self-incrimination a felonious taxpayer can list the income as "Other" and not indicate the source(s). If the reported "Other" income is hgih it may well trigger an investigation (assuming that hasn't already happened). If the "Other" income is not reported then eventually it may well be the "Al Caspone Treatment."

[Brendan]

Prostitution is legal where I live and de-criminalized in most states. Why shouldn't they file a tax return/claim deductions? Once the guidelines were created for legal workers the government weren't going to let those in other states get away with it, particularly if they choose to file.

[Corlyss_D]

Prostitution is legal where I live and de-criminalized in most states. Why shouldn't they file a tax return/claim deductions? Once the guidelines were created for legal workers the government weren't going to let those in other states get away with it, particularly if they choose to file.

How about drug use?

[Ralph]

Prostitution is legal where I live and de-criminalized in most states. Why shouldn't they file a tax return/claim deductions? Once the guidelines were created for legal workers the government weren't going to let those in other states get away with it, particularly if they choose to file.

How about drug use?

*****
I think that's still a crime in Oz.

[Brendan]

There have various pushes to de-criminalize and legalize drug use. Where I am, they reduced the number of dope plants allowed to be grown for personal use from 4 to 1. A "shooting-gallery" for heroin users has been proposed along with the clean-needle exchanges set up about the place, but keeps getting knocked back.

[Agnes Selby]

There have various pushes to de-criminalize and legalize drug use. Where I am, they reduced the number of dope plants allowed to be grown for personal use from 4 to 1. A "shooting-gallery" for heroin users has been proposed along with the clean-needle exchanges set up about the place, but keeps getting knocked back.

----------

Dear Brendan, As you know, Sydney does have a clean-needle
exchange as well as a "Shooting Gallery". This gallery is used in
an effort to get users off the drug. It is medically supervided.
The idea has not worked, I am sorry to say.

Agnes.
-----------

[Brendan]

Dear Agnes,

I wasn't saying yea or nay, just what the situation here is. Personally, I see the exchanges as more successful than the galleries, just as a medical issue.

[Agnes Selby]

Dear Agnes,

I wasn't saying yea or nay, just what the situation here is. Personally, I see the exchanges as more successful than the galleries, just as a medical issue.

----------

Yes, I understand. The exchanges do seem to work because
they prevent diseases. As you know, the residents of
King's Cross are objecting to the entire exercise as it brings
drug addicts to the suburb, a suburb with many problems already.
However, drugs are rampant in Sydney and there is no easy solution to
the problem.

Regards,
Agnes.

[Ralph]

Dear Agnes,

I wasn't saying yea or nay, just what the situation here is. Personally, I see the exchanges as more successful than the galleries, just as a medical issue.

----------

Yes, I understand. The exchanges do seem to work because
they prevent diseases. As you know, the residents of
King's Cross are objecting to the entire exercise as it brings
drug addicts to the suburb, a suburb with many problems already.
However, drugs are rampant in Sydney and there is no easy solution to
the problem.

Regards,
Agnes.

*****

No easy solution anywhere, urban, suburban or rural.