ClydeR
09-05-2012, 10:51 AM
In New York, "live dramatic or musical arts performances" are exempt from sales tax. Relying on that exemption, a strip club did not collect sales taxes for its lap dances.
New York says the exemption was only intended to apply to good dancing, like ballet and such.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office argues in its briefs, no pun intended, that pole-dancing tricks may be hard to do, but that some Nite Moves performers have no dance training and simple pick it up by watching, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Such a dancer isn't "engaged in a genuine choreographic dance performance when she removes her clothing," the brief says. "In fact," it adds, "some patrons paid the admission fee simply to come in and enjoy a conversation with the dancers."
More... (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/09/court-to-decide-if-lap-dancing-is-a-tax-exempt-art-form-/1?csp=34news#.UEdf28FlQ1l)
The club owner counters that Eric Clapton never had formal training to play the guitar, but nobody is trying to tax his performances.
What's up with Eric Schneiderman? He says some people pay the fee to "enjoy a conversation" with the dancers. I imagine they talk about politics.
New York says the exemption was only intended to apply to good dancing, like ballet and such.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office argues in its briefs, no pun intended, that pole-dancing tricks may be hard to do, but that some Nite Moves performers have no dance training and simple pick it up by watching, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Such a dancer isn't "engaged in a genuine choreographic dance performance when she removes her clothing," the brief says. "In fact," it adds, "some patrons paid the admission fee simply to come in and enjoy a conversation with the dancers."
More... (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/09/court-to-decide-if-lap-dancing-is-a-tax-exempt-art-form-/1?csp=34news#.UEdf28FlQ1l)
The club owner counters that Eric Clapton never had formal training to play the guitar, but nobody is trying to tax his performances.
What's up with Eric Schneiderman? He says some people pay the fee to "enjoy a conversation" with the dancers. I imagine they talk about politics.