Maltese Car Association Condemns New Tax Proposals

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

05 September 2001

The Association of Car Importers in Malta has hit out at the high levels of taxation being levied on the country's motorists, it was revealed recently.

The Association was spurred into action by a Planning Authority proposal for paid parking in public areas, and issued a statement earlier this week, highlighting the Lm24 million already paid by Maltese drivers in sales tax each year. 'Despite the huge amount of tax already paid by the motorist we hear calls for increased, new taxation,' said the organisation. 'Is the LM 24 million not payment enough?'

Legal adviser to the ACIM, Georg Sapiano, attacked critics of the automobile industry, questioning the way in which the tax already paid by Maltese motorists was being spent. 'Those who really want to do good,' he suggested, 'should explore ways of committing the tax that comes from car sales and directing it into social needs.' 'It seems odd,' he added 'that sources within the bureaucracy keep damning cars and their usage when the taxation arising out of that very usage is not being put into possible solutions and alternatives.'

In its statement, the ACIM implored the Maltese authorities to look at car owners as people rather than statistics, and to address the needs of the whole community through thoughtful and considered taxation, rather than just 'tax the life out of them'.

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