GA Corporate

GA Corporate Limited is a company service provider in Valletta that specialises in registering and running Maltese companies for overseas owners. It works from Old Mint Street in the heart of the capital, within walking distance of the main government offices and the Grand Harbour, and it is authorised by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) under Chapter 529 of the Laws of Malta.

Most of its clients are founders and investors who want a Maltese limited company without having to be in Malta to do it. The firm prepares the documents, files them with the Malta Business Registry, provides a registered office and can then look after the company's secretarial and accounting needs. On VisitMalta.co.uk it is listed under corporate services in Malta.

Who GA Corporate is

GA Corporate Limited is registered in Malta under company number C 49501 and forms part of a larger group of companies. It is closely associated with Gonzi & Associates, Advocates, a boutique Maltese law firm working in corporate, financial services, gaming and shipping matters, which means legal questions can be referred to a firm that knows the company's work.

The team brings together lawyers, accountants and auditors who work in company formation, redomiciliation of companies, corporate management, accounting and audit. Its client base includes well known local and multinational companies as well as start-ups. The aim is company incorporation that is easy and affordable, with clear and transparent annual fees, and the firm has wide experience drafting the memorandum and articles of association, the founding documents that set out a company's rules, ownership and purpose.

Company formation and registration

Malta companies are set up under the Companies Act of 1995, which distinguishes between private and public limited liability companies. In a limited liability company, shareholders are responsible only for the amount, if any, unpaid on their shares. A private company normally needs one director, a company secretary and two shareholders, although a private exempt company may have a single shareholder. Public companies need at least two directors.

GA Corporate prepares everything needed to incorporate: a signed memorandum and articles, a beneficial owner form, certified copies of the passports of the ultimate owners, due diligence documents and evidence that the minimum share capital has been deposited in a company bank account. Because originals can be sent by courier or registered post, you do not have to travel to Malta. The firm generally registers a company within 72 hours of receiving the complete paperwork, and the Malta Business Registry then issues a certificate of registration showing the name, registered office, company number and date.

Names must end in a recognised designation, such as Ltd or Limited for a private company and p.l.c. for a public one, and cannot duplicate a name already registered. Each company must have a registered office in Malta, and GA Corporate can supply an address at its Valletta office, with correspondence forwarded by email. If you are comparing structures and taxes, our overview of how Malta's corporate tax structure works and our guide to Malta tax for UK nationals give context before you speak to an adviser.

Packages from Vanilla to Premium

The firm sells its work in four packages, called Vanilla, Standard, Plus and Premium, each priced on enquiry. The Vanilla package covers company incorporation and registered office, including formation, electronic copies of the memorandum and articles and the certificate of incorporation, help applying for a corporate bank account with a local bank or e-money institution, mail forwarding, back-office maintenance and assistance to the company secretary.

The Standard package is designed for holding companies. On top of the Vanilla items, it adds registration with the Commissioner for Revenue, an application for stamp duty exemption, yearly accounts and book-keeping, audited yearly financial statements and preparation of the tax return and any refund claim. The Plus package is for trading companies and adds an application for a VAT number and quarterly VAT returns. Premium, the most comprehensive option, adds a virtual office service with a company phone number and secretarial support, registration of a .MT domain, trademark registration in Malta and a Maltese company secretary.

Annual returns are filed on each anniversary of registration and tax returns follow set deadlines after the accounting date, so a reliable back office matters. Annual audited financial statements are required of every Maltese company, and the firm offers audit and accounting at rates that depend on the level of activity. It can also provide local management of a company, assist the company secretary with registers and statutory returns, and refer clients to partner estate agents and recruitment agencies when they need an office or staff.

Holding companies, tax and employing people

A common reason to use a Maltese company is the tax refund system. Malta's corporate tax rate is 35 per cent, and on distribution a shareholder can usually claim a refund of six sevenths of the tax paid on trading profits, five sevenths on passive interest and royalties, or two thirds where double taxation relief applies. A Malta holding company, sometimes called a dividend feeder company, can use this system to receive and retain the refund in Malta. A full imputation system means the tax paid by the company is credited to the shareholder on distribution. Malta also has an extensive double taxation treaty network and no withholding tax on dividends, interest and royalties paid to non-residents. Tax outcomes depend on your circumstances, so confirm the position with a qualified adviser. Our guide to Malta's financial services sector and guide to iGaming in Malta explain two of the industries that rely most on these structures.

For companies that will employ people, the firm can advise on the residence permit rules for non-Maltese nationals and the employment licence conditions for third-country nationals who are also shareholders. If you need a larger multidisciplinary team for audit and advisory work, our featured partner CLA Malta offers one, and personal moves are covered in our Malta relocation guide.

Virtual office, hot desks and extra services

Not every founder wants a lease straight away, and office space in Malta is already relatively cost-effective compared with many European cities. GA Corporate offers a virtual office service with a registered address in Valletta, a dedicated telephone number and a shared secretary who answers calls, subject to availability. It also offers a hot desk in its Valletta office, with a workstation and wi-fi in a room of no more than three workstations.

Other services include registering a .com.mt domain with matching email addresses, setting up and filing Malta trademark applications and arranging company secretary support. For those visiting Valletta for a meeting, our guides to the Upper Barrakka Gardens and St John's Co-Cathedral cover two highlights a short walk away, and our Valletta guide has the wider picture.

Visiting and getting started

Founders often ask why Malta rather than another EU country. English is an official language and most legislation is published in English, professional fees are generally lower than in many European jurisdictions, and the University of Malta and MCAST supply skilled graduates. Registration can take only a day or two once documents are in, and Malta Enterprise offers business aid. Our overview of Malta has more background. The office is at 115B Old Mint Street, Valletta VLT 1515. The firm does not print an opening hours table on its website. Flights from the UK take about three hours, but the process is built to run remotely, and you can brief the team through a short enquiry rather than a trip.

To begin, choose the package that fits, or ask a general question. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to GA Corporate, who will reply to you directly.