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Filing taxes allows you to save for an RRSP, buy a home, and make any other large purchases without questions from CCRA (Canada Customs and Revenue Agency). If you do not file, and live in a home or apartment, pay your rent, buy things, and are pretty much self-sustaining, the government may question how you can live with 'no income'. There are other benefits as well.

As a sex worker, what can I claim as a tax deduction?

Any money that you have to spend in order to make your income can be claimed. This includes, but is not limited to: cosmetics, cosmetic surgery, clothing, condoms, implements (such as sex toys etc..), transportation i.e.: taxi or driver or mileage on your own vehicle, etc etc etc. You can’t claim anything you do not have a receipt for. So KEEP ALL YOUR RECEIPTS.

How can I claim my taxes if what I do is considered illegal? Won’t I get arrested?

Being a sex worker is not illegal in Canada. Also, the CCRA is not a law enforcement agency. Their only mandate is to collect taxes. They only contact law enforcement if you avoid paying taxes or commit tax fraud. Therefore, there is absolutely no risk to you for claiming your taxes. When filing your taxes, it is perfectly acceptable to use a generic term like 'entertainment’ as your occupation. (One SPOC member has been filing for years using the term ‘escort and tourist service’).

What are the downsides?

Since you do not get deductions taken from your pay like Income Tax, Employment Insurance and so on, you will most likely not get a tax refund.

What are the benefits of filing?

18% of all the claimed income you have made in your life can be invested into an RRSP for your future. There is no better time to plan for the future than now, so when the day comes that you want to retire, you will have a nice little nest egg waiting for you. You also get GST rebates, rent credits, claims on dependants and/or children, credits for donations, and many other ways to get benefits.

Sex work is technically considered 'self-employed'. A beneficial tax for sex workers is the Canada Pension Plan contribution paid out of our net business income, (The profit that remains after paying business expenses to earn money such as phone, car, rent, advertising etc...). It is beneficial because the government gives it back when you turn 65 and your contributions determine how much you get back. It also comes with a built in insurance policy benefit for death or severe disability that can be triggered before retirement. This is important to protect your family in case something happens. Unlike private insurance policies, you qualify based on your contributions and not your profession. There are minimum contribution amounts in terms of years and dollars per year. This is why it is important to file your income tax and pay the CPP. Your contribution also reduces your taxable income. Also, if you wish to, you may pay more so that later you will receive a larger benefit. This year you contribute 9.9% on the net business income that is above $3,500 and under $46,300.

I have no idea how to file my taxes. Who can help me?

SPOC has two people with experience in filing taxes for sex workers. Both Garth and Chris are sex worker positive and gentlemanly. They are not 'official' tax preparers, which means they can prepare your forms, but you have to sign them. They can both legally and thoroughly maximize every available deduction. Our colleagues have always been very pleased with the results of their services.

Garth has been doing tax returns for sex workers for the past 7 years. He is a level 2 CGA with several years of accounting experience. His rates start at $50.00 for a basic return (A Basic Return is 1 person with no dependants, not married or common-law without any extra forms but the standard required) but also has a sliding scale for those with financial issues. Garth can be reached initially through e-mail, where he will provide phone number: cyberites@hotmail.com.

Chris has experience preparing taxes for self employed people, including sex workers and he has worked in the financial service sector as a registered stock and commodities broker for eight years. Chris's fee is $20/hour. He can be contacted by phone: 416-364-5603 or through e-mail: christax@look.ca

If you would like to have your taxes prepared over the phone & through e-mail, either Garth or Chris can assist you, regardless of the province you reside in.

If you prefer to have your taxes prepared in person:

Chris is based in Toronto and can provide in person tax preparation for those residing in and around Toronto, ON.

Garth is based in Vancouver and can provide in person tax preparation for those residing in and around Vancouver, BC.

Special Victims, Toronto Sex Crimes Unit information

Well, we never thought we would be saying the following about the police. However, time marches on and people, including some police, are capable of change.

If you have had a bad date, unless it is an emergency situation, (in which case call 911), it's not always the best idea to go to, or phone your local police station to report it. The treatment you receive there may be indifferent, bad or good.

SPOC strongly recommends calling and / or going to see the people at Special Victims, Toronto Sex Crimes Unit.

Over the past 4 years, Special Victims Unit has been doing a lot of good work with sex worker organizations, including SPOC, in a genuine effort to help us with regard to bad clients.

They are not interested in your previous criminal record (if you have one). They're also very good about any outstanding warrants you may have. Experience with them so far, (June 2010) is that unless warrants are for homicide, they're not interested. Special Victims Unit has been very sensitive to sex workers situations and concerns. Also, they won't pressure you to charge the bad client if you're unsure about or are unable to do so. Special Victims Unit is interested in, and now keeps a data base on reported bad clients, so that if you are unable to charge him for whatever reason, someone else down the road may. All reports are important in helping them build cases against bad clients.

The best go-to people at Special Victims Unit are:

Detective Wendy Leaver. Direct line: 416-808-7446.

(Note to Det. Leaver, please do not retire).

Detective Constable Leanne Marchan. Direct line: 416-808-7454

Special Victims Unit phone number is: 416-808-7474.

Their 24hr cell is: 416-456-7259.

Also, they now have a Bad Date hotline. It's an anonymous voicemail. If you just want to phone in the info, and nothing more, the number is 416-808-0000.