Opera singer, Anthony Mee of Truro, was shocked when he received his fee for performances at the Theatre an der Wien in Vienna to find the Austrian authorities had levied an 18% tax for social security.
As Mr Mee had already paid the Social Security E101 tax in this country, he naturally complained that this double taxation was illegal under EU law.
The complaint was passed backwards and forwards between the UK and Austrian tax authorities. Eventually Mr Mee contacted the six MEPs representing the South West Region and pleaded for them to intervene.
MEP Giles Chichester responded and called upon the Austrian Permanent Representative to the European Union to investigate the case. Within a few weeks, he received an apology from the Austrian authorities for their mistake and news that Mr Mee would receive a full refund for the tax paid.
Mr Mee said he was delighted with the outcome and said Mr Chichester had not tried to pass the buck but took action.
Photo: Anthony Mee receives news from MEP Giles Chichester of the tax refund
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