Post by francisco on Feb 13, 2006 11:26:38 GMT -5
tv game show plugs taxes
in some respects, "vas o no vas" is a typical mexican tv game show.
an energetic host whips the audience into a frenzy of excitement. there are curvy female sidekicks, an irritating clown and plenty of suspense as contestants vie for a big cash jackpot.
what makes the show unique is its purpose:
to encourage mexicans to pay taxes.
faced with rampant tax evasion fueled by off-the-books cash transactions, the mexican government is sponsoring the fiscal equivalent of "let´s make a deal." it´s offering consumers the chance to come on down and win fabulous prizes in exchange for using their bank cards to make routine purchases.
think irs meets monty hall.
the contests are open only to users of debit and credit cards, whose electronic purchases are traceable by tax authorities and provide a quick injection of sales tax revenue to the treasury.
card holders are entered in the random drawings for cash and cars simply by using their cards. each purchase of about u.s. $4.70 counts as one entry, so the more people spend, the better their chances. would-be game-show contestants must fill out an application and hold on to official receipts proving they made an electronic purchase in the event they´re selected to appear on the show.
unlike many cash transactions, credit card purchases leave a paper trail that helps authorities track down those who aren´t paying sales taxes and who may be understating their incomes.
for reasons no one in mexico´s revenue service was willing to explain, the cash prizes awarded on the show are tax free.
www.eluniversal.com.mx/miami/16656.html
in some respects, "vas o no vas" is a typical mexican tv game show.
an energetic host whips the audience into a frenzy of excitement. there are curvy female sidekicks, an irritating clown and plenty of suspense as contestants vie for a big cash jackpot.
what makes the show unique is its purpose:
to encourage mexicans to pay taxes.
faced with rampant tax evasion fueled by off-the-books cash transactions, the mexican government is sponsoring the fiscal equivalent of "let´s make a deal." it´s offering consumers the chance to come on down and win fabulous prizes in exchange for using their bank cards to make routine purchases.
think irs meets monty hall.
the contests are open only to users of debit and credit cards, whose electronic purchases are traceable by tax authorities and provide a quick injection of sales tax revenue to the treasury.
card holders are entered in the random drawings for cash and cars simply by using their cards. each purchase of about u.s. $4.70 counts as one entry, so the more people spend, the better their chances. would-be game-show contestants must fill out an application and hold on to official receipts proving they made an electronic purchase in the event they´re selected to appear on the show.
unlike many cash transactions, credit card purchases leave a paper trail that helps authorities track down those who aren´t paying sales taxes and who may be understating their incomes.
for reasons no one in mexico´s revenue service was willing to explain, the cash prizes awarded on the show are tax free.
www.eluniversal.com.mx/miami/16656.html