In Holland, prostitution is legal, but hasn't been taxed like a normal business. That is about to change now. A full page ad in the Dutch paper announced that the taxman would be coming after prostitutes to make them pay their taxes. The Dutch prostitutes, many of whom work in the Red Light District in small rooms with windows onto the street, normally charge 50 Euros for 15 minutes of sex. Now they will be forced to pay up to 52% tax (if their income is over US$70,000). In addition they are required to charge a 19% Value Added Sales Tax. To ensure the prostitutes are in compliance, the taxmen will interview each prostitute determine her schedule, rates and income and tax them accordingly. This will put an onerous burden on prostitutes, many of whom feel they are so marginalized by society, that they shouldn't have to pay tax. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/dutch-prostitutes-taxes_n_807843.html
Unfortunately, paying taxes doesn't buy the respect a normal biz would have. The Dutch prostitutes aren't allowed to open bank accounts unless they go and register as a business (which they really shouldn't need to do, and which costs money and is a hassle). Some prostitutes operate as a business and do pay taxes. I suppose this is also an attempt by the government to control the business of prostitution, which has had a bad rap lately for sex-slavery. By forcing every prostitute operating in the country to come clean, it will provide a legal means by which they can identify and remove any shady operation. It might also give the women a chance to complain about working conditions including sex slavery.
they should take a tip from the Yanks and unionize. At least they may have some protection that way, but meh, prollay not. fuck it.
They already have one, it's called The Red Thread... And they do lobby for prostitutes, but they're not very powerful. But I bet if they could get their clients to back them in the legislature (and I'm sure many do), they'd have a lot more power. Politicians love prostitutes! Maybe what they all need is an "insurance file" detailing the sexual peccadilloes of their politician clients. Then they can threaten to release it should the authorities try to shut down more windows in the Red Light District.
it just goes to show you that goverments wont stop at nothing to get your money well i guess mans plaesure is taxable too what next
I just wanted to clarify that ever since prostitution became legal prostitutes have had to pay taxes, so nothing new there. It is just that the government is going after illegal prostitutes and tax evaders at the moment.
It already costs them a whack to rent these rooms. I expect most of them will lie about how much they earn though to make up for this somewhat. I personally think they should pay some tax. 50 euro for a quick hand job seems quite steep IMO. That's a days wages for most people. Why shouldn't they pay tax same as everyone else? Because I suppose of the risks to their safety and their health. It's a difficult one. One the one hand they earn a fuck load more than most people, and some of them enjoy it. I know a dutch woman who is a close friend of mine and she confided in me that she worked as a street hooker many years ago, sucking guys off for money. She says that has no regrets about it and that she enjoying it, because she is a slut. On the other hand they do pay money for the room, and they have no guarantee of custom so they should probably have some tax relief. Some of them do make a LOT of money though. Many of them do it fora few years while they are young so they can put some money away for their future. What they need to do is get rid of the Eastern European ones who are brought in by gangs, many of them are not as clean as they are supposed to be and there are a lot of honest dutch women who would like to rent some of these rooms, but they can't for this reason.
Do they pay for STD check-ups or health services out their own pocket, or is it covered by Dutch healthcare?
reminds me of... but I'm not complaining. It's not really surprising, but I agree that it seems weird.
i don't know, it's probably a failing on the system to regulate the profession adequately. they are required to have checks regularly, but the foreign ones get round the law by working for 6 months and then going back home, or something like that. All I am saying is if you want to go and fuck a whore in Amsterdam, stay away from the foreign ones is all I am saying. I don't know this from sexperience.
