Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Georgia to Malta
Georgia and Malta are both known for favorable tax regimes but serve different needs. Georgia offers 1% Small Business Status for freelancers (revenue up to $150K) and territorial taxation—simple, cheap, no complexity. Malta has a sophisticated corporate refund system that can reduce effective tax to ~5% on distributed profits, plus non-dom status (no tax on foreign income not remitted). For freelancers: Georgia's 1% is unbeatable. For corporate structures: Malta's 5% effective rate is competitive for larger operations. Malta is EU with all that implies—euro, Schengen, EU passporting. Georgia is outside EU but vastly cheaper and simpler. Choose Georgia if: you're a solo freelancer, want simplicity, prefer low cost of living, or earn under $150K. Choose Malta if: you need EU corporate structure, have significant profits to optimize, want Mediterranean EU lifestyle, or work in iGaming/crypto.
Flat + SBS
20% flat, 1% Small Business Status, territorial elements
Non-Dom + Refunds
15-35% but 5% effective via refund system, non-dom option
At $100,000 freelance income:
That is $1,250+/month back in your pocket!
| Income | GE Tax | MT Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 (freelance) | ~$500 (1% SBS) | ~$8,500 (17%) | Georgia saves $8,000 | $80,000 |
| $100,000 (freelance) | ~$1,000 (1% SBS) | ~$17,000 (17%) | Georgia saves $16,000 | $160,000 |
| $100,000 (corp profits) | ~$15,000 (15% CIT) | ~$5,000 (5% effective) | Malta saves $10,000 | $100,000 |
| $500,000 (corp profits) | ~$75,000 (15% CIT) | ~$25,000 (5% effective) | Malta saves $50,000 | $500,000 |
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Hold EUR, USD, GEL. Essential for receiving international payments in either country.
Open Wise Account →Receive contractor payments in Malta (EU) or Georgia. Deel handles compliance.
Get Paid Anywhere →Malta charges 35% corporate tax initially. When profits are distributed to shareholders, they can claim a 6/7ths refund on tax paid. 35% - 30% refund = 5% effective. This requires proper corporate structure with shareholders (often a holding company). It's legal EU tax planning but needs professional setup.
Georgia wins clearly. 1% SBS = $1,000 total tax. Malta without corporate structure = ~$17,000+ (personal rates 15-35%). Even Malta's corporate route costs more in setup fees and complexity than Georgia's simple 1%. Georgia is designed for solo freelancers.
Malta wins significantly. EU banks, Stripe, PayPal, all standard payment processors work normally. Georgian companies face friction—some platforms won't accept them. If you need frictionless Western payment infrastructure, Malta (or any EU country) is easier.
Tbilisi (Georgia): $1,000-1,500/month total including rent. Malta: $2,500-4,000/month—one of Europe's most expensive islands. Georgia is 60-70% cheaper. However, Maltese salaries are much higher for local employment.
Malta has citizenship by investment (~€750K+ plus residence requirements). Georgia offers citizenship after 5 years of residence (or various investment routes). Georgian passport is weaker but citizenship is cheaper and easier. Maltese passport = EU citizenship = significant value.