Interesting Article

[Naomi4u]

Legalizing prostitution will benefit the hobbyists more than anything IMHO. Prices could drop (Isn't this the problem in Canada now?) and we'd have to get licensed. Not to mention being taxed....

I'm for decriminalization. Government won't be involved in private transactions and there will be no raids or arrests. Things would be so much better that way.

[charlestudor2005]

Originally Posted by Naomi4u

Legalizing prostitution will benefit the hobbyists more than anything IMHO. Prices could drop (Isn't this the problem in Canada now?) and we'd have to get licensed. Not to mention being taxed....

I'm for decriminalization. Government won't be involved in private transactions and there will be no raids or arrests. Things would be so much better that way.

Uhhh...you're taxed now. On income. Now licensure and regulation may cost you something, but if your income remains the same, the taxes you pay should remain the same.

And don't kid yourself. Even if decriminalized, Government will be inserted in these "private transactions." You can bet your bippy that decriminalization will come with health certificates and periodic screenings that you have to pass. There will be a bureaucracy built up around that will have to be paid for by, guess who?

Plus, government hasn't seen a tax it doesn't like, so I strongly suspect a sales tax or service tax will be imposed on the industry.

[Naomi4u]

Uhhh...you're taxed now. On income. Now licensure and regulation may cost you something, but if your income remains the same, the taxes you pay should remain the same.

I know a lot of escorts that don't pay taxes. Is it smart? No. I do. How the hell are we taxed Charles? Explain please dear

And don't kid yourself. Even if decriminalized, Government will be inserted in these "private transactions." You can bet your bippy that decriminalization will come with health certificates and periodic screenings that you have to pass. There will be a bureaucracy built up around that will have to be paid for by, guess who?

That is exactly what I want. That would be a dream come true.

Plus, government hasn't seen a tax it doesn't like, so I strongly suspect a sales tax or service tax will be imposed on the industry.

You have a point.

[London Rayne]

Funny how it's always the guys who say that making it legal would not hurt us or our business...bs!! Every girl I know who has ever worked in a Brothel paid HALF to the house...yes, half, and if you turned down $300 an hour knowing all you got was $150 you best bet someone else would take it. No thanks!

As for making it legal, no thanks again. I happen to like being discreet about what I do, and so do most men I know. If it were legal it would make it even easier for people to "figure out" who a guy was with. Get a license to say I am a hooker? UMM right ha ha. Maybe that's ok for some parts of the world, but that would not fly where I plan to work in a real career.

The only thing it "might" help are crimes being reported by escorts knowing they would not get arrested. You would still have stds, trafficking, etc. because most of those issues have nothing to do with escorting. It would still be illegal to spread AIDS and smuggle underage girls in, so why would making escorting legal help? Not in a major way IMO.

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by London Rayne

As for making it legal, no thanks again. I happen to like being discreet about what I do, and so do most men I know. If it were legal it would make it even easier for people to "figure out" who a guy was with. Get a license to say I am a hooker? UMM right ha ha. Maybe that's ok for some parts of the world, but that would not fly where I plan to work in a real career.

I have never had to have a license in London ... or France, only thing a lot of agencies in the UK will ask is that you prove you're legally able to work in that country....Just not as strict over there as it is here, way more laid back that's for sure!

[Chica Chaser]

Originally Posted by London Rayne

Funny how it's always the guys who say that making it legal would not hurt us or our business...bs!! Every girl I know who has ever worked in a Brothel paid HALF to the house...yes, half, and if you turned down $300 an hour knowing all you got was $150 you best bet someone else would take it. No thanks!

That depends on the house. Some are a flat rate/hr, at most others the going rate 30-40% of the deal. True, there are some high-profile houses at 50%+. The average rate for a session moves upward on a parallel scale.

[London Rayne]

Originally Posted by Chica Chaser

That depends on the house. Some are a flat rate/hr, at most others the going rate 30-40% of the deal. True, there are some high-profile houses at 50%+. The average rate for a session moves upward on a parallel scale.

Still, if you only see one or at the most 2 a day you would have to charge double your indy fee just to make it. Just not for me I guess. I can't live or work that long with that many freakin women! I would be in the house alright...the BIG house!

Add to that the owners view "selective" as a liability in Brothels. If you won't see him, won't see her, don't do this and that, you get the boot or starve. It's not like that as an indy, and you don't have to run every darn time you hear a bell and line up like cattle.

[Maggie McNeill]

Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

Even if decriminalized, Government will be inserted in these "private transactions." You can bet your bippy that decriminalization will come with health certificates and periodic screenings that you have to pass. There will be a bureaucracy built up around that will have to be paid for by, guess who?

That's not decriminalization, it's legalization. A "decriminalized" activity is one in which the government has no legitimate interest. For instance, babysitting is non-criminal; you don't need a degree or a certificate or a permit, and there's no restriction on who can hire or be hired as a babysitter. Medicine, on the other hand, is legalized because it requires special permits. You won't find many sex worker advocates supporting legalization because it's nothing but a short leash which gives government far too much power over women's bodies.

[Chica Chaser]

Originally Posted by London Rayne

Still, if you only see one or at the most 2 a day you would have to charge double your indy fee just to make it. Just not for me I guess. I can't live or work that long with that many freakin women! I would be in the house alright...the BIG house!

Add to that the owners view "selective" as a liability in Brothels. If you won't see him, won't see her, don't do this and that, you get the boot or starve. It's not like that as an indy, and you don't have to run every darn time you hear a bell and line up like cattle.

Not arguing the pro/cons. Just keeping your accuracy in line.

[Naomi4u]

Originally Posted by AngelOK

That's not decriminalization, it's legalization. A "decriminalized" activity is one in which the government has no legitimate interest. For instance, babysitting is non-criminal; you don't need a degree or a certificate or a permit, and there's no restriction on who can hire or be hired as a babysitter. Medicine, on the other hand, is legalized because it requires special permits. You won't find many sex worker advocates supporting legalization because it's nothing but a short leash which gives government far too much power over women's bodies.

Very Very true!

[charlestudor2005]

Originally Posted by London Rayne

Still, if you only see one or at the most 2 a day you would have to charge double your indy fee just to make it. Just not for me I guess. I can't live or work that long with that many freakin women! I would be in the house alright...the BIG house!

Add to that the owners view "selective" as a liability in Brothels. If you won't see him, won't see her, don't do this and that, you get the boot or starve. It's not like that as an indy, and you don't have to run every darn time you hear a bell and line up like cattle.

From what I've heard, you don't have the capability of limiting the number you see in a day. Based on the websites I've visited, the most you can do is determine which days you work, and even then you're probably limited in the number of days per week you can take off.

There are some stats on Agency issues here: http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/01/ff_sextrade/all/1.

Originally Posted by AngelOK

That's not decriminalization, it's legalization. A "decriminalized" activity is one in which the government has no legitimate interest. For instance, babysitting is non-criminal; you don't need a degree or a certificate or a permit, and there's no restriction on who can hire or be hired as a babysitter. Medicine, on the other hand, is legalized because it requires special permits. You won't find many sex worker advocates supporting legalization because it's nothing but a short leash which gives government far too much power over women's bodies.

First of all, I wasn't doing the definition. I was responding to Naomi saying she was "for decriminalization."

And IMHO, you're wrong about "decriminalization." Take your example of babysitting. In some states, a babysitter is required to have the basic Red Cross Babysitting Certificate before working. Is it enforced? Of course not. But it is still there. Government is able to regulate a lot of industries based on health issue (which arises out of the police power granted the government under the Constitution). With the possibility of spreading disease in sex work, I can't imagine either legalization or "decriminalization" being allowed without some regulation by government with regard to the health issues.

AND

@Naomi

How the hell are we taxed Charles? Explain please dear

I don't quite know what you mean by this question. But, generally speaking, income tax is due the US on all income, however derived. That means whether or not your income is legal or illegal, you're supposed to pay income tax on it. An escort-friendly CPA can do good tax returns for you. I would advise escorts not to blow off this responsibility. Al Capone was never convicted by the feds for all his illegal activities or murders that he ordered. He was convicted for tax evasion. And died in prison.

So, you are taxed on your income like everyone else. Your challenges are: (1) to be accurate on your income, and (2) disguise your activities sufficiently so it doesn't raise any eyebrows. Again, a good CPA can do that.

If the industry is decriminalized or legalized, I think the services will also be taxed and you'll be required to collect that tax and turn it in.

[Naomi4u]

I don't quite know what you mean by this question. But, generally speaking, income tax is due the US on all income, however derived. That means whether or not your income is legal or illegal, you're supposed to pay income tax on it. An escort-friendly CPA can do good tax returns for you. I would advise escorts not to blow off this responsibility. Al Capone was never convicted by the feds for all his illegal activities or murders that he ordered. He was convicted for tax evasion. And died in prison.

So, you are taxed on your income like everyone else. Your challenges are: (1) to be accurate on your income, and (2) disguise your activities sufficiently so it doesn't raise any eyebrows. Again, a good CPA can do that.

If the industry is decriminalized or legalized, I think the services will also be taxed and you'll be required to collect that tax and turn it in.

I thought I made it clear that I paid my taxes but I guess you didn't read that part. Anyways, You're telling me something that I already know. You said it as if we are already being taxes that's why I said what I said. There are ladies that do not pay taxes. Believe it or not the majority of escorts out there don't. Alot of my friends do because we plan on owning our homes in a few years. I had a CPA and fired him after a year.. well that is another thread.

[charlestudor2005]

@Naomi

I know what you said...that you pay your taxes. But then you asked, "How the hell are we taxed. Explain that to me."

So I tried.

I know a lot of escorts don't pay taxes. They do that at their peril. Especially for retirement. SS taxes are high and a bitch. But unless escorts are squirreling $$ away in 401k's & the like for retirement, SS is what they'll be relying on. When they don't pay into the system, they'll get nothing out.

Now you may say, a young escort can't rely on SSA. It's going to be out of money. I don't think you can say that. I don't think politicians can successfully let the SSA fail.

[Naomi4u]

Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

@Naomi

I know what you said...that you pay your taxes. But then you asked, "How the hell are we taxed. Explain that to me."

No no.. I see how you misunderstood what I said. I asked "How the hell are we taxed" because there is no paper-trail. Most of us are paid by cash. Noone is making us pay taxes. It is by choice and if you choose not to it has it's consequences. I also see how I could have misunderstood what you posted earlier. Oops.

[charlestudor2005]

Originally Posted by Naomi4u

No no.. I see how you misunderstood what I said. I asked "How the hell are we taxed" because there is no paper-trail. Most of us are paid by cash. Noone is making us pay taxes. It is by choice and if you choose not to it has it's consequences. I also see how I could have misunderstood what you posted earlier. Oops.

The IRS has formulas it uses for industries that have no/little paper trail. Take restaurants, for instance. Most waiters are paid well below minimum wage...$2 to $3 an hour, on the theory that tips make up the balance so the waiter is making at least minimum wage. Which is all the restaurant is required to do.

With regard to a pool of waiters/waitresses from one single restaurant (say an Olive Garden), the IRS will look at the gross receipts of the restaurant, apply the formula to see what the tips should be, look at the times the waiters/waitresses were working, and determine whether or not the income was under reported. If it was, they will assess the balance plus interest.

The same kind of approach could be done with escorts...just a little different. Look at your purchases during the year (car, homes, CC bills, checking accounts, etc.) as opposed to your reported income. Apply the formula necessary to determine what your income was required to be in order to make those purchases, and then assess the difference.

Let's be clear, the IRS prefers to assess, levy and get you on a payment plan. It takes egregious conduct on your part in order for the IRS to refer the case for criminal prosecution. Everyone hates these cases in the criminal context. So, you'll likely be placed on a payment plan. It used to be (I don't know the current IRS policy) that at the time you agreed to the payment plan, you could reduce your tax liability IF you stayed on the payment plan.