Making sense on Malta WHT on dividends

[Marzio]

Does anyone know how Malta WHT on dividends work?

WTF does "the Maltese tax on divididends may not exceed the amount chargeable on the profits out of which the dividends are paid" mean?

 

[Don]

From DTT:
(a) where the dividends are paid by a company resident of Cyprus to a resident of Malta who is the beneficial owner thereof, the Cyprus tax so charged shall not exceed 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends;

(b) where the dividends are paid by a company which is a resident of Malta to a resident of Cyprus who is the beneficial owner thereof Malta tax on the gross amount of the dividends shall not exceed that chargeable on the profits out of which the dividends are paid.

Note that in general there is no withholding tax under Maltese law on dividends, interest and royalties even where a treaty allows such tax.

 

[Marzio]

in general there is no withholding tax under Maltese law on dividends, interest and royalties even where a treaty allows such tax

So if there are no WHT what’s the meaning of that phrase?

 

[Don]

So if there are no WHT what’s the meaning of that phrase?

Not a Maltese lawyer, but have worked with a few.
You need to consider wether the receiver is an individual or a legal entity, non-dom, source of income and special scheme that might apply, and when you remit the income to Malta.

Depending on the residence and domicile of the individual, liability to Maltese income tax arises -
- on a worldwide basis, or
- on a remittance basis, or
- on a territorial basis