Understanding the trends behind the headlines.

Legal Notice 184 of 2026 introduces important changes to Malta’s beneficial ownership reporting framework, including new disclosure requirements, enhanced transparency obligations and the introduction of Form BO4. Companies should review their records and reporting procedures to ensure compliance with the updated regulations.

Pay transparency is now a legal requirement in Malta. The Equal Pay (Transparency and Reporting) Regulations 2026 introduce new employer obligations on salary transparency, equal pay, employee pay information rights and gender pay gap reporting, strengthening workplace equality and employment law compliance.

The MFSA has issued a new General Code of Conduct for Decision Makers, setting governance, accountability and leadership expectations across financial services entities.

Malta's Code of Ethics for Insolvency Practitioners sets high standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability. Grant Thornton Malta helps businesses, creditors, and stakeholders navigate insolvency and restructuring ethically and effectively.

The MFSA released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a year of intensified regulatory oversight, increased enforcement, and strategic growth across Malta's financial services industry. Supervisory interactions rose by 33%, with €926,485 in penalties issued through 134 enforcement actions. This sector now contributes 8.2% to Malta's real GVA, with employment reaching 14,745 - 5.1% of the national workforce. Businesses are urged to strengthen compliance frameworks, engage with MFSA communications, and prepare for evolving global strategies.

On 25 January the Malta Financial Services Authority issued an update on the Virtual Financial Assets Framework to update the public on the progress of the implementation of the regulatory framework.

The introduced Family Business Act in 2017 saw the introduction of an incentive scheme for family businesses, whereby donations of marketable securities and business property used in a family business would be subject to a reduced duty rate of 1.5%, from the standard 2% or 5%.