Taxing matters

One of the aspects of Denmark that takes my breath away slightly is the tax system, which is comprehensive enough to make Gordon Brown positively day-glo green with envy - hell, children's clothes are taxed, and so are books - at a hefty 25%. Nevertheless, there's always something else that can be taxed, as Reuters reports:

Danish tax may drain world's top sperm bank

25 May 2005 12:40:44 GMTSource: ReutersCOPENHAGEN, May 25 (Reuters)

The source of the world's biggest sperm bank may soon run dry if Danish authorities decide to tax donors, Cryos International Sperm Bank said on Wednesday.

Denmark, with the world's highest income tax levels, wants sperm donors to pay tax on the 500 crown ($84.59) reimbursement men receive for their services.

"It is a special kind of work and therefore the fee cannot be compared to normal working income," Cryos said in a letter to the tax authorities, adding it risked losing donors, most of whom are students.

Cryos receives between 30-60 donors a day at its three branches and each year Danish men contribute to around 1,000 pregnancies around the world.