Three Companies Saving Taxes with a Malta Limited

Tech giants like Amazon and Google are famous for lowering their tax bills using complex corporate structures involving Ireland and the Netherlands – and they do so with great success. But let's be honest: in most cases, setting up such an elaborate construct simply isn't worth the cost unless you're generating billions in annual revenue. That is why many smart businesses look for alternatives – and they find them right here in Malta with the Malta Limited. Among them are household names like Geobra Brandstätter (Playmobil), Tipico, and the Austrian furniture giant XXXLutz.

Playmobil has been producing in Malta since 1974

When it comes to Geobra Brandstätter GmbH and their world-famous Playmobil figures, I need to make a small correction right at the start: The parent company is, as the name suggests, a German GmbH and not registered in Malta as a Malta Limited. However, the factory where Playmobil has been produced since its market launch in 1974 operates as Playmobil Malta Limited, which in turn is a subsidiary of the German GmbH. It is safe to assume that Playmobil Malta Ltd is making good use of the tax advantages available here.

Tipico: Registered in Malta since 2004

If you follow football, you likely know Tipico from their aggressive sponsorship of sports events and teams, often featuring German goalkeeping legend Oliver Kahn. But what many don't know is that the company, led by German CEO Jan Bolz, has its headquarters here in Malta. While they have branches worldwide, the company was founded in 2004, the very year Malta joined the EU. Beyond the standard Malta tax model, the company has leveraged the fact that gaming licenses in Malta are generally easier to obtain and more cost-effective than in other jurisdictions.

XXXLutz faced criticism for licensing deals in Malta

"The one with the red chair" – that's the trademark of the XXXLutz furniture stores. This Austrian retail giant wasn't just in the headlines for its furniture, but for its corporate policy on tax savings. The accusation? That the company was evading millions in taxes by shifting licensing deals to Malta (more on that specific case here). However, everything the company is doing is above board; segregating specific parts of a business is standard practice. The case simply highlighted one thing again: Saving taxes with a Malta Limited is completely legal!

These three global players have shown how it's done: You can save significant capital in Malta without needing a convoluted setup. If you are wondering whether you can benefit from this too, feel free to contact me at Dr. Werner & Partners.