As announced by the Minister of Finance in his budget speech of October 2020, several schemes allowing for the reduction in duty on the acquisition of immovable property have been extended until the end of 2021. Such has been effected through Legal Notice 427, published on 10 October 2020.

The extended schemes are:

  • The First-time buyer scheme;
    • In addition, for buyers qualifying for the First-time buyer scheme, the duty-free value has increased to EUR200,000 (formerly EUR175,000 until 19th October 2020);
  • The Second-time buyer scheme;
  • The Gozo Property Scheme;
  • The Urban Conservation Area Property Scheme;
  • The Transfer of Family Business Scheme.

Additionally, the COVID-19 measure providing for a reduced duty rate of 1.5% on the first EUR400,000 of immovable property transferred inter vivos will apply until the end of 2021 (formerly by the end of March 2021). Eligibility is subject to the filing of the notice of promise of sale and the notice of the final transfer with the Revenue by 1 April 2021 and 28 February 2022 respectively.

Hereunder is a summary of each scheme.

First-time buyer scheme

The incentive is for first time buyers of residential property. If made until the end of 2021 (formerly 2020), acquisitions of such property are exempt from duty on the first €200,000 (€175,000 for acquisitions made before 20 October 2020), or on a pro-rata portion in case of co-acquisition, of the aggregate value of the consideration paid for the acquisition of such immovable property. The incentive applies provided that:

  • This is the first immovable property acquired inter vivos by such person as evidenced thereby and declared to the notary in writing.
  • The acquisition is made for the purpose of establishing therein or constructing thereon his/her sole ordinary residence.
  • The acquirer does not require a permit in terms of the Immovable Property (Acquisition by Non-Residents) Act.
  • The relevant duty form reaches the Revenue by 28 February 2022.

The scheme applies also to buyers of residential property even if they had previously acquired inter vivos an undivided share of immovable property representing less than 25% of the real value of the whole of such property.

Second-time buyer scheme

The incentive is for individuals who, by 31 December 2021 (formerly up to the end of 2020), replace their sole residential property with another within 12 months from vacating the first. Duty on the first €86,000, or the pro-rata portion in case of co-acquisition, of the value of the replacement property is refunded. Such incentive applies provided that:

  • The replaced property has been owned and occupied as own residence for a period of at least 3 consecutive years immediately preceding the date of transfer.
  • The acquirer does not require a permit in terms of Immovable Property (Acquisition by Non-Residents) Act.
  • Replaced property must have been subject to a reduced rate of duty upon acquisition for the purpose of establishing therein or constructing thereon the sole, ordinary residence of the transferor.
  • The replacement property is acquired by the transferee inter vivos for the purpose of establishing therein or constructing thereon his sole, ordinary residence but not through a donation from close relatives as defined.
  • At time of acquisition, the transferee must not own any other residential property acquired inter vivos other than the replaced property.
  • If certain duty exemptions had been availed of on the replaced property, 5 years must pass before this incentive can be availed of.
  • Whereas the relevant duty form must reach the Revenue by 28 February 2022, the claim for duty refund must be made in writing within 6 months from last contract.

Residential property in Gozo

The incentive is for individuals who acquire residential property situated in Gozo by the end of 2021 (formerly 2020), including a garage as defined, or land on which only one residential unit is to be built. This incentive reduces the rate of duty from the standard 5% to 2% on the higher of the consideration or value of the property. Such applies provided that:

  • The final deed is notified to the Revenue by 28 February 2022.
  • The acquirer does not benefit from the part-exemption from duty available on the gratuitous transfer of property to descendants in the direct line for the purposes of establishing one's sole ordinary residence.
  • The acquisition is not made in the course of a trade or business or for the purpose of demolition and construction of more than one unit.

Urban Conservation Area (UCA) Property Scheme

The incentive is for individuals who acquire residential property situated within a UCA or a property that is scheduled by the Planning Authority. The incentive, extended until the end of 31st December 2021, reduces the rate of duty from the standard 5% to 2.5% on the higher of the consideration or value of the property. The incentive shall be forfeited in case of illegal development of the property or if the property is not regenerated according to the characteristics of the area or restoration of the said property. Such incentive applies provided that:

  • The Revenue is notified by 28 February 2022 together with the submission of the relevant Planning Authority certificates.
  • No relief under the same scheme has been claimed in respect of any previous transfer of the said property.
  • The acquirer does not benefit from the part-exemption from duty available on the gratuitous transfer of property to descendants in the direct line for the purposes of establishing one's sole ordinary residence.
  • The acquirer does not require a permit in terms of Immovable Property (Acquisition by Non-Residents) Act.

Transfer of Family Business Scheme

Under this scheme, duty on the transfer of company shares and commercial tenements in intra-family donations is reduced from 2% or 5% to 1.5% on the real value. Such applies until the extended date of 31 December 2021 (formerly 31 December 2020), provided that the relevant notice is filed with the Revenue by the same date.

The reduction applies in the case of a transfer of marketable securities issued by a company, or of immovable property being a commercial tenement used in a family business for at least 3 years preceding the transfer by donation from an individual to qualifying family members. A qualifying family member refers to one's spouse or partner in a civil union, descendants and ascendants in the direct line and their relative spouses or civil union partners or in absence of descendants to one's brothers or sisters and their descendants.

This reduction in duty applies provided that the donee does not transfer the securities/commercial tenement, inter vivos, within 3 years from the donation and uses the commercial tenement within a business carried on by the donee for 3 years following the donation.

No other exemption or relief from duty may be availed of.

COVID-19 temporary reduction in duty on the acquisition of immovable property

This scheme was initially part of Government's Economic Recovery Plan for Malta, pursuant to the COVID-19 pandemic, and became effective on 9 June 2020. The scheme partly provides that the duty rate otherwise chargeable in terms of law on the purchase of immovable property in Malta will be calculated at 1.5% on the first €400,000 of the higher of the consideration and the market value of such property, the remaining duty being calculated at the applicable duty rate (normally 5% unless qualifying for some other reduced rate). Such reduction applies for transfers made until 31 December 2021 (formerly by the end of March 2021).

The eligibility is subject to the filing of the notice of promise of sale and the notice of the final transfer with the Revenue by 1 April 2021 and 28 February 2022 respectively. Such incentive applies provided that:

  • The acquirer does not require a permit in terms of Immovable Property (Acquisition by Non-Residents) Act.
  • If the property is situated in a special designated area ('SDA'), the acquirer would not have required a permit in terms of the Immovable Property (Acquisitions by Non-Residents) Act had the property been located in a non-SDA.
  • The reduced rate of duty is not applied in conjunction with the exemption under Article 32C of the Duty on Documents and Transfers Act on the same transfer, applicable to donations of immovable property by a person to his descendants in the direct line for the purpose of the donee establishing therein or constructing thereon, his sole ordinary residence.

Claw back provisions apply in the case of acquisitions of immovable property with an abusive intent.

Currently, for transfers made by 31 March 2021, this duty scheme is coupled with a tax reduction scheme for transferors. The latter provides for a reduced rate of final property tax of 5% chargeable to the transferor of immovable property who would otherwise be subject to tax at the rate of 8% or 10% in terms of Article 5A of the Income Tax Act. Although not yet enacted through a legal instrument, in the last budget speech, it has been announced that such tax scheme will be extended in line with the duty scheme.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.