The approximately 74,000 working married couples will be able to apply for the option to fill in their tax forms and receive their tax refunds cheques separately from next year.

The reform was announced by Minister for Finance Edward Scicluna and Minister for Equality Helena Dalli as a part of the reforms in the sector of equality and civil rights.

Dalli said that this measure will end the practice of the tax department, whereby there were cases where tax refund cheques were sent to the man in the relationship in spite of it being owed to the woman.

“This is something which we identified years ago but the process was what it was, and today we can say that there is the real equality where if you are to receive money then you will receive them in your name and not in the name of your husband.”

She did note that the exercise is underway and appealed to people to inform them if they feel they are being treated unequally.

Scicluna added that after an adjustment in the IT systems of the tax department, couples will be able to input their taxes separately.

Those who wish to separate inputs have until the end of the year to request it from the tax commissioner.