Should Bertie get a tax exemption for his book?

[David Cochrane]

Olivia Mitchell doesn't think so.....

Bertie Ahern’s book cannot be considered art under Artists’ Tax Exemption - Mitchell

18 months since Minister promised new guidelines on Artists’ Tax Exemption but none delivered


Bertie Ahern’s book can in no way, shape or form be considered as having ‘cultural merit’ according to the criteria set down by the Revenue Commissioners and he should not receive the Artists’ Tax Exemption according to Fine Gael Arts Spokesperson, Olivia Mitchell TD.

Deputy Mitchell pressed the Arts Minister on the issue during Ministerial questions this afternoon (Wednesday) outlining exactly what the Revenue Commissioners considers as having ‘cultural merit’.

“By no stretch of the imagination can Bertie Ahern’s book be considered as having ‘cultural merit’ and be eligible for the Artists’ Tax Exemption.

“The Revenue Commissioners states that, for an artist to qualify for the Artists’ Tax Exemption, his work must have cultural or artistic merit with the definition being:

‘A work has cultural merit if its contemplation enhances the quality of individual or social life by virtue of that work's intellectual, spiritual or aesthetic form and content.
A work has artistic merit when its combined form and content enhances or intensifies the aesthetic apprehension of those who experience or contemplate it’. (see note at end).

“Outside of Bertie Ahern and his publishers, I have yet to hear of a person who thinks his book ‘enhances the quality of individual or social life’ or ‘intensifies the aesthetic apprehension of those who experience or contemplate it.’ He is a very, very wealthy man and should know himself that he should be paying tax.

“The purpose of the Artists’ Tax Exemption is to aid emerging and struggling artists. The fact Bertie Ahern receives it undermines those artists who deserve to benefit.

“New guidelines are needed on the Artists’ Tax Exemption but it has been 18 months since Minister Martin Cullen promised that this would happen. This is just not good enough.”

[markeys]

Are his tax affairs in order yet?

[Grumpy Jack]

It certainly fits the criteria as a piece of creative fiction.

[White Horse]

Not unless "artist" is preceeded by a colloqualism for urine.

[roc_]

Yes.

Anything to help move the public to feel aggrieved enough and angry enough to demand his public trial and incarceration.

His lack of integrity must be adequately outed for posterity's sake.

But it doesn't look like this is going to happen - we are finished as a culture if it doesn't.

[Christine Murray]

er, NO.

[constitutionus]

voted yes.

its most definetly a work of fiction. the real question is why should people like rurai quinn have got it

[katy brock]

Are his tax affairs in order yet?

A+++

How can people be getting tax exemptions if they are not compliant with the existing rules?

[MsAnneThrope]

In response to your first question David the answer is an emphatic No. However there is also a second, perhaps more important, question.

Should Bertie qualify for tax exemption for his book without having a Tax Clearance Certificate?

The Revenue website has extensive information on artists' exemption. In the Artists Exemption FAQ, it clearly states:

If you receive a payment(s) or a commission(s) in excess of €6,500 within a twelve-month period from a Government or Public Body you are required to produce a Tax Clearance Certificate

Just how did Ahern wriggle out of that requirement? It all stinks.

[Disabled student]

In the event that his tax affairs are NOT in order, then he has no right to obtain a tax exemption for his book.