Malta or Ireland: where should you start a business?
Malta ranks higher in the index, 09 against 17. Which suits you depends on where the owners live, what the company is for and how it will be run.
Pillar by pillar
Doing business, side by side
Tax
The headline rate is 35%. Trading profits reach about 5% effective only through shareholder refunds on distribution. VAT is 18%.
Trading income is taxed at 12.5% and non-trading income at 25%, according to PwC. VAT is 23%, and Budget 2027 left the 12.5% rate unchanged.
Set-up
Registration can take 24 hours once the file is complete. Fees start at €100 and the annual return at €85, both rising with authorised capital.
Online incorporation costs €50 and the annual return €20. No standard time applies, and on 8 October 2026 the queue ran about eight working days behind.
On the ground
A registered office in Malta and a company secretary are mandatory. Authorised capital must be at least €1,164.69, with 20% paid up.
At least one director must be resident in the EEA unless the company lodges a €25,000 bond or certifies a real and continuous link.
Ownership
General public access to the beneficial ownership register was suspended after a November 2022 EU court ruling; others must show a legitimate interest.
Public access was suspended in November 2022, and access now depends on a legitimate interest or on being a designated person.
Residence
The Start-up Residence Programme requires at least €25,000 invested in a Malta company and a business plan approved by Malta Enterprise.
The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme requires €50,000 in funding and a high-potential start-up. The Immigrant Investor Programme closed in February 2023.
Living and working
Currency
Euro.
Euro.
Time zone
UTC+1, or UTC+2 in summer.
UTC+0, and UTC+1 in summer.
Personal tax
Top rate 35% on income above €60,000 (single, 2026). Capital gains tax applies, but there is no inheritance or wealth tax.
Income above €44,000 is taxed at 40% for a single person in 2026, plus a charge of up to 8%; gains are taxed at 31%, gifts at 33%.
Flights
Malta International Airport served 109 destinations in 2024; Delta flies to New York three times a week from June to October 2026.
Language
Maltese and English are official languages. The courts use Maltese, although Parliament can provide for the use of English.
Irish is the national and first official language, and English is the second official language under Article 8 of the Constitution.
Malta vs Ireland: common questions
Malta: The headline rate is 35%. Trading profits reach about 5% effective only through shareholder refunds on distribution. VAT is 18%. Ireland: Trading income is taxed at 12.5% and non-trading income at 25%, according to PwC. VAT is 23%, and Budget 2027 left the 12.5% rate unchanged.
Malta: Registration can take 24 hours once the file is complete. Fees start at €100 and the annual return at €85, both rising with authorised capital. Ireland: Online incorporation costs €50 and the annual return €20. No standard time applies, and on 8 October 2026 the queue ran about eight working days behind.
Malta: A registered office in Malta and a company secretary are mandatory. Authorised capital must be at least €1,164.69, with 20% paid up. Ireland: At least one director must be resident in the EEA unless the company lodges a €25,000 bond or certifies a real and continuous link.
Malta: General public access to the beneficial ownership register was suspended after a November 2022 EU court ruling; others must show a legitimate interest. Ireland: Public access was suspended in November 2022, and access now depends on a legitimate interest or on being a designated person.
Malta: The Start-up Residence Programme requires at least €25,000 invested in a Malta company and a business plan approved by Malta Enterprise. Ireland: The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme requires €50,000 in funding and a high-potential start-up. The Immigrant Investor Programme closed in February 2023.
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