Slovenia: Workers demonstrate over double taxation

Slovenian workers, who work in neighbouring countries, have been protesting against the double taxation of their income.

Around three-thousand people who live in the country, but have jobs in Italy and Austria, joined the demonstration at a former border crossing.

Although Slovenia and its neighbours are all members of the European Union, the government never signed bilateral double taxation arrangements.

Instead, the issue was regulated via a special tax regime from 2005 to 2008 and, since 2009, in the form of a special tax relief for cross-border workers.

The protest was sparked by the government’s decision to abolish the tax relief, as Slovenia’s constitutional court ruled that it was unconstitutional and ordered the government to amend the law.