Replace your offshore co. by moving your business to Malta

Replace your offshore co. by moving your business to Malta
10.05.2019

In international corporate structuring, the issue of tax payments is becoming increasingly topical, since offshores and tax havens are no longer in style. This is both due to stricter tax policies in countries where taxes are applied, and due to the banks, which are not welcoming to offshores anymore, and, basically, refuse to work with them. The trend is in line with the OECD’s initiative committed to the process which is called “de offshorization”. What conclusions can we make then? Taxes must be paid, the only question left unanswered, where and how much?

The immediate solution is to redomicile from offshore tax havens to countries who already have a system of taxation and substance in place which satisfies the OECD.

The long-term goal is to also provide substance to the extent that the company will be recognized as a centre of management of your business and actually “perform” these functions.

For those who can choose to move their business, Malta is one of the best places to consider. Over the past years, Malta proactively positioned itself not only as a competitive and tax efficient place to do business, but as an increasingly versatile and sophisticated structuring hub, with a sound regulatory framework.

In case you are using an offshore company or run a so called “Agency” structure whereas your company acts as an Agent of an offshore Principal, it might be a good time for a review and upgrade. One option is to upgrade your structure by moving corporate tax residency into Malta. We are pleased to offer a solution with corporate tax migration into Malta dealing with setting up Permanent Establishment (PE) of an overseas company in Malta. Corporate tax migration is particularly popular with companies registered in jurisdictions without substance, which have outgrown their environment and now seek to capitalize on Malta’s business advantages and benefits.

Corporate tax migration enables companies to avoid liquidating the existing company and transfer business portfolio of trading agreements and assets to PE, registered for that purpose in a new jurisdiction which suits them better. By setting your Permanent Establishment (“PE”) in Malta with a bank account in EU, you achieve those goals of tax compliance and efficiency, and banking.

Benefits of corporate tax migration into Malta include:

  • Easy and simple to register PE or start a company;
  • Low effective tax rate;
  • Participation exemption on capital gains;
  • Participation exemption on qualified inbound dividends;
  • No withholding tax on outbound dividends;
  • No withholding tax on outbound interests;
  • Member of EU, Schengen and OECD;
  • EURO is official currency;
  • Advanced and competitive corporate tax system;
  • Strong and stable political support for the financial services industry;
  • Tax refund system;
  • Remittance based tax system for overseas companies;
  • No transfer pricing and CFC rules;
  • English is the official language;

Our experience tells that Malta is the place to consider for corporate tax residency. Malta has been an EU member state since 2004. It is a country with a stable and predictable tax system, which is one of the most important factors for any entrepreneur. For years, Malta has been working on improving its tax policy, reducing bureaucracy, making its accounting simple and comprehensible. Also, communication with state institutions is simple and predictable.

So, why is no one talking about Malta as much as about Cyprus, Ireland, or Hungary? The answer is simple – the corporate income tax rate in Malta is 35%, which is quite high. However, there is a law which provides that 30% of the taxes paid is refunded, which means that the efficient corporate tax rate is 5%. The dividend tax is 0%. It is currently the lowest tax in the EU and most of the world. Malta is also the centre of online business licensing, it offers a very beneficial immigration programme, has favourable tax regimes for securitization, shipping and aircraft industries, and, its official and language of Registry of Companies is English.

The above conditions make Malta a unique place for business. Low taxes, clear accounting requirements, advanced banking, the English language, low company maintenance costs and very advantageous geographical position are the factors that attract a modern entrepreneur to Malta.

How does tax refund work?

The business profits of a Malta company or Permanent Establishment of Overseas Company are taxed at the statutory rate of 35%. However, the non-resident shareholders of Overseas Company have the right of claiming a refund in the amount of 6/7th of the Malta tax suffered on the dividends distributed in the case when a Malta company receives income from trading activities or active business. Tax refund procedure is simple, the refund is claimed by filing the form with the International Tax Unit (ITU). No withholding tax is paid on any dividend distributions of the profits of a Malta company or PE. After the tax refund above, the shareholders of Overseas Company are left with a global effective income tax rate of 5%.

PEs of an overseas company would be taxable in Malta only on income arising in Malta and on income arising outside Malta but remitted to Malta. No withholding taxes: PE profits are not subject to any withholding taxes at the time of transfer or later. Such profits are only subject to the corporate tax charge at the domestic rate.

Diagram of Malta PE of Overseas Company structure and tax refund system

Tax Treaties: Subject to any conditions in a tax treaty, PEs of foreign companies may use the provisions of a relevant Malta tax treaty with another jurisdiction. Malta has extensive tax treaty network of more than 70 treaties in force.

MALTA PERMANENT ESTABLSIHMENT (PE) OF OVERSEAS COMPANIES

Malta’s company law provides the option for foreign companies to set up branches or permanent establishments in Malta, without the necessity of incorporating new, or re-domiciling established companies; providing additional choice and flexibility in respect of corporate structuring. An overseas company is defined as “body corporate constituted or incorporated outside Malta”.

By establishing a place of business in Malta and by setting up PE in Malta, the Malta PE:

  • Does not have separate legal personality from its foreign counterpart;
  • Is not re-incorporated in Malta. The only criteria for its establishment in Malta is that it has a place of business in Malta, and appoints a local resident authorised person in Malta;
  • The amount of registration fee to the Company

Registry for setting up PE depends on the nominal value of the authorized share capital of the overseas company. Registry fees are payable on submission of the required documents to the Registrar of Companies.
The registration of PE is a simple and straightforward process and can be completed within a few days of receipt of all the documents required.

Financial Statements
Every company which has registered PE or a place of business in Malta must file on an annual basis audited financial statements pertaining to the operations conducted by the Maltese PE.

How can we assist?
Our office in Valletta, the capital of Malta, provides a full range of local support services for structuring, registering and administrating PEs of overseas companies in Malta, including:

  • local address of PE established in Malta by the overseas company;
  • appointment of a local resident in Malta authorised to represent the overseas company in all matters and facilitate communication between the competent authorities and PE;
  • company secretarial services;
  • day-to-day company management and administration;
  • preparation of legal and corporate documents;
  • accounting, tax compliance and audit;
  • VAT registration (if required) and filings;
  • assistance in bank account opening, and management;
  • assistance in complying with legal obligations.

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