Tuesday 12 November 2024
09:00 - Introduction
Louise Grima
09:15 - Direct Tax Updates
Jana Farrugia
This session will look into the legal notices issued since the beginning of the year with a view to providing an overview of the recent developments in the field of Malta income taxation.
10:15 - Budget Speech 2025
Maria Kristina Cauchi
The session will provide valuable insights into the proposed changes as outlined during The Budget Speech 2025 focusing on prospective amendments made to the Income Tax Act, VAT Act, Duty and Documents and Transfers Act and other related legislation. Join us for a dynamic seminar that highlights the salient tax measures presented to Parliament by the Minister for Finance and Employment and which explores the potential impact on individuals and businesses as a result of such changes.
11:15 - Break.
11:30 Domestic VAT Updates - 2024
Louise Grima
Louise will be discussing domestic VAT changes that came into effect during 2024 including the introduction of the 12% reduced VAT rate and changes introduced as result of the Budget Measures Implementation Act for 2024.
12:30 - End of First Session
Friday 15 November 2024
09:00 - Introduction
Louise Grima
09:15 - EU VAT Updates 2024
Saviour Bezzina
The session will discuss the EU's recent and upcoming changes to VAT and related legislation such as CESOP and the VIDA package, including background information and an explanation of provisions which are connected to the said developments and changes for a better understanding of the implications emerging from such changes. The session will delve both into technical as well as practical implications with a view to ensure proper and timely compliance with the various VAT obligations impacted by the said changes.
10:15 - 2025 VAT Changes Including Changes to the SME Scheme
Kenneth Cremona
On 18 February 2020, the EU finance ministers reached an agreement on new simplification measures, extending VAT exemptions to small businesses based in other member states starting from 1st January 2025. These changes are designed to ease administrative burdens for SMEs and promote fair competition among businesses across the EU, regardless of their location. This session will cover the key points of these new regulations, along with other important changes set for 2025 that will impact VAT rules both across the EU and specifically in Malta.
11:15 - Break
11:30 - Recent Court Cases
Dr. Robert Attard
The session will discuss a number of local and European judgments relating to Income Tax and VAT.
12:30 - End of Last Session
The Speakers
Louise Grima is an Associate Director at KPMG Malta. She joined KPMG in 2015 after graduating with a Master's in Accountancy from the University of Malta and has since worked in direct and indirect tax compliance and advisory projects servicing clients in a number of industries including financial services, insurance, gambling and international trade. Louise was awarded the 2015 MIA Best Student of the Year prize for Master in Accountancy Group 2013/2015, holds a Diploma in VAT compliance. Louise has also successfully completed the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation with an overall distinction. Louise is a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants (MIA) and is the Chairperson of the Indirect Tax Committee within MIA. Louise regularly delivers courses and seminars relating to VAT, is a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta and teaches ACCA at KPMG Learning Academy.
Jana Farrugia, a senior manager at Deloitte Malta, is a Certified Public Accountant and Registered Auditor. She graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons.) Degree from the University of Malta, after which she pursued her post-graduate Diploma in Taxation from the Malta Institute of Taxation. Her main area of practice is taxation and related matters including corporate tax and international tax. She has assisted local and international clients operating in diverse industries in both compliance and advisory tax matters. She managed a tax practice in a large mid-tier firm for twelve years before joining Deloitte. Jana sits on the Committee of Direct Taxation of the Malta Institute of Accountants, is a fellow member of the Malta Institute of Taxation and the Malta Institute of Accountants, and is a member of the Malta Institute of Financial Service Practitioners. She has lectured in both direct and indirect tax matters, as well as at the University of Malta.
Maria Kristina Cauchi is a Supervisor within the Tax Compliance Department at Fenlex Corporate Services. Maria Kristina joined one of the Big 4 firms between 2015 and 2022 after enrolling in the PwC ACCA Programme. In 2019, she successfully graduated and became a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. During 2021, she signed up for the Professional Award in Taxation provided by the Malta Institute of Taxation and graduated in 2022.
Her main area of practice is taxation and related matters at a corporate level, both on local and international tax fronts. She assists local and international clients operating in diverse industries in both compliance and tax advisory matters.
Saviour Bezzina is the manager responsible for indirect tax matters at the EY Malta office and forms part of EY’s Global Indirect Tax Network as a local knowledge contact. He joined EY in July 2006 after obtaining the Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons.) from the University of Malta. He is a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants, holds a Diploma in VAT compliance and lectures regularly on VAT and indirect tax matters. Saviour was awarded the 2007 MIA prize as the best student who graduated in the Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons) Degree Course Group 2004/2006.
Kenneth Cremona graduated with a Master in Accountancy from the University of Malta in 2015. Kenneth joined RSM Malta in 2016, initially working on Income Tax Compliance dealing with clients established in multiple industries including Gaming, Immovable Property, Investments, Pharmaceuticals and Retail. During 2019, he specialised in VAT advisory and was promoted to a Supervisory role within the firm, and as an Assistant Manager in 2021. Kenneth is also a CPA warrant holder and received the Professional Certificate in Taxation issued by the Malta Institute of Taxation in 2017.
Dr Robert Attard is Partner and Tax Policy Leader, EY, Central & South East Europe, a tenured senior lecturer at the University of Malta, a fellow of GREIT and member of the European Association of Tax Law Professors. In the IBFD’s 2015-2017 General Report on the Protection of Taxpayers’ Rights he was described as a well-known authority broadly experienced in the practical protection of taxpayers’ rights and a prominent member of the legal practice. Having served as a panellist at the 2015 IFA Congress he forms part of a study group of the International Law Association on the “Protection of Taxpayers’ Rights” (co-chaired by Advocate General Juliane Kokott and Pasquale Pistone) and is also a member of the Supervisory Council of the IBFD/IFA’s “Observatory on the Protection of Taxpayers’ Rights”. He has served as Visiting Professor at the University of Ferrara paying lecturing/speaking visits at Queen Mary (University of London), CTL (University of Cambridge), Salerno (with Wirtshaftsuniversitat Wien and Naples II) and the University of Palermo. The Maltese Court of Appeal has described him as a leading commentator on tax law referring to his publications in its judgements. Robert developed a detailed knowledge of tax aspects of the European Convention on Human Rights drafting submissions in cases filed against France, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Malta. Robert is a published author on tax law publishing articles in European Taxation, EC Tax Review and the British Tax Review. He has contributed to several publications including a book published by Hart Publishing, 3 books published by the IBFD and several books published by the MIM. Robert's most recent tax publication is Principles of Maltese Income Tax Law 2013. Robert’s books have anticipated important changes to our tax policy system. Philip Sciberras (ex-Court of Appeal) describes Principles of Maltese Income Tax Law as ‘a must-read' describing Robert as ‘an expert in his field, ... without doubt one of Malta’s finest scholars on tax law’. Giovanni Bonello (ex-ECtHR) says that the book is ‘not just an arid explanation of the intricate and sometimes opaque provisions of taxation law, but an attempt – and a very successful one – to place fiscal law in the context of superior principles of governance ... Attard’s systematic vademecum has the makings of a textbook destined to become a classic, crucial for tax consultants, practitioners and, not least, for the victims of aggressive fiscal policies’. Philip Baker remarks that ‘Single-handedly, Robert is generating the literature which explains the structure and nuances of the system in Malta. One wishes other countries had similar authors who could write similarly enticing books to explain their tax codes.” Robert has argued most of Malta's leading tax cases including landmark judgments John Geranzi v. PM (right to justice within a reasonable time), Zahra v. PM (non bis in idem), Farrugia v. PM (taxation as a violation of the right to property) and Case 160 of 2012 (tax transparency).
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