OUR SERVICES

TAX TREATMENT OF MALTESE SHIPPING ORGANISATIONS

The taxation of Shipping Organisations is dealt with by specific regulations enacted by the Minster responsible for Shipping, with the concurrence of the Minister responsible for Finance (hereinafter the ‘Tax Regulations’) pursuant to the powers granted to the Ministers under the Merchant Shipping Act.

For a Shipping Organisation to qualify for Maltese tonnage tax benefits, five requirements must be met;
  • All registration fees and tonnage taxes must have been duly paid;
  • Separate accounts must have been kept clearly distinguishing the payments and receipts by the Shipping Organisation concerned in respect of shipping activities, including the ownership, operation, administration or management of a tonnage tax ship, and payments and receipts in respect of other business;
  • Only income derived from shipping activities is exempted;
  • The activities must be performed by a tonnage tax ship;
  • The tonnage tax ship must be owned or chartered by a licensed Shipping Organisation.

The Tax Regulations provide that, notwithstanding anything contained in the Income Tax Act, but provided that all relevant registration fees and tonnage taxes as may have been prescribed are duly paid, no further tax under the Income Tax Act shall be charged or payable on the income referred to above.

OUR LAWYERS SPECIALISING IN THIS FIELD

Cedric Mifsud

Co-Founding Partner

Capt. François Laffoucrière

Head of Shipping Department

Charlene Gauci

Senior Associate

Jodie Darmanin

Junior Associate

MEET OUR TEAM

Get to know us
OUR TEAM

LATEST INSIGHTS

Civil Law
March 14, 2026

Guarantor must show that they are bound to pay

A guarantor to a bank loan must have at least paid back part of the sum due instead of the main debtor before taking legal…
Civil LawCriminal LawFamily Law
March 7, 2026

Court protects spouse due to serious domestic violence

A judgement delivered on 23 February 2026 by the Civil Court (Family Section) in a case presided by Judge Jacqueline Padovani Grima, confirmed that domestic…
EU LawImmigration Law
March 3, 2026

MALTA PERMANENT RESIDENCE PROGRAMME

Client Information Summary Based on Legal Notice 121 of 2021, as amended by Legal Notices 57 and 310 of 2024 and 146 of 2025  …