Whether you are establishing a single-family office (SFO), operating a multi-family office (MFO), or seeking to relocate an established family wealth management structure, Malta offers a comprehensive and competitive proposition grounded in transparent legal frameworks and internationally aligned governance standards.

The combination of advantageous fiscal incentives, robust regulatory oversight, EU membership, and a thriving professional services ecosystem creates a unique value proposition for international families.

Senior family office professionals now benefit from a preferential 15% tax rate on qualifying employment income (up to €7 million per annum) under the new 2026 framework.

Baseline requirement for eligibility, increasing by €10,000 every five years.

Maximum annual income subject to the 15% rate; excess income taxed at 35%.

Standard rate with available refunds and 0% tax exemptions for holding companies.

Full alignment with European regulatory standards and cross-border transaction frameworks.

Over 75 treaties with jurisdictions across Europe, Asia, and beyond, reducing withholding taxes and facilitating international transactions.

Entry requirement for Notified Professional Investor Fund (NPIF) structures used in family office contexts

A groundbreaking preferential tax regime introduced in 2025 (applicable from the 2026 year of assessment) offers a flat 15% tax rate on qualifying employment income for senior professionals employed by family offices, back offices, and treasury management operations. This represents one of Europe’s most competitive rates for wealth management professionals.

• Flat Rate: 15% on gross qualifying employment income – no deductions, reliefs, or offsets permitted
• Income Cap: Applies to annual income up to €7 million; excess income taxed at standard rates
• Duration: Initial five-year period with potential for two further extensions, enabling up to 15 years of benefit
• Eligible Roles: CEO, Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Manager, Senior Trader, Senior Structuring Professional, Compliance Officers, Risk Management Heads
• Eligible Entities: Single Family Offices, Multi-Family Offices, Back Office and Treasury Management undertakings serving family offices

• Minimum annual gross salary: €65,000 – adjusted annually by €10,000 every five years
• Must be employed under a qualifying contract in Malta
• Individual must not be domiciled in Malta
• Must perform duties in Malta – including work abroad directly related to the Malta-based role
• Must obtain formal determination from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA)

Eligible individuals submit applications to the MFSA, which issues formal determinations within a prescribed timeline. Documentation includes employment contracts, property ownership / lease evidence, private health insurance details, and relevant qualifications.

Beneficiaries must maintain eligibility criteria annually, file tax returns correctly, and declare all emoluments and related income. Renewal applications must be submitted before the end of the relevant five-year period.

Malta’s personal tax system is based on the British non-domicile system – a system that Britian diluted in 2025. Accordingly, Malta does not tax on a world-wide basis, instead taxing personal income for ordinary residents on:

1. Income arising in Malta
2. Foreign income remitted to Malta

Whereas, foreign
Malta offers a number of residency programmes for both EU and non-EU families. The majority of Malta’s residency programmes provides are tax efficient.

Malta’s corporate tax framework provides efficiency through multiple mechanisms:

• Corporate Tax Rate: 5% effective corporate tax rate from 35% following application of refunds, participation exemptions
• Participation Exemption: Applies to dividends and capital gains from qualifying holdings, reducing effective corporate taxation
• Holding Company Structures: 0% corporate tax rate – beneficial for international investment and asset management vehicles
• Refund System: Under certain conditions, investors may benefit from refundable tax credits
• Double Taxation Treaty Network: Extensive network of 75+ treaties reducing withholding taxes on dividends, interest, and royalties
• No withholding / shareholder taxes / exit or entry taxes

Optimal Structuring:
Acumum’s professional advisors can structure family office entities—including holding companies, investment funds, and corporate entities—to maximise tax efficiency while maintaining full regulatory compliance and transparency.

Malta offers clarity and predictability regarding the taxation of dividends, capital gains, and investment returns:

• No Further Personal Tax on Dividends: For business owners and family members residing in Malta under applicable tax schemes
• Capital Gains: Treated as part of ordinary income, subject to established reliefs and exemptions
• Professional Investment Status: Family office managers and investors benefit from a transparent framework without additional burdens
• Investment Fund Advantages: Professional Investor Funds (PIFs) and other regulated structures offer significant tax advantages and flexibility

Malta’s legal system provides robust tools for multi-generational wealth preservation and succession planning:

• Estate Administration: Clear statutory frameworks for wills, trusts, and succession
• Family Trusts: Comprehensive trust law grounded in both civil and common law principles
• Foundation Structures: Alternative vehicles for wealth preservation and philanthropic activities
• Family Trust Company: A unique vehicle allowing for family members to be board members of the company and direct their own affairs and investments
• Succession Documentation: Streamlined mechanisms for transfer of assets across generations
• Tax Certainty: Established precedent and legislation minimising uncertainty in succession arrangements

This framework enables families to structure their affairs confidently, knowing that their
intentions will be protected and executed according to established law and practice.

Malta recognizes and facilitates various regulated investment structures particularly suited to family office operations:

• Notified Professional Investor Funds (NPIFs): Lightly-regulated funds investing private family wealth without raising third-party capital
• Minimum Thresholds: €50 million minimum aggregate family net asset value; €5 million minimum investment per NPIF
• Tax Transparency: NPIFs benefit from a transparent tax framework with significant administrative flexibility
• Investment Freedom: Broad investment scope enabling diversified family portfolios
• Regulatory Streamlining: Light-touch regulatory regime optimizing operational efficiency while maintaining governance safeguards

Malta’s regulatory environment reflects its status as a full European Union member state with a mature, internationally respected financial services regulator.

Regulatory Foundation

• Full EU Membership: Malta operates under EU directives and regulations, ensuring crossborder consistency and mutual recognition
• Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA): Independent, internationally-respected regulator overseeing family offices, trustees, fund managers, and administrators
• Harmonized Standards: Implementation of EU directives (including MiFID II, AML/CFT, GDPR) ensures international alignment
• Responsive Regulation: Framework adapts to evolving market conditions while maintaining stability and integrity

The MFSA has streamlined its regulatory framework specifically to facilitate single and multi-family office establishment:

• Tailored Frameworks: Specific rulebooks for family trusts, private trust companies, and notified professional investor funds
• Light-Touch Regulation: Regulatory burden proportionate to the scope and complexity of family office activities
• Licensing Distinctions: Single Family Offices engaging solely in asset management typically operate without direct licensing; specific regulated activities (fund management, trustee services) require appropriate licenses
• Determination Process: Streamlined approval procedures for formal determinations under tax incentive schemes

• Incorporated private company serving as fiduciary and administrator
• Manages family wealth without raising external capital
• Offers governance flexibility and family involvement
• No license required for core investment activities
• Regulatory requirements limited to trust and corporate compliance

• Established under Maltese law with registered trustee
• Beneficiaries limited to family members (including extended family under modern definitions)
• Allows key family office employees as “family clients” in certain circumstances
• Transparent beneficial ownership structures with appropriate confidentiality protections

• Regulated investment structure managing wealth of multiple families
• Must meet minimum thresholds: €50 million aggregate family wealth, €5 million per family investment
• Exempt manager status under investment regulations
• Professional governance with independent oversight
• Significant operational and regulatory flexibility

• Full regulatory license under investment services rules
• Comprehensive governance, audit, and reporting requirements
• Suitable for larger, more complex multi-family operations
• Enhanced professional oversight and third-party administration

• Undertakings providing administrative and treasury services to family offices
• Eligible for the 15% senior employee tax regime
• Supports operational efficiency and cost-sharing across multiple families

• Alternative vehicle for wealth preservation and philanthropic activities
• Particularly suited to families with charitable or social objectives
• Complementary to trust and corporate structures

• No minimum capital requirement
• €5 million recommended minimum investment to support sophisticated operations (though smaller structures are permissible)
• Flexibility for families at various wealth levels

• €50 million minimum aggregate family net asset value
• €5 million minimum investment per individual family
• Ensures professional-grade operations and fund stability

• Senior family office employees may be recognized as “family clients” under updated trust regulations
• Enables profit-sharing and talent retention while maintaining single-family office classification

• Specialized counsel in succession planning, corporate structuring, and cross-border transactions
• Trust and estate planning expertise grounded in both civil and common law principles
• Regulatory compliance and governance advisory
• Dispute resolution and arbitration services

• International tax optimization and double taxation treaty planning
• Personal and corporate tax structuring
• Transfer pricing and controlled foreign company analysis
• International mobility and expatriate tax advisory

• Licensed trustees administering family trusts
• Corporate trustees and fiduciary services
• Alternative trustee arrangements for family control preservation
• Private trust company formation and support

• Licensed fund managers and investment advisors
• Discretionary portfolio management
• Alternative investment opportunities and custody solutions
• Risk management and investment governance services

• Private banking services specializing in high-networth wealth management
• Multi-currency accounts and international payment facilities
• Investment platform access and custody
• Treasury management and liquidity solutions

• Company secretarial services and statutory compliance
• Fund administration and investor reporting
• Regulatory reporting and filing services
• HR and payroll administration

• Statutory audit services aligned to international standards (IFRS)
• Accounting and bookkeeping services
• Tax compliance and return filing
• Financial reporting and management accounts

• Specialized fintech solutions for family office operations
• Cybersecurity infrastructure and data protection compliance
• Regulatory technology (RegTech) solutions
• Cloud infrastructure and backup systems

• Residency program advisory (Global Residence Programme, individual residency permits)
• Immigration planning for family members and key employees
• Visa assistance and work permits
• Lifestyle relocation support

Malta’s geographic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East provides distinct advantages:

• Airport Connectivity: Direct flights to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Rome, and major European financial centres
• Shipping Routes: Direct maritime access to global trade routes; short transit times to European ports
• Time Zone Advantage: Central European Time (CET) bridges European, African, and Middle Eastern markets
• Proximity to EU Centres: Under 2-hour flight to Paris, Frankfurt, London; 4 hours to major African centres

• Climate: Year-round Mediterranean sunshine (300+ days annually); temperate winters
• Healthcare: EU-standard healthcare system with private options; modern medical facilities
• Education: International schools (British, American, International Baccalaureate) serving expatriate communities
• Culture and Recreation: Rich history, Mediterranean cuisine, outdoor activities, and cosmopolitan cultural scene
• Safety and Stability: Low crime rates; established political stability and democratic governance
• Expat Community: Well-established international community with diverse social, business, and cultural networks

• EU Member State: Subject to EU law, regulations, and oversight; mutual recognition across member states
• Developed Financial System: Mature capital markets, banking system, and financial infrastructure
• Democratic Governance: Representative democracy with established rule of law and transparent institutions
• Economic Resilience: Diversified economy (tourism, financial services, digital innovation, maritime); strong economic growth
• Regulatory Independence: Impartial regulatory authorities with robust governance standards

The establishment of a family office in Malta is a structured, transparent process supported by experienced legal and tax professionals. Whether your family is establishing an initial wealth management structure, consolidating existing arrangements, or relocating professional operations to Europe, Malta offers a compelling combination of advantages:

• Fiscal Efficiency: Competitive tax rates and transparent incentive schemes
• Regulatory Certainty: EU-aligned frameworks with responsive, professional oversight
• Professional Services: Mature ecosystem of specialized advisors across legal, tax, investment, and administrative domains
• Strategic Location: Connectivity to European financial centres with Mediterranean lifestyle benefits
• Long-Term Sustainability: Clear legal frameworks supporting multi-generational wealth preservation and succession

Acumum specialises in guiding international families through the establishment and optimization of family office structures in Malta.

We provide comprehensive support across legal, tax, regulatory, and administrative dimensions, ensuring that your family’s objectives are achieved within a framework of clarity, compliance, and strategic advantage.

To discuss your family office requirements and explore how Malta can support your wealth management objectives, we welcome the opportunity to engage in a confidential consultation.

Our advisors will assess your specific circumstances and recommend optimal structures and strategies tailored to your family’s needs.