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Budget Highlights

COLA of €9.90 per week

Extension to the transfer of family business scheme which reduces duty from 5% to 1.5%

Tax Refunds – Cheques will continue to be received, amounts will range between €60 and €140

Increase in Tax rebate from €100 to €300 per year for parents who send their children to sports, artistic or cultural activities

€10,000 grant will be given to first-time buyers who acquire property with a value of less than €500,000

Pensions are to increase by €12.50 per week. This includes the COLA increase of €9.90 per week

Social Measures

COLA

  • This year’s cost of living adjustment will be of €9.90 per week, amounting to €514.80 per annum.  
  • The COLA bonus will be paid in full to pensioners retiring after 2008. 
  • Vulnerable people will be receiving an additional COLA payment by December. 
  • Persons living on social assistance benefits are set to receive the COLA increase in full.

Education

  • Four schools are to be renovated/completed by 2023.
  • Completion of a sports complex in Santa Lucija.
  • Re-introduced the distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to children in primary and secondary schools.
  • Students in Year 7 will receive a new laptop.
  • Additional funds are to be allocated to principals of schools situated in lower-income areas.

Health

  • New medicines are to be provided for free to eligible patients. 
  • Introduction of new services such as Oncology Clinics, GU Clinics and GP Appointment Clinics to be provided at health centres. A Diabetes Centre will also be introduced at the Qormi Health Centre. 
  • Free HPV vaccines for all males born from 2000 onwards. 
  • Malta to introduce chemotherapy pumps which patients may use at home. 
  • Extension of the ART Clinic to support parents wanting to have their second child. 
  • Coeliac patients will receive an increased benefit of €20 per month. 
  • A new CT scanner will be purchased for St. Vincent De Paul Residence. 
  • A new outreach clinic in Dar Padova in Ghajnsielem will be offered to Gozitan residents.

Other Social Measures

  • Persons not working between the age of 18 and 30 years receiving mental health care will be credited two years’ worth of social security.
  • The children’s allowance will be increased by €90 per child, which will affect more than 41,100 families.
  • Parents who leave their employment to care for their disabled children will be receiving more than €4,500 per year split into four quarters during the year.
  • Rent subsidies are set to be increased to:
    • €500 per month for one-bedroom houses
    • €600 per month for two-bedroom houses
    • €700 per month for three-bedroom houses
  • Community policing to go nationwide by 2023.

Fiscal Incentives

Fiscal Incentives

  • The non-taxable pension income threshold has been increased to €14,968.
  • To encourage pensioners to continue working after retirement age, 20% of the pension income will not be considered as income for tax purposes for this year. This will be increased to 40% in the following year.  
  • A €200 yearly tax credit will be granted to parents of children with disability. 
  • Royalty income derived by authors and co-authors will be reduced to 7.5%.
  • Extension of the group deduction rules, with companies affected by COVID-19 having the possibility to transfer unabsorbed capital allowances to their group members. 
  • Tax residency schemes such as the Global Residence Program and the Malta Residence Program will be re-assessed.
  • Increase in tax rebate from €100 to €300 per year for parents who send their children to sports, artistic or cultural activities. 
  • Tax refund cheques will continue to be received, ranging between €60 and €140.
  • Extension to the transfer of the family business scheme which reduces duty from 5% to 1.5%.
  • Qualifying Employees with basic pay of less than €20,000 per annum who work atypical hours shall continue to benefit from an annual in-work benefit of €150.

Pensions

Pensions

  • Pensions are to increase by €12.50 per week. This includes the COLA increase of €9.90.
  • Widows’ pensions will be increased by an additional amount of up to €3.54 per week. 
  • Service pensions are set to be increased by €200. 
  • Persons who do not qualify for pension income due to a lack of social security contributions will be in receipt of an additional €50 bonus per year. Individuals who have paid less than 5 years in social security contributions shall be entitled to a bonus of €450 per year. Individuals who have paid more than 5 years in social security contributions, but less than 10 years shall be entitled to a bonus of €550 per year. 

Environmental

Environmental

  • €50 million project to reduce air pollution around the Grand Harbour by enabling vessels to connect directly to the national grid. 
  • €60 million investment for Sustainable Urban Development Initiative for Gozo. 
  • €50 million in EU funds for new electric vehicles 
  • Grant for electric cars and motorcycles of €11,000, increasing to €12,000 where the scrappage scheme is also utilised to be extended from last year. 
  • The €11,000 grant for plug-in hybrids has been extended for those cars which had been ordered up until May 2022, which vehicles will arrive in Malta by 2023.
  • Exemption from registration tax and annual license fees (for a period of 5 years from initial registration) for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to be extended during 2023. 
  • New agency to coordinate the allocation of €700 million worth of funds for environmental projects over the next 7 years.  The agency will also be responsible for green urban reclamation. 
  • 1,200 more charging points for electrical and plug-in hybrid vehicles to be installed by 2023.
  • Interest-free loans for businesses who adopt an electric fleet. 
  • €50 million investment in Organic Processing Plant during 2023. 
  • New gate fees as of January 2023 to reduce amount of rubbish ending up in waste dump and further encourage separation of waste. 
  • Skip Management Facility to be developed in coming years to reduce around 47,000 tonnes of bulky refuse which can instead be separated and processed to meet recycling targets.
  • Persons who will be buying cars ‘Drive from Wheelchair’ will benefit from a subsidy of not more than 20% on the price of the car. Persons who will be purchasing a second-hand car would be able to benefit from a subsidy equivalent to 10% on the price of the car.

Immovable Property

Immovable Property

  • A €10,000 grant will be given to first-time buyers who acquire property with a value of less than €500,000. Such grant will be applicable to acquisitions made on or after 1st January 2022. 
  • The scheme intended to help buyers pay for their mortgage deposit will be broadened to properties valued up to €225,000, up from €175,000. 
  • The measures relating to:
    • Properties which have been built for over 20 years and have been vacant for more than 7 years; or 
    • Properties which are in an Urban Conservative Area (UCA); or 
    • Newly built traditional Maltese houses which benefit from the following: 
      • No capital gains tax and stamp duty implications on the first €750,000 
      • VAT refund of €54,000 on the first €300,000 on the restoration of such properties
      • For a property located in Malta a grant of €15,000 is applicable, whilst if the property is in Gozo, the grant sets to increase to €30,000
      • This scheme will be extended for the next two years.
  • The reduced stamp duty rate applicable to first-time buyers, second-time buyers and individuals buying property in Gozo will be extended to a further year.

Start-ups & Businesses

Start-ups & Businesses

  • Introduction to ‘Start in Malta’ a one-stop-shop aimed to encourage more start-ups setting base in our country and assist in the administrative services. 
  • Development of a new business incubation centre in Malta. 
  • Malta Enterprise to double the cash grants for all Maltese companies, self-employed and family businesses investing in digital and sustainable projects. 
  • A committee has been appointed aimed to facilitate loan applications with banks.
  • Launch of a number of schemes to attract tourism in Gozo.

Other Measures

Other Measures

  • Ongoing discussions with stakeholders to reduce traffic congestion. 
  • Introduction of new guidelines for companies to obtain ESG credentials.
  • Consumer rights will be strengthened during the coming year by increasing the maximum amount available to €5,000.
  • Malta to host Euro Pride 2023.
  • Increase in time and number of physical education lessons at schools.
  • Disciplined corps in service for 25 years given the opportunity to improve their pension by 23% after a further 4 years in service.

Malta Budget 2023 – Post Budget Discussion

  • Date: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
  • Time: 09:00 – 10:00 CET
  • Format: free online webinar
  • Speakers: Matthew Zampa, Mark Wirth, Markita Falzon
REGISTER NOW

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