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What are the Advantages of Being a Payment Service Provider Licensed in Malta?

The number of Payment Service licenses in Malta has grown significantly over the last few years, alongside the thriving i-Gaming and e-Commerce industries. Payment Service Providers “PSP” enjoy less stringent regulatory and supervisory requirements than other credit or financial Institutions.

Malta offers several advantages, including:

• EU ‘passporting’ rights;
• Ability to open a branch in other EU Member States;
• Employment benefits for employees classified as highly qualified persons, who can take advantage of an attractive tax regime.

PSPs are regulated under the Financial Institutions Act and the European Payment Services Directive. The Malta Financial Services Authority “MFSA” is the regulatory authority, in Malta, for PSPs.

PSPs may engage in various activities including; payment transactions, for example the execution of direct debits, payment transactions through a payment card or similar device, and the execution of credit transfers, including standing orders.

Key Requirements

Key requirements are:

• a minimum of 3 directors, at least one of them being a Maltese resident;
• a minimum of 2 local operational staff members;

At minimum there must be a Money Laundering Reporting Officer “MLRO,” and Compliance Officer and these roles have to be undertaken by individuals based in Malta;

the Directors, MLRO and Compliance Officer must demonstrate proven prudent conduct, and be approved by the MFSA.

Capital Requirements

PSPs providing the execution of payment transactions, including transfers of funds on a payment account and execution of:

• Direct debits, including one-offs;
• Payment transactions through a payment card or a similar device;
• Credit transfers, including standing orders;

are subject to a minimum share capital requirement of €125,000.

Permissible Activities for PSPs

PSPs are allowed to undertake the following services:

• Services enabling cash to be placed or withdrawn from a payment account and  the associated activities to operate such an account;
• Execution of payment transactions, including transfer of funds on a payment account with the user’s or another PSP;
• Execution of payment transactions, where the funds are covered by the credit line of a payment service user;
• Issuing and/or acquiring payment instruments.

Passporting Rights

The activities of a licenced PSP may be passported into other EU member states and EEA jurisdiction, in accordance with a prescribed notification procedure. This enables the Maltese PSP to provide its services within another Member State either:

• Through the establishment of a branch; or
• On the basis of the free provision of services.

Taxation and Fees

Maltese companies pay tax at a rate of 35%.

However, when a dividend is paid to a non-resident shareholder, that shareholder is able to claim a refund. This refund equals 6/7ths of the Maltese tax paid on active profits from which the dividend distribution was made.

Where profits emanate from passive income, the refund is equivalent to 5/7ths.

It is equivalent to a 2/3rds refund where the dividend is distributed out of foreign source income and where the Maltese company paying the dividend has claimed double taxation relief.

The tax refund is equivalent to 100% where the profits from which the relevant dividend is distributed, are derived by the Maltese company from a participating holding.

Annual supervisory fees will apply, depending on the revenue of the PSP.

Additional Information

If you would like further information regarding Malta Payment Service Licences, please contact Jonathan Vassallo at the Dixcart office in Malta: advice.malta@dixcart.com or your usual Dixcart contact.

Steven de Jersey, a director of Dixcart Trust Corporation Limited, the Dixcart office in Guernsey, answers some key questions regarding wealth management:

1. Why are more people needing to consult a professional who can help them with their wealth management?

There is an ever-increasing number of individuals creating wealth. This wealth is not just generated through the traditional routes of property, businesses and investment, but also through new technologies such as e-commerce and e-gaming, as well as higher incomes being generated through sport and entertainment.  Much of this newer wealth is being created at a greater pace and a younger age than previously.

Clients and their families are increasingly mobile with family members widely spread across multiple jurisdictions.  They require professional guidance in the structuring and planning of their affairs to ensure compliance with all the differing jurisdictional requirements, while still meeting their overall goals and objectives.  A qualified professional adviser will offer advice and guidance together with suggested solutions that the client may not even be aware of, as well as provide the comfort of having someone with the relevant knowledge and experience dealing with such technical matters.  In today’s world of obligations pertaining to multiple tax treaties, exchange of information and substance requirements and the varying regulation and legislation from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, failure to comply can have substantial consequences.

This situation has been exacerbated by the current pandemic and its effect on the world economy, governments are going to need to fund their expensive national Covid-19 support programmes.  Tax revenues will be down from traditional tax sources, and governments will look to collect additional tax from the individually wealthy. There is therefore even more reason for clients to ensure that their affairs are being reviewed and looked after by appropriate professional advisers.

• What sets your firm apart from other wealth management companies?

Dixcart Group is privately-owned and completely independent.  We are not tied to any other Group that may have conflicting goals, nor owned by a Private Equity House that has performance targets to be met, nor listed on the Stock Exchange with an expectation of shareholder returns. 

This means that we can provide our clients with impartial advice and the best solutions to meet their specific needs.

There is constant communication throughout the Group through regular meetings both in person and more recently via electronic conferences, to ensure that everyone is kept abreast of developments in the wealth industry. There are deep friendships that run, not only within and across the Dixcart offices, but also with our clients where we have often been trusted advisers across multiple generations.

• What is the best wealth preservation advice you can offer?

Know your goals and objectives – Think carefully what it is that you want to achieve and review these goals regularly.  If your goals are not clear and cannot be clearly communicated you are unlikely to attain them.

Consider how you are going to achieve these goals and objectives – You need to choose your professional advisers and service providers with your own goals in mind.  Track record and experience are important but clients should ensure that this experience is relevant to themselves and their circumstances. It is important that the advisers you choose are not only good at what they do, but also that you are comfortable that you can work alongside them for the long term as well.

Plan for the future – As soon as the next generation are old enough, involve them in the process.  This will ensure continuity and an inflow of new ideas.  

• What are the current trends shaping wealth management?

For some time tax has been less of a motivator in terms of wealth management with wealth protection, preservation and succession planning becoming more of a priority.  This trend has been highlighted during the current pandemic as the worldwide lockdown has given people time and inclination to review their affairs. We receive many requests for advice on wealth protection, preservation and succession planning. Good corporate governance, transparency and tax compliance is far more important than the privacy and cheap structures of the past.

Social and environmental concerns are much higher on clients’ agendas, particularly when looking to invest, as is reputational awareness regarding where the individual’s or family’s wealth is being managed.

Clients and their families want to be more mobile and flexible and need appropriately aligned advice.

With the continuing threat of further lockdowns, consideration needs to be given as to where individuals and families wish to live.  We are seeing an increase, within the Dixcart Group, of clients looking to move to jurisdictions perceived as being ‘safer,’ with the consequent increase in the number of private residences.

• What has been the impact of the ‘Economic Substance Requirements’ (ESR) legislation that has now been introduced across circa 140+ international jurisdictions?

ESR is very much an extension of the historical ‘mind and management’ requirements and the BEPS legislation, introduced to ensure structures meet the appropriate tax residency test.  Where jurisdictions already have a good track record of tax compliance and harmonization ESR has effectively put what was best practice for these jurisdictions, into legislation.

This has led to a review of offshore structures in particular by clients and their advisers with questions being asked as to the purpose of the structure and whether this is still relevant under the new legislation. Decisions are then made whether to amend the structures, migrate them onshore or to a more suitable jurisdiction, or simply close them down.

Jurisdictions with a less favorable track record of meeting international standards are now facing an uphill battle to meet the ESR legislative requirements that they have had to implement, with the result that banking and lending institutions are reviewing all of their arrangements with structures located in these jurisdictions.

We are pleased to report that in March 2019 the EU Code of Conduct Group approved Guernsey’s substance regime.  This was followed by further endorsement in July 2019 by the OECD Forum on Harmful Tax Practices, who concluded that the domestic legal framework of Guernsey was in line with agreed standards and therefore “not harmful”.

• What makes Guernsey a popular location for High Net Worth Individuals to relocate to?

Guernsey is a popular choice for individuals looking to relocate, with its proximity to the UK and mainland Europe together with its beneficial tax regime.

Guernsey has no capital gains, inheritance or other wealth taxes.  There is neither VAT nor goods and service tax. There is also an attractive income tax cap for newcomers to the island.

Guernsey has the added benefits of beautiful scenery, and a slower-paced, more traditional way of life with the reassurance of personal safety and excellent community spirit.

Further Information

For further information regarding wealth management, please speak to Steve de Jersey in the Dixcart office in Guernsey: advice.guernsey@dixcart.com.  Alternatively, please speak to your usual Dixcart contact.

(The original version of this article appeared in the September 2020 edition of FINANCE MONTHLY)

Dixcart Trust Corporation Limited, Guernsey: Full Fiduciary Licence granted by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

Guernsey registered company number: 6512.

The Concept of ‘Fiscal Units’ and Why They are of Interest

Through its Income Tax Act, Malta had introduced the concept of ‘Fiscal Units’ which can be formed by a group of companies. This means that it is now possible for such companies to directly pay 5% tax (trading income) or 10% (passive income), rather than the standard 35% for a trading company, with non-resident shareholders then claiming a 30% refund (trading income)or 25% (passive income).

As from 2020 it is possible to register a group of companies as a fiscal unit, which can  elect to be treated as a single taxpayer.

Malta published Consolidated Group Rules which come into force with effect from the year of assessment 2020, relating to fiscal units with accounting periods commencing in 2019 and subsequent years thereafter.

• One of the advantages of applying the consolidation regime is a cash flow benefit. Filing one tax return will eliminate the time lapse for receipt of the tax refund in the usual circumstances, where a tax return is filled for each company separately. For a group of companies only one tax return would be filed.
• Consolidated Group Rules will make income tax calculations and reporting for group companies and other group matters easier, as all income, outgoings and expenses derived by the companies will be considered incurred by the principal taxpayer. The same will rule will be applied in relation to transactions occurring between the principal taxpayer and its subsidiaries.

Formation of a Fiscal Unit

A parent company and relevant subsidiary or subsidiaries may make an election to form a fiscal unit. The parent company must own at least 95% of the subsidiary, and the subsidiary must have the same accounting period as its parent company.

Subsidiaries, as detailed above, are referred to as ‘transparent subsidiaries’. Where the transparent subsidiary is a parent company, if it has any ‘95% subsidiaries’, they are also able to join the fiscal unit. The principal taxpayer of a fiscal unit, is a parent company of one or more transparent subsidiaries, within the fiscal unit.

Companies which are not resident in Malta may form part of a fiscal unit, however the principal taxpayer must at all times qualify as a company registered in Malta, and must maintain a permanent establishment in Malta.

Chargeable Income

Members of the fiscal unit, other than the principal taxpayer, are regarded as transparent entities for Malta income tax purposes. As a result, any income and gains derived by these transparent subsidiaries will be directly allocated to the principal taxpayer. Similarly, expenditure and capital allowances incurred by transparent subsidiaries will also be directly allocated to the principal taxpayer.

Transactions between members of the fiscal unit shall be disregarded, with the exception of transfers of immovable property situated in Malta, and the transfer of property companies. 

Income or gains allocated to the principal taxpayer will retain their character and source. A number of deemed source rules, are however included. For example, income or gains derived by a non-Malta tax resident transparent subsidiary, are deemed to be attributable to a permanent establishment of the principal taxpayer situated outside Malta, as long as the transparent subsidiary maintains sufficient substance in that jurisdiction.

Compliance Obligations

Use of the Malta Fiscal Unit Regime is by choice.

The principal taxpayer will be required to prepare a consolidated balance sheet and consolidated profit and loss account, covering all of the companies within the fiscal unit. The principal taxpayer is also responsible for filing the tax return of the fiscal unit, with the other members of the fiscal unit being exempt from filing their respective tax returns. The members of the fiscal unit are jointly and severally liable for the payment of tax.

Additional Information

If you would like any further information on this subject, please contact the Dixcart office in Malta: advice.malta@dixcart.com or your usual Dixcart contact.