The Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU has warned the government against a return to the old system of ex-officio assessments in a bid to solve tax evasion.

"Only a government that is tired of governing picks up this dirty tool once again," it said.

The GRTU said tax evasion by the self-employed and owners of small businesses could not be condoned by anyone.

It said previous Labour governments had used ex-officio assessments years ago and has regretted it ever since.

The GRTU said it had been assured by Eddie Fenech Adami, then Leader of the Opposition, that no Nationalist government would ever revert to ex-officio assessments. It added that when the Tax Compliance Unit (TCU) was set up, Dr Fenech Adami, then Prime Minister, again assured it that the TCU would never become an ex-officio assessor. As President, Dr Fenech Adami again confirmed he had not changed his mind on the matter, the GRTU said.

But the TCU was issuing ex-officio assessments under other names, the GRTU claimed.

"Every businessman and every politician and administrator knows that ex-officio assessments represent a political suicide for any politician in government who fools around with this most unjust form of tax collection.

"Ex-officio assessments lead to corruption, hatred and abuse. The pain, anguish and injustice loaded onto the victims are never ever forgotten either by the victim, his family or his employees."

The GRTU said that although the TCU was using other names for the assessments, it was propagating the ex-officio doctrine.