taxable swimming pool
AI detects 20,000 hidden taxable swimming pools in France
AI software has detected more than 20,000 secret private swimming pools in aerial photography, helping French tax officials bag about €10 million (£ 8.6 million) in extra property levies. Home improvements, such as the addition of a loft or a pool, can boost the value of a property and increase the taxes homeowners pay in the Euro nation. A 30-square-metre pool, for example, could set you back an extra €200 (£170) a year. People are required to declare these kinds of constructions, though some keep quiet to avoid having to fork out more money. In a bid to catch tax dodgers out, nine departments working under France's tax office tested out machine-learning software to automatically find undeclared swimming pools from overhead photos.