There are key factors that makes Malta as an ideal location for your international business. Malta is an EU Member State with robust and widely respected jurisdiction in line with EU directives. Malta also has the lowest effective tax rate within EU.
Malta has an extensive double tax treaty network, unique tax system with significant refunds and tax credits available on income derived from your activities.
Together with its English speaking workforce and cost effective formation costs make Malta an ideal location.
Malta Company Formation
The process of company formation and incorporation in Malta is set out by The Malta Companies Act which is modelled on its UK counterpart. Maltese business owners can therefore enjoy a simple, straightforward Malta company incorporation procedure. When a Malta business is formed, the company may be registered within a day of receiving all required Maltese company documentation, information and funds from the Registry of Companies in Malta.
Name of the company: Malta companies must use the suffix Limited or Ltd. to denote limited liability and can use any name unless it includes words such as Empire, Crown, Imperial, Windsor, Royal, Chartered or Municipal. Special consent is required for names such as Bank, Insurance, European, Maltese or International.
Memorandum and Articles of Association: To register a limited liability company, Memorandum and Articles of Association must be prepared by a licensed law practitioner and filed at the Office of the Registrar of Companies. A limited liability company may be registered by the shareholders or their authorised agent. Memorandum specifies the activities in which the company may engage and Articles of Association specifies the rules governing the internal management of the company.
Shareholders: The number of shareholders in a private Limited Liability Company may be from 2 to 50. Single member companies can be incorporated under certain conditions. Details of shareholders appear on the public file but anonymity can be preserved by the use of nominee shareholders. The company must have at least 2 shareholders one of which must be a physical person. Bearer shares cannot be issued.
Directors:
When forming a Maltese registered business, bear the following conditions in mind:
- A Malta company is required to have at least one director, who may also act as the company secretary in certain cases.
- It is possible for a body corporate to act as the director of a Malta business, although the role of company secretary must be filled by an individual.
- Maltese business laws also state that an individual can be both a company director and shareholder.