Should Bertie get a tax exemption for his book?

[Lightning Rod]

It is a travesty: I'll leave it at that

[teapot]

Read Shane Ross' column in today's Independant - some interesting discussion on this buke an' it's Two Authors.., also how a person who is refused the artists' exemption can appeal - and to whom... same sort of setup as DDA and Anglo Irish, ie a backscratching sort of deal, that's what it looks like. Maybe modelled on the RC Church. Or almost everything else in Ireland.

[ManfredJudge]

Frederick Forsyth availed of this measure. "I did not bring this in for f*****s like you" he was told.

[MsAnneThrope]

Read Shane Ross' column in today's Independant - some interesting discussion on this buke an' it's Two Authors.., also how a person who is refused the artists' exemption can appeal - and to whom... same sort of setup as DDA and Anglo Irish, ie a backscratching sort of deal, that's what it looks like. Maybe modelled on the RC Church. Or almost everything else in Ireland.

Shane Ross has a very thorough article on his website now: Bertie ‘the artist’ Pulls Tax Coup, about the letter he received from Revenue regarding his excellent 'The Bankers' book...

“Accordingly Revenue are unable to determine that your book is an original and creative work . . . having cultural or artistic merit, and relief . . . cannot be granted in this instance”. [...]

Curiosity got the better of me. So I unearthed the list of authors who have been given artists’ tax exemption.

The list is 800 strong. First on the list is Ahern, Bertie, for his autobiography. Second is Ahern, Cecelia for P.S. I Love You. Fourth is none other than the same Richard Aldous for Tunes of Glory. They know their way around this artists’ exemption maze, these Aherns and these Aldouses [...]

Suddenly I discovered — to my astonishment — that the Last Word presenter Matt Cooper’s brilliant book Who Really Runs Ireland? had been refused exemption too.

Whatever the merits of my own book, Cooper’s is far more cerebral, is thoroughly researched and is of historical value. [...]

After consulting Liam Collins, my colleague here in the Sunday Independent, I decided to take the verdict to the appeals commissioners. Liam wrote three excellent books: Irish Crimes of Passion, Killing for Love, Lust and Desire; Family Feuds; and The Great Irish Bank Robbery.

He was refused tax relief on all three. He decided to appeal on the treble.

When the Revenue received wind of his appeals, they suddenly waved the white flag and granted him relief for the first two. [...]

Yet my appeal will meet problems. There are only two appeals commissioners. One is Bertie’s brother-in-law. He will probably disqualify himself, knowing in advance what I intend saying about his distinguished relation’s case.

The other appeals commissioner John O’Callaghan is one of my oldest cronies.

I would strongly object to John being a judge in my case as it would be putting him in an impossible position.

I suspect that he will disqualify himself for the same reason.

I wonder was Bertie's book rejected initially, just like the books by Ross & Cooper were, but he then appealed it? And, if so, who handled his appeal?

[truthisfree]

Shane Ross has a very thorough article on his website now: Bertie ‘the artist’ Pulls Tax Coup, about the letter he received from Revenue regarding his excellent 'The Bankers' book...



I wonder was Bertie's book rejected initially, just like the books by Ross & Cooper were, but he then appealed it? And, if so, who handled his appeal?

Interesting Mat, and troubling, is it this bad??

[ManfredJudge]

Shane Ross has a very thorough article on his website now: Bertie ‘the artist’ Pulls Tax Coup, about the letter he received from Revenue regarding his excellent 'The Bankers' book...

I wonder was Bertie's book rejected initially, just like the books by Ross & Cooper were, but he then appealed it? And, if so, who handled his appeal?

There are only two appeals commissioners. One is Bertie's brother-in-law.

Nice work when you can get it