Sex and… Taxes?

They (whoever “they” are) say the only two certainties in life are death and taxes. A teen in Germany is learning about the second certainty the hard way. According to this article in England’s Daily Mail, Romanian-born Alina Percea, a student in Germany, could owe the German government approximately half of her 2009 earnings.

The teen auctioned off her virginity for 8000 British pounds. That’s just shy of 13,000 American dollars – a decent sum for one night of “work!” Even nicer, Percea said she had a great time with the 45-year-old Italian businessman, and would see him again, without charging him.

Then the government had to step in and ruin a good thing. Prostitution is legal in Germany, so that wasn’t the issue. But prostitutes pay a 50 percent tax on their earnings. Additionally, because the teen earned so much money in one night, she could get hit with a VAT (Value Added Tax) bill, too, which would typically be collected from the customer. She’d end up with not even $5,000 USD for her entrepreneurial efforts.

Of course, the government may end up losing out on the deal, too, if the businessman – as so many do – decides to find some way to justify the expense in that lovely little gray area of a business “entertainment” write-off.  I’m no expert on German tax law – and I have an accountant so I don’t even have to be an expert on US tax law – but I’m pretty sure you can deduct at least 50 percent of any business entertainment expenses, which means the money the government took out of young Percea’s hands would go straight back to the customer who spent it in the first place. I guess it’s another instance of the rich getting richer because, really, do you know many people who have $13,000 lying around to pay for sex?

A few other observations, courtesy of a close friend of mine, name withheld because he has no idea I’m quoting him on a sex blog, but I’m pretty sure he’d think it was cool.

- “Why would anyone pay $13,000 for a virgin? If I’m paying that much for sex, I want someone with some experience, who knows what she’s doing already.”

- “Why would anyone pay $13,000 for a virgin? I’ve bedded two and all it cost me was dinner and drinks.”

My friend (who is bi) then confessed he’d give up his ass-cherry for $13,000 but not for the paltry sum of $5,000, unless he was going to do it anyway, in which case, the cash would be a nice bonus.

Yours truly then began to consider what she might give up – and realized she’s got no cherries left to offer. Maybe a kinky S&M experience or two if the price were right?

My friend and I both realized there’s very little we’d want to do for $5,000 if we weren’t planning on doing it anyway. For most people, an extra $5,000, while it would be nice to have, wouldn’t exactly mark a significant turning point in your life, while losing your virginity is a memory to treasure or regret. Granted, it can be a memory to treasure or regret whether you get paid for it or not, and, according to reports, Percea has no emotional or physical regrets whatsoever about the experience.

I can only hope the teen learned an important fiscal lesson, which will serve her well in all her future endeavors, sexual and otherwise. Always, always, always factor taxes into your hourly rates, because the government will take their cut. They always do.

Darling readers, please share your thoughts. What would you do for $5,000? What about $13,000 (tax-free)?

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