Benefits of owning a Malta Shipping Company

Being able to apply for a 100% exemption from Income Tax on the resultant profit is essentially the most attractive proposition.

In fact, a Malta shipping company, registered under the Merchant shipping Act, is a very tax efficient medium with which one can own and register it‘s ships under a Maltese flag. Companies owning or operating (including under bare boat charter) Malta-flagged vessels may apply and benefit for a complete exemption from Income Tax on the resultant earnings.

There are various advantages of registering a Ship under a Maltese flag, as well as operating the Shipping operations through Malta – including:

  • Malta offers very competitive ship registration Fees
  • Malta offers Low Corporate Formation and maintenance fees
  • 100% Tax exemption for ships that meet certain specifications with a Maltese Shipping Company
  • Malta imposes no restrictions on the nationality of the ship owner;
  • Malta imposes no restrictions on the nationality of the master, officers and crew;
  • No withholding Taxes.
  • No restrictions or taxation on the sale and mortgaging of Maltese registered ships;
  • No trading restrictions
  • Maltese flagged vessels enjoy preferential treatment to Maltese ships in certain ports;

“Companies owning or operating (including under bare boat charter) Malta-flagged vessels may apply and benefit for a complete exemption from income tax on the resultant earnings.”