AUSTRIA-BROTHEL Austrian brothel offers free sex in tax protest

Record ID: 151557

  • Title: AUSTRIA-BROTHEL Austrian brothel offers free sex in tax protest
  • Date: 17th June 2015
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF MUELLER HOLDING UP NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT BROTHEL'S FREE SEX OFFER
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Austria
  • Country: Austria
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA72JTBB60JKBYFH2P1FAEKCCZT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS SCENES OF PARTIAL NUDITY
    A taxpayer in Austria who is fed up with what he says are punitive tax payments decided to offer free sex to customers at his Salzburg brothel.
    "First and foremost it is a protest against the tax authorities," said Hermann Mueller, owner of the "Pascha" brothel in the city known for its classical music Salzburg Festival.
    "I am very interested to see how they will tax me - if there is no income, what taxes will they take?" Mueller asked.
    "We are not paying taxes any more. Effective immediately: Free Entrance! Free Drinks! Free Sex!" the Pascha establishment in Salzburg posted on its website.
    The Oesterreich newspaper last week showed a picture of men queued up outside to take advantage of the unusual offer.
    It quoted owner Hermann Mueller as saying he would compensate from his own pocket the up to 10,000 euros ($11,270) a month that prostitutes working at the club will forego.
    Mueller, who also operates brothels in four other cities in Germany and Austria, has complained in past media interviews about what he says has been punitive taxation and regulation of his businesses.
    He said he had paid nearly 5 million euros in taxes in Salzburg alone over the past decade.
    Salzburg's tax office was not willing to comment on the case, citing data protection reasons.
    Sebastian, a young German tourist visiting from Cologne, said "well, if somebody needs that, if he has to go there then he has to go. We're quite relaxed about it in the Rhineland. We don't have any problems with it. We have a big brothel too."
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