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Country flagMalta

Malta  being an EU member state falls under the EU VAT regime. Member states must adopt EU VAT Directives into their own legislation.

 

Standard VAT Rate: 18%

Reduced VAT Rate: 5%, 7%

Registration Threshold Distance Selling: 35,000 €

EU VAT number format: MT99999999

 

VAT Registration

The registration procedure requires filing the following documents with the Commissioner of VAT:

  • A registration application
  • In the case where the person applying for registration is not a physical person, a copy of the document incorporating the person
  • A copy of an identification document of the person signing the registration application

 

VAT Compliance

Detail rules regulate reporting requirements of Maltese transactions for Value Added Tax purposes. These include: invoice requirements, timeliness for an invoice to be issued, invoice and credit notes corrections rules, foreign currency reporting requirements and exchange rate sources, correction of previously submitted returns and accounting records that must be maintained for VAT purposes. 

VAT Returns

A VAT return must be filed for every tax period. Except as otherwise notified, a tax period means a period of three calendar months commencing on the first day immediately following the end of the preceding tax period. The Commissioner may by means of a notice in writing vary any tax period and it is normal for an annual tax period to be allocated to taxable persons with a very low turnover.

VAT returns need to be submitted by the 15th day of the second month following the VAT return period.

From 01.01.2011 a 7 days extension will be granted if the VAT return and payment is made electronically. 

Intrastat and EC Sales Lists

The Intrastat discloses details of movements of goods between Member States which take place for commercial reasons, recording the movement whenever goods enter the territory of Malta from other Member States or leave it to other Member States.

Declaration must be filed monthly once the annual threshold is exceeded.

Intrastat declarations can be submitted in paper format. The due date for submission is the tenth working day of the month following the reference period. E.g. for the January period, declarations must be submitted by the tenth working day of February. Intrastat declarations for certain arrivals/dispatches of goods (e.g. by courier service) are required to be submitted within shorter time frames.