Company services in Malta: formation and accounting, online
A company in Malta from abroad: formation and accounting, the first year in order, what a year costs and who Malta suits. Registered from 24 hours.
Services for a company in Malta, and how long each takes
For the other countries where we register companies, see international company formation.
| Service | When you need it | How long it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Company formation in Malta | At the start | From 24 hours once the Registrar holds every document |
| Accounting in Malta | From the registration | Every month, with the VAT return each quarter by the 22nd of the second month |
First year of a Malta company, in order
- name held 3 months1
Name and structure
The name is reserved in BAROS, the Registry's portal, for 3 months and €10. You choose the shareholders, the director and the capital, and we write the memorandum in English.
- your part2
Documents and capital
You upload certified passport copies, and our compliance officer reads the file. You pay 20% of the capital, €232.94 of the minimum €1,164.69, into an account for the company in formation.
- from 24 hours3
Registration
You sign the memorandum, the articles and each director's form K(1), and we file through BAROS. The company exists from the date on the certificate.
- 1 day for the e-form4
Tax number, VAT and employer number
The income tax number issues on registration. One e-form brings the VAT number and the employer's PE number, and VAT registration falls due within 30 days of the first taxable sale: Malta VAT rates and registration.
- every year5
Books, returns and the refund
Your accountant files VAT each quarter, the annual return within 42 days of each anniversary and the tax return 9 months after the year end, and claims the shareholder's refund after each dividend.
What a Malta company costs to run for a year
State fees as published in October 2026, for capital up to €1,500. Our fees for formation, with the registered office and the company secretary, and for accounting with the audit file come in your quote. The quote gives the total of the year. See how our prices work.
| Amount | Line | When |
|---|---|---|
| €110 | Registry fee €100 and name reservation €10 | once |
| €232.94 | Capital paid in at signing, 20% of €1,164.69 | once, and it stays in the company |
| €85 | Annual return fee at the Registry | each year |
| 5% | Corporate tax on trading profit, after the shareholder's refund | of the profit that is paid out |
Who Malta suits, and what you sign
5%Suits a company that pays its profit out
A Malta company pays 35%, and a registered shareholder claims 6/7 of it back after a dividend. On €100,000 of trading profit €5,000 stays in Malta. A holding of at least 5% in a subsidiary brings dividends and share gains in free of Malta tax, under the participation exemption.
35%Less suited to a company that keeps its profit
The company pays the 35% first, and the refund follows a dividend. An owner who reinvests weighs the 6/7 refund against the 15% final tax, since the refund comes only with a dividend.
4 rolesWhat Malta expects of the company
The company needs a registered office in Malta and a company secretary. A registered tax practitioner submits its tax return and a certified public auditor signs the audit report. We arrange all four roles.
K(1)What you sign and what we sign
You sign the memorandum, the articles and the form K(1), the consent of each director. Our compliance officer reads your file, and we file through BAROS and prepare each return for your approval on the Legarithm platform.
What clients write about Legarithm
4.8 on Google from 26 reviews.
Questions about a company in Malta
What comes between the Malta certificate and the first invoice?
The certificate comes from 24 hours after the Registry holds every document, and the company exists from its date. A company with taxable sales registers for VAT within 30 days of the first sale, and the e-form for the number delivers in 1 day.
How long does the 6/7 refund take to reach the shareholder?
The Act sets 14 days from the day the refund is due, and the Commissioner may take 12 months more for further checks. We file the claim once the company has paid its tax and the dividend, with the dividend certificate.
Does a new Malta company pay provisional tax in its first year?
No. The first year of assessment has a benchmark of nil. Afterwards the instalments fall on 30 April, 31 August and 21 December, at 20%, 30% and 50% of the tax in the last return.
Why does the Registry ask for a bank slip before registration?
Because the capital is paid first, into an account for the company in formation. The account takes 20% of the share capital, and the bank's deposit slip goes to the Registry with the memorandum. The business account follows the registration.
Can one person own and direct a Malta company alone?
Yes, as a single-member company: one shareholder and a sole director, who may also hold the post of company secretary. The private company with 2 to 50 shareholders is the other route.
What do I send and sign to start a Malta company?
You upload certified passport copies and sign the memorandum, the articles and the form K(1) of each director. Our compliance officer reads the file, and we file through BAROS.
Get a quote for your company in Malta
Book a 30-minute call about your company
Your consultant Vladyslav Babaiev Opens in a new tab Business Setup Specialist
- We email you the Google Meet link.
- 30 minutes, free, no obligation to order.
- After the call we email you the checklist of documents for your country.
We reply by the end of the next working day with the cost and the dates for your case. The first call is free and confidential.
Updated 21 October 2026. Reviewed by Vladyslav Drapii, Founder.
