Micro Invest Scheme

The Micro Invest Scheme, (hereinafter, the ‘Scheme’), has been relaunched by Malta Enterprise to encourage undertakings (including startups, family businesses and self-employed) to invest in their business in order to innovate, expand and develop their operations.

The Scheme is expected to remain operational until 31 December 2026 and shall cover costs incurred by eligible enterprises between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2024.

Aid intensity

Malta Enterprise may approve a tax credit equivalent to 45% of eligible expenditure in favour of each undertaking, with an additional 20% for undertakings operating from Gozo. The maximum tax credits shall be capped at €50,000 over any period of three consecutive years, with an additional cap of €20,000 for undertakings operating from Gozo, or registered as a family business, or with more than 50% female ownership.

This capping is subject to an overall capping for de minimis assistance of €300,000 over a rolling period of three consecutive fiscal years for a single undertaking.

In calculating the maximum aid awarded, any aid awarded under the previous Micro Invest Scheme shall be taken into account.

Eligible undertakings and costs

At point of application, undertakings must satisfy all of the following criteria:

a) During the year in which the costs were incurred, not more than 50 full-time employees were employed in the business;
b) The turnover or annual balance sheet total of the undertaking did not exceed €10 million in the fiscal year preceding the year in which the application is submitted;
c) At the date of the application, the undertaking must employ at least one person on a full-time or part time basis; and
d) Unless exempted, the applicant is registered with the VAT Department.

Eligible costs must have been invoiced between 1 January and 31 December of the year preceding the year of application, and must be supported by appropriate fiscal documentation.

These costs include:

a) Wage cost increases exceeding 3% of the highest wage costs of the previous two fiscal years;
b) Costs incurred for furbishing, refurbishing and upgrading of business premises by unrelated parties, supported by photographic evidence of the work undertaken;
c) Investment costs including the acquisition of new machinery; systems to produce alternative energy or improve energy efficiency; and tangible and intangible assets such as computer hardware, packaged software solutions, and development costs for digital applications, websites and new software systems;
d) Costs incurred for the purchase of any qualifying commercial vehicle, procured as new or first time registered in Malta, with a European Emission Standard of at least Euro 5; and
e) Certification costs.

How can we help?

Deloitte Malta is able to assist in answering your queries, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us for any further guidance you may require.

In addition, Deloitte Malta is able to assist with the preparation of the required applications and any supporting documentation, as well as document submission and any required follow-ups.