Court orders Venetian to pay MOP 18.9 million back taxes

The Venetian in Cotai will have to pay MOP 18.9 million in back taxes for gondola rides at its hotel, the office of the president of the Court of Final Appeal (TUI) announced yesterday.

The Macau Post Daily reported that the company owes the public coffers MOP 13.13 million in unpaid tourism tax for 2013 and MOP 5.8 million for 2014, according to a ruling by the Court of Second Instance (TSI), which confirmed an earlier decision by the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) on the dispute.

The company has appealed the MP’s decision.

The TUI referred to the appellant as “Company A”, but pointed out that the gondola rides are taking place at the Venetian hotel. The TUI added  that the gondola rides are a complementary service provided by the hotel, raising its competitive edge, so the hotel is obliged to pay tourism tax for its gondola rides.