ALBANY, New York (CNN) -- The owner of an upstate New York strip club say he's being stripped of too much cash.
The state wants hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes. But, the owner argues his dancers are not just strippers, but artistic performers and should be exempt from a state sales tax.
Attorney Andrew McCullough and Nite Moves owner Stephen Dick Jr. made their case in front of the New York State Court of appeals Wednesday. They say the club should qualify for the state sales tax exemption that covers dramatic or musical art performances that are choreographed..
McCullough says the girls at Nite Moves are talented dancers who perform choreographed routines.
After the initial audit back in 2005, the club owner increased admission and private dance fees by eight percent. Since then, he says business has taken a huge hit.
The court is expected to rule on the case sometime next month.
