Tech & Biz

Should income from prostitution be taxed?

by BelaynehKassaWubie | July 30, 2010 at 11:29 pm

881 views | 2 Recommendations | 7 comments

It is common that prostitution has become a normal business and source of income in many countries, except may be in few Muslim countries. Prostitution was traditionally women job but now men prostitutes are also coming up. They earn a lot of money as self-employed on this business. But should they be taxed?

In my opinion, prostitution is immoral job but yet obligatory for those who do not have means to live. Taxing income from prostitution has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that, levying higher tax on prostitution income can make prostitutes exit from prostitution job and discourage new comers. The disadvantage is levying tax on prostitution income means making prostitution legal. So, which one is better?

Prostitution is not a socially accepted job. Yet, it is not only economic right as a means of survival but also a democratic right. So, governments cannot stop it with decrees or force measures. What governments can do is create other more jobs so that prostitutes have the option to move to other jobs. Therefore, both levying high tax on incomes from prostitution or stopping it through legislation is unfair!!

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dfg (not verified)

at 06:40 on July 31st, 2010

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BelaynehKassaWubie

at 09:36 on July 31st, 2010

This does not convey any relevent message especially to those of us who are not native English Language!!!

porkpie-hat (not verified)

at 10:22 on July 31st, 2010

Prostitution should be legal, as it is in countries like Holland but the income tax aspect is not the most important. Prostitution has existed since the beginning of time and is not something easy to stop or prevent. Legal prostitution has many benefits such as requiring prostitutes to have a license which requires a monthly health check for HIV/AIDS and other STD's. The business can be controlled to a particular area of a city or community has it is in Amsterdam, commonly know has red light districts, so people who are offended by prostitution can avoid the district. The 'pimps' or men who brutally control prostitutes are cut out of a legal licensed system. And finally, prostitutes are then required to pay income tax.

BelaynehKassaWubie

at 21:29 on July 31st, 2010

Two things must be identified here. If people employ themselves willingly to prostitution job because of higher income other than as a means of survival, then the income from prostitution should be taxed. But if people employ themselves in this job sector for no other job options, taxing prostitution income would be immoral! Is it not?

porkpie-hat (not verified)

at 10:26 on August 1st, 2010

I don't know which country you refer to? Your own I guess? But prostitutes should pay income tax according to the tax laws of the country.

BelaynehKassaWubie

at 22:42 on August 1st, 2010

May be I am unaware about this job business sector other than my country. In my country, there is no such official business with license from the license issuer!

Do you mean prostitutes do this business legally with license in other countries? Taxing income from prostitution means making prositution legal. But if the taxpayer (the prostitute) fall in danger (e.g. HIV) who would be responsible?

In general, should prostitution be a legal economic sector?