Tegucigalpa, Honduras – Lovers seeking a private tryst are arousing the interest of the taxman in Honduras.
In an effort to crack down on tax evasion, Honduran government officials began counting the cars outside hundreds of so-called “love motels” on Tuesday, saying the establishments earn more than they report and cheat the government out of about $40,000 in taxes each month.
Under the “Fiscal Love” operation, tax auditors were also stationed inside the lobbies of the motels.
“Love motels” that rent rooms for as little as six hours – local versions of what Americans would call a “no-tell motel” – are common throughout Latin America, where many young adults live with their parents.
“We’re not interested in whether customers go into the rooms as a twosome, threesome or foursome,” said Armando Sarmiento, a spokesman for the national tax office. “We’re only counting the cars that arrive, not the people inside them.”
