Quantcast Norwegian Strippers Can Now Take Off The Tax
Search by tag or site Login to my blog ? Start my own blog














TheMoneyBlogs
Home
About
Create your own blog
Contact us
Vote for this blog!

Don't Mess With Taxes

Taxes. Sure you hate 'em, but you're stuck with 'em. Either that, or you're stuck in a federal jail cell. We'll make your tax tasks less, well, taxing, and help cure your personal finance ills with regular dosesof money news, notices, tips, commentary, insight and humor, courtesy of Texas journalist Kay Bell.

Norwegian Strippers Can Now Take Off The Tax

Posted on 12/07/2006 16:14 PM | Link | Post Comment

It's a tax dream come true for Dream Go Go dancers and their colleagues at other Norwegian striptease clubs.

It's probably made a bunch of 15-year-old boys, whether at that age chronologically or just emotionally, pretty happy, too.

The official word in Norway is that exotic dancing is a nontaxable art form.

An Oslo district court ruled in May that stripping is art like opera or ballet.

This week, Norway's High Court agreed, thereby freeing the nation's clubs from paying the country’s 25 percent value-added tax (VAT), a levy collected not only in that Scandinavian country, but across most of Europe, on goods and services when they are sold.

The Times of London noted, "It was not clear whether the three judges had conducted field research before reaching their verdict."

The case began when Norwegian tax authorities demanded more than 1 million crowns ($204,000 U.S.) from the Blue Angel club in Oslo in unpaid VAT. The tax collectors contended that audiences were attracted to the shows by nudity, not art. Therefore, argued tax officials, tickets to the strip clubs are subject to the tax.

Lawyers for the Blue Angel contested the tax demands, arguing that when the women removed their nurse, policewomen or flamenco dancer costumes, they were demonstrating artistic flair. The clubs featuring female dancers also pointed to the country's tax -- and nudity -- double standard.

Apparently, tickets for the male strip show Chippendales are exempt from the tax because of that production's artistic merit. It's unclear who made that differentiation. And I'm not sure what exactly that distinction says about the dancers, Norwegian tax officials or the country itself.

But with the High Court ruling, it's all moot now.

The owner of the String Show Bar in Oslo said back in May that without the tax, clubs would be able to operate with better margins. And, sure to please patrons, he didn't rule out cutting the club's 150 Norwegian crowns ($30) entry fee.

Photo of Sally Rand, world famous fan dancer, who brought her review to Las Vegas in the early 1930s. (courtesy of EarlyVegas.com)

Stock Quote or
Examples
ATM Wallstreet - Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:07PM
Today we have the Fed speaking and release of Fed mi [read more]
Morpheus Trading - Fri Oct 10, 2008 01:40AM
NOTE: Please click on the charts below to enlarge them if [read more]
Morpheus Trading - Tue Oct 07, 2008 08:33AM
NOTE: Please click on the charts below to enlarge them [read more]

PREMIER SPONSORED LINKS

Most Visited Blogs | Most Popular Blogs | Most Recent Blogs | Contact Us | Terms and conditions | Privacy Policy

The columns, articles, message board posts and any other features provided on TheMoneyBlogs.com are provided for personal finance, education and investment information and are not to be construed as investment advice. Under no circumstances does the information in this content represent a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. The views and opinions expressed in an article or column are the author's own and not necessarily those of TheMoneyBlogs.com and there is no implied endorsement by TheMoneyBlogs.com of any advice or trading strategy. The analysts and employees or affiliates of TheMoneyBlogs.com may hold positions in the stocks or industries discussed here. Your use of this and all information contained on TheMoneyBlogs.com is governed by the Terms and Conditions of Use. Please click the link to view those terms. Follow this link to read our Editorial Policy.

Copyright © 2008 The Connors Group, Inc.