asked the Minister for Finance whether telephone calls from hotels are subject to turnover tax; if he is aware that CIE in the Great Southern Hotel, Galway, charge one penny turnover tax on a telephone call to Dublin costing 2/8d.; and if he will arrange to have the charge discontinued.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turnover Tax: Hotel Telephone Calls.
8.
Turnover tax is chargeable on moneys received by accountable persons in respect of services provided in the course of business. Where a hotel provides a service for its customers by arranging telephone calls from a private line or through its own switchboard, tax is properly chargeable on the moneys received by the hotel in respect of the service. I understand that hotels generally have made a slight increase in their charges for services of this kind, in order to cover their tax liability. In the circumstances I can see no reason to interfere in the matter.