Taxation in Valletta, Malta
What are the tax rates in Valletta, Malta? How are corporations taxed? Here’s Teleports overview of personal, corporate and other taxation topics in Valletta, Malta.
Personal taxation in Valletta
Effective personal income tax rate
| Annual income | $25,000 | $40,000 | $80,000 | $125,000 | $200,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate | 8% | 15% | 22% | 27% | 30% |
Teleport city rankings for personal income tax
Personal taxation puts Valletta in position 40 of all Teleport Cities.
Basis
Persons ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta are subject to income tax in Malta on their worldwide income and chargeable gains. Persons who are resident are taxable in Malta on a source and remittance basis, that is, on income and chargeable gains arising in Malta and on income arising outside Malta and received in Malta (i.e. such persons are not taxable on income arising outside Malta and not received in Malta and capital gains arising outside Malta, regardless of whether received in Malta).
Residence
The extent of a person's tax liability will depend on his/her domicile and his/her tax residence status in Malta, and a factual determination must be made whether the person is ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta, or resident or domiciled but not ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta, etc.
Filing status
Spouses are jointly responsible for filing tax returns, whereby one spouse is registered as the taxpayer (responsible spouse), although that spouse may opt to have tax on the other spouse's income computed separately. Any income of the nonresponsible spouse is assessable in the hands of the responsible spouse. Where spouses are assessed separately, they are assessed at the rates for single taxpayers.
Rates
Rates are progressive from 0% to 35%. A flat tax rate of 15% applies to emoluments derived by highly qualified persons employed in a qualifying industry under a qualifying contract of employment. Additionally, subject to certain conditions, a flat tax rate of 15% applies to foreign source income remitted to Malta by persons benefiting under certain residence schemes.).
Deductions and allowances
Various deductions are allowed, e.g. certain fees in connection with schools, childcare, sports for children,
Taxable income
Taxable income includes gains or profits derived, inter alia, from a trade or business; profession or vocation; employment or office; dividends, interest or discounts; pensions, annuities or annual payments; rents, royalties, premiums and any other profits arising from property; and certain chargeable capital gains.
Capital gains
Gains on the transfer of capital assets are aggregated with a person's other income, and the total of income and capital gains is charged to income tax. Capital gains arise, inter alia, upon a transfer of (i) immovable property; (ii) securities, business, goodwill, business permits, copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade names and any other intellectual property; (iii) beneficial interests in trusts that hold property referred to in (i) or (ii); or (iv) interests in a partnership. However, when a person transfers immovable property situated in Malta, final tax is payable at a rate 8% on the transfer value; other rates, mainly 2%, 5%, 10% and 12%, may apply in specific cases. Nonresidents are not subject to tax on gains or profits realized on a disposal of units in a CIS, units relating to long-term insurance policies, interests in a partnership and shares or securities in a company, unless the partnership’s or company’s assets consist wholly or principally of immovable property situated in Malta.
Other taxes on individuals
Real property tax
There is no real property tax; however, stamp duty and income tax may apply on any gain on the transfer of immovable property (see “Capital gains,” above).
Social security
Social security is compulsory for all persons gainfully occupied in Malta between the ages of 16 and 65, including nonresident persons working in Malta. A full-time employee generally must contribute 10% of his/her basic weekly wages (the employer contributes an equal amount), subject to a minimum and a maximum contribution that are updated annually on the basis of the cost-of- living increase awarded by the government.
Stamp duty
Stamp duty generally is levied on documents evidencing transfers of immovable property, at a rate of 5% of the higher of the consideration or the real value (with reduced rates applicable to dwelling houses and transfers causa mortis). No duty is levied in the case of transfers causa mortis to persons with a disability or in respect of the transfer of a dwelling house to a surviving spouse or direct descendant (subject to certain conditions). Stamp duty applies to a transfer of marketable securities and/or an interest in a partnership at a rate of 2% of the higher of the consideration or the real value; however, a 5% rate applies to transfers of marketable securities in a company and/or an interest in a partnership where 75% or more of the company's or the partnership’s assets consists of immovable property. An exemption from duty may apply. Stamp duty also is levied on certain specified documents when no transfer of property takes place, such as policies of insurance.
Compliance for individuals
Penalties
Penalties may be imposed, inter alia, for filing incorrect returns.
Filing and payment
Individuals must make provisional tax payments, which must be effected before 30 April, 31 August and 21 December, respectively, of each basis year (except for income on which tax was withheld at source, e.g. employment income). The balance must be paid by 30 June of the year of assessment.
Tax year
Individuals are subject to tax on income arising in a calendar year (i.e. the basis year), which is assessed to tax in the year following the year in which it arises (i.e. the year of assessment).
Corporate taxation in Valletta
Teleport city rankings for corporate income tax
Corporate taxation puts Valletta in position 111 of all Teleport Cities.
Basis
Companies resident and domiciled in Malta are subject to income tax on their worldwide income and chargeable gains. Companies that are ordinarily resident but not domiciled in Malta are taxable in Malta on a source and remittance basis, i.e. on income and chargeable gains arising in Malta and on income arising outside Malta that is received in Malta (such companies are not taxable on income arising outside Malta that is not received in Malta or on capital gains arising outside Malta, regardless of whether received in Malta). Companies that are neither incorporated nor resident in Malta are chargeable to tax in Malta only in respect of Malta-source income and chargeable gains, such as the income of a Malta permanent establishment (PE).
Taxation of dividends
A company in receipt of dividend income is subject to tax on such income, with the possibility of relief for any underlying tax. The participation exemption may apply in respect of
Residence
A company incorporated in Malta is considered both domiciled and resident in Malta. A company not incorporated in Malta is considered resident in Malta if the management and control of its business is exercised in Malta.
Losses
Trade losses may be set off against income of the relevant year and carried forward indefinitely for setoff against income of subsequent years. Losses arising as a result of depreciation may be carried forward indefinitely and set off against the profits of the same and continuing trade. The carryback of losses is not permitted. Capital losses may be set off against capital gains of the current and subsequent years.
Incentives
Tax and other incentives are granted to, among others, the manufacturing sector, information and communication technology, eco-innovations and waste treatment, R&D and innovation, biotechnology, film, tertiary education in science and technology, private healthcare and freeport activities. Incentives fall under six thematic pillars: (1) investment aid; (2) access to finance; (3) R&D and innovation; (4) small and medium-sized enterprise development; (5) enterprise support; and (6) employment and training.
Rate
Companies are taxed at a flat rate of 35%. Relief for economic double taxation upon the distribution of taxed profits by companies is ensured by the application of the full imputation and refund system. This system grants a shareholder the right to claim a refund of all or a part of the Malta tax paid on the qualifying profits out of which the dividend was distributed and, as a result, may reduce the effective tax rate in Malta to 0%-10%. Certain categories of investment income are taxed at 15% or 10%; certain categories of rental income are taxed at 15%. Transfers of immovable property situated in Malta are chargeable to an 8% final tax on the transfer value; other rates, mainly 2%, 5%, 10% and 12%, may apply in specific cases. The transfer value is the higher of the consideration received or the market value of the property transferred.
Participation exemption
Dividend income or capital gains derived from a participating holding or from the disposal of such a holding (usually a 10% equity shareholding, although a number of alternative tests may apply) are exempt from tax in Malta (or alternatively may be taxed at 35% and the shareholder may, upon a subsequent distribution of the corresponding profits, claim a full refund of the Malta tax paid by the company). In the case of dividends derived from a participating holding, the entity also must be incorporated or resident in the EU or must derive less than 50% of its income from passive interest and royalties or must be subject to tax at a rate of at least 15%. If none of these conditions are satisfied, the participation exemption may apply if the holding does not qualify as a portfolio investment and the entity is taxed at a rate of at least 5%. The participation exemption regime also is applicable to profits and gains derived by a Maltese company that are attributable to a PE situated outside Malta, or to the transfer thereof. The profits and gains are to be calculated as if the PE is an independent enterprise operating under similar conditions and at arm’s length.
Taxable income
Taxable income includes, inter alia, gains or profits derived from a trade or business; dividends, premiums, interest or discounts; rents, royalties and other profits arising from property; any charge, annuity or annual payment; and certain chargeable capital gains. Some categories of income are, subject to certain exceptions, exempt from tax (such as interest, royalties and gains on the transfer of shares derived by nonresidents), as is income accruing to certain categories of persons (such as income of a CIS that has at least 15% of the value of its assets situated outside Malta, other than income from immovable property situated in Malta). Due to specific deductions available to securitization vehicles, any taxable income effectively may be eliminated at the level of such vehicles.
Capital gains
Gains on the transfer of capital assets are aggregated with a company's other income, and the total income and capital gains is charged to income tax. Capital gains arise, inter alia, upon a transfer of (i) immovable property; (ii) securities, business, goodwill, business permits, copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade names and any other intellectual property; (iii) beneficial interests in trusts that hold property referred to in (i) or (ii); and (iv) interests in a partnership. However, where a company transfers immovable property situated in Malta, final tax is payable at a rate of 8% on the transfer value; other rates, mainly 2%, 5%, 10% and 12%, may apply in specific cases.
Holding company regime
No specific holding company regime is available; however, the participation exemption may be applicable, as outlined above.
Other taxes on corporations
Stamp duty
Stamp duty generally is levied on documents evidencing transfers of immovable property at a rate of 5% of the higher of the consideration or the real value. It also applies upon a transfer of marketable securities and/or an interest in a partnership, at a rate of 2% of the higher of the consideration or the real value; however, a 5% rate applies to transfers of marketable securities in a company and/or an interest in a partnership where 75% or more of the company's and/or the partnership’s assets consist of immovable property. An exemption from duty may apply. Stamp duty also is levied on certain specified documents when no transfer of property takes place, such as policies of insurance.
Social security
The employer must pay social security contributions for each employee, in an amount generally equal to 10% of the employee's basic weekly wage, subject to a minimum and a maximum contribution updated annually on the basis of the government-awarded cost-of-living increase. The employer also must deduct 10% from the basic weekly wages of the employee and pay the entire amount to the government on a monthly basis. The employer's share of the social security contribution is deductible for income tax purposes.
Other
Under a general anti-abuse provision, the Commissioner for Revenue is entitled to disregard, for tax purposes, any artificial or fictitious scheme that reduces the amount of Malta tax payable by a taxpayer, and to assess the taxpayer for tax to effectively nullify or modify the scheme and the consequent advantage. There also are a number of anti-abuse provisions targeting specific activities.
Transfer tax
No, but see “Stamp duty,” above. Anti-avoidance rules:
Real property tax
There is no real property tax; however, stamp duty and income tax may apply to gains derived from the transfer of immovable property (see “Capital gains,” above).
Payroll tax
No additional taxes are levied in relation to payroll. Income tax is withheld from salaries under the Final Settlement System.
Compliance for corporations
Consolidated returns
Consolidated returns are not permitted; each company must file a separate return. However, group loss relief is available in certain circumstances.
Penalties
Penalties may be imposed, inter alia, for filing an incorrect return.
Rulings
An application to the Inland Revenue may be made for an advance ruling on the tax treatment of certain transactions. A ruling is binding for five years and may be subsequently renewed; however, if relevant changes are made to the law in question subsequent to the ruling, the ruling will remain binding for two years from such time.
Tax year
Companies are assessed to tax on income derived during the financial year. Company profits are assessable in the year (year of assessment) on the basis of the financial year immediately preceding the year of assessment (basis year). A company may use an accounting reference date other than 31 December if consent is granted by, and subject to conditions imposed by, the Inland Revenue Department.
Other taxation in Valletta
Value added tax
Filing and payment
Input VAT is set off against output VAT, and the balance is accounted for every three months (quarterly).
Rates
The standard rate is 18%; reduced rates of 7%, 5% and 0% apply in certain cases; and some transactions are exempt (e.g. banking and insurance services and the sale and leasing of immovable property).
Taxable transactions
VAT is levied on the supply of goods and services in Malta, the intra-Community acquisition of goods in Malta and the import of goods into Malta from outside the EU.
Registration
For VAT purposes, every person who, in the course of a trade or profession, makes taxable and/or exempt-with-credit supplies of goods and services in Malta is required to register for VAT in Malta and to charge VAT that may be applicable, and is entitled to recover input VAT incurred for the purpose of its supplies. Small undertakings may opt to register under a simplified registration
Withholding tax
Dividends
Malta does not levy withholding tax on outbound dividends (except for certain untaxed dividends where a nonresident person is owned and controlled by, or acts on behalf of, an individual ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta).
Technical service fees
The rate is 0%, provided that such fees are not sourced to Malta (e.g. are not attributable to a PE of a nonresident in Malta).
Interest
The rate is 0%, provided the recipient is not owned and controlled by, and does not act on behalf of, persons ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta, and does not carry on a trade/business in Malta through a PE with which the interest income is effectively connected.
Royalties
The rate is 0%, provided the recipient is not owned and controlled by, and does not act on behalf of, persons ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta, and does not carry on a trade/business in Malta through a PE with which the royalty income is effectively connected.
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