Sex Toys Tax Deductible in Australia

[ovidsen]

SYDNEY, Australia -- Prostitutes, strippers and lap dancers can claim tax deductions for adult toys and lingerie, officials said Friday, as 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.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-australia-sex-tax,0,3501502.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Contrast this with the debate that's going on in South Carolina, where lawmakers are considering a ban on sex toys. Hat tip to ruggerson for the post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2242223

Pray for me. I live in South Carolina.

[rodeodance]

1. besides NC-wasn't there another state that is/trying to ban sex toys?

Contrast this with the debate that's going on in South Carolina, where lawmakers are considering a ban on sex toys. Hat tip to ruggerson for the post:

[Kailassa]

2. Moderators, this thread is about Carolina,

it's only using Australia as a contrast.

[Kailassa]

3. In Australia, pros pay their taxes like everyone else.

so they get tax concessions on what they need, including condoms and other birth control methods.

This also means that health can be policed, regular STD testing is mandatory (and free), and groups are funded to educate prostitutes on health and safety issues.

So the country benefits financially, everyone stays healthier, and prostitutes are less open to exploitation.

The system still doesn't work perfectly, but it is a great improvement on it being illegal.

BTW, a burglar, after he was caught, was forced to pay tax on his "earnings" in Western Australia, and that meant he was able to claim discounts for the tools and weapons he'd bought to use that way.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. Are you sure about that last bit?

If the "earnings" are what he got through his burglaries, then proceeds of crime action is taken to recover all the money. There's no way it's treated as normal income and taxed the same way, at least not from what I understand...

Violet...

[Kailassa]

6. It was thought pretty odd at the time, that's why it made the papers.

But the tax department and the courts are not linked, and someone in the tax department got it into their head that this was the way to go.

[Violet_Crumble]

7. The Tax Office and the courts are linked...

It has links with other agencies such as the AFP, the Australian Crime Commission, and the Director of Public Prosecutions, who are all authorised to take proceeds of crime action. I'd just take some stories in the media with a grain of salt, that's all :)

Violet...

[Violet_Crumble]

4. Yay for the ATO!

And what a beautiful looking website it is too! :)

Violet...