Posted on 12/14/2005 6:07:29 PM PST by Lorianne
Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti has pushed through parliament a new 25% tax on all hardcore pornography.
Previous attempts to raise new revenue by taxing pornography have failed.
Objections from the porn industry that they are already paying VAT and it is illegal to tax them twice have now been overruled by the minister.
Rome is desperate to find new revenue because it has to trim its budget deficit to meet EU rules.
Moreover, the government cannot raise general taxation only months before a general election.
The new tax is similar to one imposed in France and will apply to all hardcore pornography, including films, magazines and merchandise sold in sex shops.
Mr Tremonti says that, just like his French colleague, he is imposing what he calls an "ethical" tax.
The porn industry in Italy is estimated to be worth more than one billion euros a year.
Poor Rocco.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
The announcement was followed by a round of applause; or at least what sounded like hand clapping....
Now the government is dependent upon porn for revenue. Wonderful.
Don't worry. The collected taxes will be used to subsidize porn for the poor and indigent.
"Now the government is dependent upon porn for revenue. Wonderful."
Worse yet, they're needing to do this to pay EU.
Typical government: They'll tax your arse if you let 'em. Start with someone else's first is their rule, someone you don't care much for, then they're off. Then they'll double it by counting the cheeks.
If the Italians were to follow the model espoused by Rush Limbaugh (with regards to smoking taxation ) in the USA then every good Italian must purchase some porn ASAP for the good of his nation and to prove himself a patriot.
If someone taxes your *$$, turn the other cheek.
Not bad. As for me, and I do not confirm or deny that I am into this sort of thing, but if I were a gay Italian porn star my name would be "Francisco Grabbamiballis".
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