Second-hand car buyers demand tax refunds

Four men yesterday filed a judicial protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court claiming that the imposition of vehicle registration tax and VAT on imported second-hand cars was in violation of EU law.

The protest was filed by lawyer Marco Ciliberti, Ronald Cordina, Joseph Cortis and Kevin Sultana against the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, the Minister for Urban Development and Roads, the Public Transport Authority, the director of the VAT Department and the Attorney General.

They said they had imported a second-hand vehicle each from the United Kingdom. Dr Ciliberti said he had been forced to pay €7,970.90 by way of registration tax and VAT and Mr Cordina said he had been forced to pay €4,068.02 in tax and VAT.

Mr Cortis had to pay €7,971.12 in tax and VAT and Mr Sultana had no option but to pay €9,659.35 in registration tax and VAT.

The four men said the money requested of them by the authorities were in violation of the EU Treaty. In fact, the European Commission had already warned the government that the imposition of registration tax and VAT on the importation of second-hand vehicles was illegal and abusive.

Thus, what the authorities did was in violation of their rights as EU citizens.

Dr Ciliberti, Mr Cordina, Mr Cortis and Mr Sultana called upon the authorities to refund them all the money they had been forced to pay in an illegal and abusive manner. In default, judicial action would be taken.

The protest was signed by Dr Ciliberti.