In Wednesday’s (1/10) Politico, Jon Stone writes, “British musicians have already been hit hard by Brexit, with tours to the continent bogged down in work permit applications and customs paperwork…. A new Brexit tax hike set to hit U.K. orchestras later this year could make trips to Europe ‘unviable’ and undermine their activities back in Britain, the trade body representing the musical ensembles is warning. From April 1 this year, U.K. orchestras crossing the Channel to play will no longer be able to claim tax relief on performances in the European Economic Area … The U.K. government is making the change to bring Britain into line with World Trade Organization rules—required because of the U.K.’s exit from the EU single market. The tax hike is just the latest in a string of blows to British musicians following the U.K.’s departure from the EU…. Britain’s orchestras say their incomes are at risk because of the latest change, with effects on investment and performances at home. ‘The proposals to remove EEA costs from qualifying expenditure is another post-Brexit barrier … which risks making European touring financially unviable,’ Hanna Madalska-Gayer, head of policy at the Association of British Orchestras, told Politico.”
