As the personal tax deadline looms, I fail to understand why, rather than extending the opening hours to assist people in their tax return queries, the department goes on summer half days with the closing visiting time being noon.

The government has to be creative and reinvent the wheel- Adrian Sciberras, Marsascala

It is common sense that when you have a shop, which you expect most people to visit, you would keep it open for as long as possible in order to be able to serve them.

The government should also issue short-term tenders or use its own resources to hire tax consultants and professionals to assist customers in filling up their tax returns. I am sure this will definitely help and increase the percentage of completed returns on time. Young accountants can take up the challenge and use this as a learning experience.

MPs should enquire in Parliament about the percentage of personal and company tax returns that are completed on time. The answer would give an indication and lead to other questions regarding outstanding amounts still to be collected by the government.

The government has to be creative and reinvent the wheel. I think it’s about time the passive directors revisit the department’s internal control procedures.

This situation is unacceptable in today’s times, especially if the government needs to collect much-needed revenue to keep sponsoring Greek and Spanish debt.