Country Profile: Malta

Financial Transactions Tax (FTT): Yes – tax in place

A 2% stamp duty tax is chargeable on the transfer of marketable securities such as any share, stock, debenture, bond or interest in any company. The tax is imposed on transfers that are executed in Malta. Both the transferor and transferee are jointly liable to pay the tax. Exemptions include shares listed on the Malta Stock Exchange, transfer of shares by non-residents, marketable securities acquired or disposed of by collective investment schemes, transfers to persons holding an investment services license, transfers to international trading companies, companies where more than half the ordinary share capital, voting rights and rights to profits are held by persons who not resident in Malta and are not owned or controlled directly by persons resident in Malta, and such company has been determined by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue as having the majority of its business interests outside Malta, companies which prove to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue that they carry on, or intend to carry on, business to the extent of more than 90% outside Malta,transfer of shares between companies within the same group, transfer of local securities if the transfer is made via merger, de-merger or restructuring within the scope of a group of companies.

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