Malta Freelancer — TA24 Income Tax, VAT3 & Class 2 SSC Return

Establish that the engagement is in scope: full-year Malta tax residency, sole proprietor or self-occupied structure (not a limited company or partnership), and whether the client is Article 10 VAT-registered, Article 11 exempt, or below the registration threshold. Identify any non-dom status that could affect the remittance basis under the Income Tax Act Cap. 123.

Collect all source documents for the year — bank statements, sales invoices, purchase receipts, prior-year TA24, prior VAT3 returns, SSC payment receipts, and any CFR correspondence. Parse each document to extract gross receipts, VAT collected, business expenses by category, provisional tax payments already made, and SSC paid to DSS. Surface gaps before asking questions.

Prepare the Q4 2025 VAT3 return (or annual Article 11 declaration if applicable). Reconcile output VAT on sales invoices against VAT3 boxes, compute recoverable input VAT on business purchases, identify any exempt or zero-rated supplies, and calculate the net VAT payable or refundable. Article 11 clients need only a simple annual turnover declaration confirming they remain below the €35,000 threshold.

Compute taxable trading profit: gross receipts less allowable deductions under the Income Tax Act Cap. 123 Art. 14, including Class 2 SSC paid, home office proportion, capital allowances on qualifying assets, and professional expenses. Apply the personal progressive tax rates (0% / 15% / 25% / 35% bands, or married/parent rates if applicable). Check for any other income (rental, dividends, interest) that enters the return via Box 4, and confirm whether the 15% final withholding on rental income keeps it off the return.

Reconcile Class 2 social security contributions (SSC) payable to the Department of Social Security (DSS) for 2025. Confirm weekly contribution amounts, verify that payments made match the DSS schedule, and identify any shortfall. SSC is deductible in the TA24 computation, so the final confirmed figure feeds back into Step 4.

Using the final TA24 tax liability established in Phase 4, compute the three provisional tax (PT) instalments due for the 2026 year under Art. 44 of the Income Tax Management Act Cap. 372 and S.L. 372.04. The split is always 20% by 30 April, 30% by 31 August, and 50% by 21 December — never equal thirds. Flag if the client expects a significant income drop and may wish to apply to CFR for a reduction.

Package all outputs — VAT3, TA24, SSC reconciliation, and PT schedule — into a reviewer brief for the warranted Malta CPA. Once reviewed and approved, file VAT3 via CFR Online Services (Q4 deadline: 15 January following the quarter) and TA24 by the 30 June annual deadline. Deliver a forward-looking filing calendar covering all 2026 obligations.