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Self-Employment January 2026 8 min read

Malta Self-Employment Tax Guide 2026

Complete guide to taxes for freelancers and self-employed individuals in Malta.

Income Tax for Self-Employed

Self-employed individuals in Malta pay the same progressive tax rates as employees:

  • 0% on first €9,100 (single) / €12,700 (married)
  • 15% on next bracket
  • 25% on middle brackets
  • 35% above €60,000

Class 2 SSC Contributions

Self-employed pay Class 2 SSC at 15% of net annual income, with:

  • Minimum: ~€34/week
  • Maximum: ~€86/week (2026)

Provisional Tax Payments

Self-employed must pay provisional tax in 3 installments:

PaymentDue DateAmount
1stApril 3030%
2ndAugust 3130%
3rdDecember 2140%

Deductible Business Expenses

  • Office rent and utilities
  • Business equipment and software
  • Professional fees and subscriptions
  • Marketing and advertising
  • Travel and accommodation (business-related)

Malta Calculator Editorial Team

Financial Content Specialists | Malta Tax & Employment Experts

Our team specializes in Maltese tax law, social security contributions, and employment regulations. All content is reviewed against official sources from the Malta Commissioner for Revenue and the Department of Social Security.

Published: 1 January 2026

Official Sources

Data verified as of 1 January 2026. Rates and thresholds are subject to change based on Malta government budget announcements.

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freelance_dev_mtabout 2 months ago

been self-employed for 3 years in malta and this is the best summary ive found. the provisional tax payments catch a lot of people off guard in their first year. plan ahead!!

Antonia Farrugiaabout 2 months ago

Great guide. One thing to add - if you're self-employed and your income is under €35,000 you might want to look at the micro-invest scheme for tax credits. Saved me quite a bit last year.

digital_nomad_sliemaabout 2 months ago

just moved from remote employee to self-employed contractor. the SSC change from Class 1 to Class 2 was a shock 💸 helpful to see it all broken down here

MaltaBizabout 2 months ago

Would recommend anyone going self-employed to get a proper accountant. The tax system isnt complicated but the deadlines and provisional payments can trip you up. This guide is a great starting point tho 👍

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