As a citizen who has never failed to pay my taxes, I was flabbergasted to read Alternattiva Demokratika’s reaction (TMID, 8 June) to the government’s action to catch up with tax-dodgers where host families of foreign students are concerned.

I am scandalised that AD should come out in defence of tax avoidance, knowing full well that this has greatly hurt honest citizens who have always declared their full income.

Instead of supporting the government’s efforts to hunt down tax-dodgers, AD chose the cheap way out and came out in their defence. To add insult to injury, they described the government’s action as a “tax hunt”.

AD blamed the government for the failure of these families to declare the full amount of their earnings. They should know, as everyone knows, that it is the duty of the individual concerned to report his full earnings to the Tax Department. The host families should have asked the language schools to provide them with an annual statement of earnings, as any employee asks his employer.

But failing this, I am sure that these families have done their homework and know their income from their activities. But perhaps they thought that if they kept quiet, they would get away with it. They should have known that some day the Income Tax Department would catch up with them. So there are no excuses about having to pay their arrears.

As has happened in many other cases, according to the tax law, these families should be penalised for failing to declare their full income. Instead, AD has implored the government to consider offering them an amnesty. What a cheap way to steal votes. This comes from people who some day aspire to hold the balance of power between the two major parties in our Parliament.

Offering amnesties has always sent the wrong signal to abusers and gives the impression that the government condones abuse. We have had enough of them. Enough is enough.

As regards the language schools, I think there is a lot to be said about them. The Inland Revenue Department should insist that they keep proper books of accounts, as I understand that great amounts of money are involved.

Government should be praised for its efforts to make sure that everyone pays his tax and the word “amnesty” should no longer be mentioned. The government has rightly responded to the general call and established the Tax Compliance Unit. Now that things are moving, we find organisations like AD who come forward to defend those caught. It is just cheap political propaganda.

Carmel Camilleri

PAOLA