Tyfany

Tyfany is a boutique accounting, tax and advisory practice in St Paul's Bay, on the north coast of Malta. Its aim is to be a more personal alternative to the large firms: a small, specialist team that looks after the books, VAT, payroll, tax returns and registrations of freelancers, start-ups, expatriate founders and established companies, and that takes on a limited number of clients so each one gets proper attention.

For a UK reader, that can be a comfortable fit. If you are moving to Malta to work for yourself, opening a shop or office, or running a Maltese company from abroad, you will need someone to deal with the Maltese tax authority, the employment agency and the VAT rules on your behalf. Tyfany handles those tasks and explains them in plain language. On VisitMalta.co.uk the practice is listed in our directory of accountants in Malta.

A small firm with a personal approach

Tyfany was set up around a simple idea: businesses of every size should be able to work with an accountant who knows them, answers quickly and avoids jargon. The practice combines modern accounting software and up to date knowledge of regulation with traditional habits of discretion, honesty and professionalism. Its three working principles are clarity over complexity, relationships over transactions and excellence over volume.

In practice that means the firm chooses its clients carefully and would rather build long relationships than process large numbers of files. It does not offer one-size-fits-all packages or automated advice. Instead the team asks about your goals and worries first, then works out what you need, whether that is ongoing bookkeeping or expert input on one specific matter. Clients range from the self-employed and small businesses to start-ups and established brands.

Everyday accounting, administration and payroll

The foundation of the service is accounting: timely, structured financial records shaped around how your business actually operates, including month-end and year-end routines. Many clients also hand over the paperwork that surrounds accounting. The administration service covers official correspondence, statutory records, employer (PE) number applications, VAT and tax number applications, employment engagement forms, document preparation and filing, liaison with local authorities, single permit applications for foreign workers and acting as a tax representative. Outsourcing these jobs can spare a young company the cost of hiring in-house staff.

Because the firm stays small by choice, you deal with a team that knows your file rather than a rotating cast of juniors. The practice also keeps pace with regulatory change, so advice stays current as the rules move. Handling the paperwork is a large part of what the boutique label means here, and it matters most to owners who would otherwise spend their evenings on it.

Payroll is a separate service. The team applies for PE numbers, submits engagement and termination forms to Jobsplus, the national employment agency, runs monthly payroll, produces payslips, calculates social security and tax and files returns with the Commissioner for Tax and Customs. The service suits anything from a single employee to a whole workforce. For a UK employer used to PAYE, it is useful to know that these filings, including FS3 and FS5 forms, are the Maltese equivalent and are handled by named members of the team.

VAT, tax and self-employment

VAT is handled from end to end: registration, periodic returns, refund claims and settlements, cross border VAT administration, recapitulative statements for sales between EU states and support if the authorities carry out a VAT inspection. Since the rules change often and deadlines are strict, small and growing companies tend to benefit most from passing this work on.

The tax service covers personal and corporate income tax returns, tax registration, provisional and final tax payments, tax planning and structuring, company tax computations and filings, registration of shareholders for tax refunds, fiscal consolidation and representation before the Commissioner for Tax and Customs. It also serves people living in Malta on the Nomad Residence Permit, and those who hold a special tax status under residence schemes such as the Global Residence Programme. Our guide to Malta tax for UK nationals and our explainer on Malta's corporate tax structure give background before you speak to an accountant.

Freelancers and consultants are a particular focus. Becoming self-employed in Malta means registering with Jobsplus and with the Commissioner for Tax and Customs, obtaining a VAT number where it applies and paying social security contributions. Tyfany guides you through these steps, makes the registrations, keeps your books, prepares annual profit and loss statements and offers consultations. If you are working from the island as a remote professional, our digital nomad guide to Malta covers the permit side.

Advisory, funding and specialist registrations

Beyond compliance, the practice supports strategy. Its advisory services include funding and grant applications, business consultancy to help owners make decisions and reach their targets, support on mergers and acquisitions and independent audit work aimed at transparency, accuracy and regulatory compliance. Specialist teams serve fintech businesses and licensed gaming companies, combining accounting, compliance and legal solutions for the gaming sector. Readers interested in that industry can find context in our iGaming in Malta guide and our overview of financial services in Malta.

Fintech companies receive specialised accounting and advisory support designed around how quickly that sector changes, while licensed gaming companies are offered accounting, compliance and legal solutions suited to the rules they operate under. Choosing an accountant who already works in your sector is a sensible way to avoid learning on the job.

Registrations are another strand. Tyfany assists with registering aircraft in Malta, including ownership structuring and ongoing support, and with registering commercial and pleasure vessels under the Maltese flag, with attention to ownership structures and maritime tax advantages. It also helps with trademark registrations in Malta, the EU and internationally, and with other filings such as Malta Tourism Authority applications, BCRS registrations, ARMS applications and Housing Authority rent registration. For individuals, it assists with applications under the Global Residence Programme and the Malta Permanent Residence Programme; our UK guide to relocating to Malta explains the wider move.

The team and the languages they speak

The practice is headed by Daniela Attard Seychell, a Certified Public Accountant and certified tax adviser with more than 15 years of experience. She is a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants and holds ACCA qualifications and a Certificate in Taxation from the Malta Institute of Taxation. Before Tyfany she worked as Group Accountant at one of Malta's largest businesses and led finance teams elsewhere. She is fluent in English and Maltese.

She works with a small team of accountants and administrators: a junior accountant who handles business filings, payroll and Jobsplus procedures and acts as liaison with auditors; a senior accounts executive with more than ten years of experience in Malta, the UAE and India; two accounts executives covering payroll, VAT returns, tax documentation, invoices, month-end and year-end closing; an accounts clerk; and an office administrator with a legal background. Between them the team speaks English, Maltese, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Filipino, Nepali, Bengali, Sylheti and Urdu, which is helpful for international owners and for employers with a multinational workforce.

Where to find Tyfany and how to start

Tyfany works from Lornev, Unit 3, Triq il-Bardnell, in San Pawl il-Bahar, the Maltese name for St Paul's Bay. The resort area is known for its seafront promenade and is also home to Qawra and Buġibba, so a visit to the office can easily be combined with a stay; see our listing of hotels in Qawra and St Paul's Bay. The wider region is covered in our guide to Mellieħa.

Clients who want to compare firms can look at a larger practice such as CLA Malta's audit, tax and corporate services before deciding which size of firm suits them. When you are ready, tell us briefly what you need: bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, a tax return, self-employed registration or something more specialised. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Tyfany, who will reply to you directly.