The Highly Qualified Persons Rules (S.L. 213.126) were recently amended by virtue of LN 29 of 2021.
S.L. 213.126 provided that no further determinations shall be considered post December 2020.
LN 29 of 2021 amends two previously existing considerations :
- Beneficiaries of HQP status can now benefit from two extensions (5 years – EU nationals; 4 years – Non-EU Nationals) of the said status, in opposite to only one as per the previous Rules, subject to prescribed limitations.
- The duration of the Scheme is extended for another 5 years (31 December 2025).
The eligibility criteria remained unchanged and the Commissioner for Revenue in Malta set the minimum qualifying employment income threshold for basis year 2021 at €86,938 for basis year 2021.
The Rules are designed for highly skilled and experienced Maltese residents, granting favorable tax rate of flat 15% on their qualifying employment in Malta up to a maximum employment income of €5,000,000.00.
The changes are effective from 31 December 2020.