Maltese International Trading
Companies

Onshore
Status
Prior to
1996, Maltese law admitted two basic forms of corporate structure which
were available to non-residents who wished to register a Maltese company
for commercial or asset trading purposes. These were [i] the onshore
company with an issued share capital of Lm10,000 (USD25,000) and [ii] the
low-tax (5%) offshore trading or zero-tax non-trading company.
In 1996, the
offshore regime was transformed into a new onshore regime. Malta adopted a
new Companies Act and amended the Income Tax Act to create the
International Holding Company (IHC) and the International Trading Company
(ITC) of today. These are normal Maltese onshore companies and are
therefore not perceived to be tax avoidance structures.

See also:
International
Trading Companies [index]
International Holding Companies [index]
Double
taxation treaties
A Malta base for Internet Betting
Operations