Taxable fringe benefits

The Times reports (June 12) that Ira Losco was presented with a brand new Polo worth thousands of liri, in recognition of her performance in the Eurovision festival.

Ms Losco is a professional singer, and a good one at that, and she did our country proud. Morally to me she was the winner.

Would the Commissioner of Inland Revenue or some bigwig from the finance ministry please advise if Ms Losco is bound to pay income tax on the value of the car, seeing that it is a fringe benefit obtained in the course of her profession?

Please note that this is not a case of sour grapes but of what is good for the goose being good for the gander.