Members of parliament receive amnesty perks

Ilum newspaper reported that in an attempt to recover from millions in unpaid taxes, government last year offered amnesty on penalties due. Around 31,292 individuals benefited from the scheme, paying a total of around 41 million euros. Another 18 members of parliament did not answer to questions made by the same newspaper.

The government scheme, which ended last January, offered a 90% reduction on taxes and penalties, to individuals with pending arrears between 1998 and 2007.

Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi told Illum, “After amnesty was announced, like every other taxpayer with arrears, I received a bill of 87 euros, and was told that if I pay the amount within the stipulated time, I would pay only 8 euros, which is 10% of the original amount. However, I never received this bill.”

Labour MP Jose Herrera said “personally, I didn’t get much out of it," adding that he received a bill from around 15 years ago of 200 euros. "I saved 70 euros," Herrera said.

Read full story in illum

Labour MP Marie Louise Coleiro Preca is the only person who stated that she has pending bills with the tax department, but refused amnesty. “I was told I had various pending bills amounting to 213 euros, and was offered to pay 106 euros because of amnesty, but I refused and the bills are still pending.”