Share
21st February 2011
07:00am GMT
A recent report shows that Revenue investigators are targeting sex shops and lap dancing clubs in order to stop black economies.
Recently investigators carried out a surveillance operation designed to follow the 'cash flow' of a sex shop in an unnamed location, according to the Irish Independent. The operation comes as the Revenue begins to crack down on the tax compliance in the adult entertainment industry.
The Revenue has decided to look closely at the taxes of good folk of the sex industry, as it is one of a number of sectors that deals with cash in hand and is seen as a high risk.
However, sex shops and lap dancing clubs are not the only ones to have th' spotlight shone on them. Other investigations into tax dodging saw the Gardaí, customs and social welfare conducting checks for “illegal activity' at this year’s Smithfield Horse Fair in Dublin.
Tax checks were also carried out on t-shirt sellers, fast food vendors and temporary car park operators who were operating out of the O2, Malahide Castle and the Bloom Festival in Dublin.
Out of 248 restaurants and takeaways that were investigated for tax dodging last year, the taxman recovered more than €10 million. According to the Revenue, the risk of black economies are only heightened during a recession and they will continue to grow "unless there is a very strong and visible response" by its officials.
Taxi drivers were also collared for tax dodging. During 44 checkpoint operations in the South West and Midlands, a Revenue spokesman said around one-in-five of drivers stopped required some "follow-up action".
