Long wait for tax rebate

I bought my first property in Malta during 2004, shortly before the birth of my second Maltese/English daughter. We bought a family home and lived in it for nearly three years before putting the home on the market so as to relocate to the UK for work opportunities since my Maltese employer was closing down.

We made our promise of sale with the prospective buyer just before the 2006 budget and the new capital gains laws caused lots of headaches for me and the buyer. Through the grace of God, the government exempted us and many others from the new rate of CG tax and gave us the option of a provisional CG tax which we paid.

I filed my income tax return for that year late, four or eight weeks late to be precise and duly paid a late filing fine of €68. The payment was made promptly, in fact within 10 days of receiving the bill. I always paid my taxes promptly in Malta - income tax, sales tax on purchases, stamp duty tax - and was always honest about my affairs when it came to tax, which is more than can be said for others!

I overpaid almost Lm3,000 in income tax during 2006 and I am still waiting for my rebate. I wonder how many others find themselves in the same situation? I would also be interested to know how much interest the IRD makes from the likes of people like me? Is it the fact that I am a foreigner and therefore won't be able to vote in this year's election although my daughters are Maltese? What kind of signal does this send out to other foreigners that have a serious vested interest in the well-being of Malta and its people and what signal does it send to foreigners who may wish to purchase or sell properties in Malta?