Choosing an accountant in Malta: cost and checks for 2026
To choose an accountant in Malta, check that the person holds a warrant from the Accountancy Board, then compare two or three written quotes for the same scope. Only warrant holders may call themselves Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and only auditors with a practising certificate may sign an audit report. There is no official fee scale, so the price is agreed.
Warrant holders, auditors and bookkeepers
Malta regulates the accountancy profession by law. Article 3 of the Accountancy Profession Act (Cap. 281) says that no person shall practise the profession of accountant unless they are a warrant holder. A warrant holder may use the designation Certified Public Accountant and the abbreviation CPA. Anyone who uses that title, or Certified Public Accountant and Auditor (CPAA), without holding a warrant or practising certificate commits an offence, with a fine of up to 2,300 euro for a first offence.
The Accountancy Profession Regulations (S.L. 281.01) list the services that only warrant holders may provide. They include reports on prospective financial information, independent share or business valuations, acting as reporting accountant in a prospectus, and reports on interim or annual financial statements, including compilation reports, unless the statements are for internal use only. Audits and review engagements are reserved to holders of a practising certificate in auditing.
Many accountants are also members of the Malta Institute of Accountants (MIA), a professional body. Bookkeepers and payroll bureaus also work for small businesses. They are not warrant holders by default, so ask what they may sign.
📊Who may do what
| Task | Bookkeeper | Warrant holder (CPA) | Auditor (practising certificate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recording invoices and receipts | yes | yes | yes |
| VAT returns and payroll | yes | yes | yes |
| Report on financial statements, incl. compilation | no | yes | yes |
| Share or business valuation report | no | yes | yes |
| Audit or review engagement | no | no | yes |
| Use of the title CPA | no | yes | yes |
How to check a warrant
Article 7 of Cap. 281 requires the Accountancy Board to keep an updated register that separately identifies warrant holders and holders of practising certificates, together with suspended, revoked and withdrawn warrants. The register must be available electronically through the Board's website. Look up both the person who will sign your work and the firm.
What does an accountant cost in 2026?
There is no official fee scale and no official price statistic, so every fee is a matter of agreement. Firms usually quote a fixed monthly or annual fee for a defined scope, or charge by the hour. What drives the fee:
- Legal form. A self-employed person files a personal income tax return. A limited company prepares financial statements and files them with the Malta Business Registry, and may need an audit.
- VAT registration type. Malta's standard VAT rate is 18 percent (MTCA). Small businesses with turnover up to 35,000 euro can register under article 11 instead of article 10, which means fewer VAT filings and less work (MTCA guidelines). See also our glossary entry on the small business scheme.
- Payroll. Usually charged per employee and month.
- Volume and order. The number of invoices and receipts, and how complete they are when they arrive.
- Signed reports. A compilation report or audit report is work only a warrant holder or auditor can sign, and it is priced accordingly.
Get the scope in writing
A low monthly fee says little if year-end accounts, the tax return or the audit are billed separately. Ask two or three firms to quote on the same basis: documents per month, VAT returns, payroll, year-end work, audit. Ask for an engagement letter that lists what is not included and the hourly rate for extras.
Example: graphic designer in Sliema
Maria is self-employed in Sliema and works as a graphic designer, with turnover of 30,000 euro a year. That is below the 35,000 euro threshold, so she is registered under article 11. She sends about six invoices a month and has twenty receipts for software, a laptop and printing.
She compares a bookkeeper and a small CPA firm. For her needs, recording documents and preparing her income tax return, both are allowed. She chooses on response time and on how documents are handed over. If her turnover grows past the threshold, she will need to move to article 10 registration and regular VAT returns, and she wants a provider who can handle that change without a new search.
📋Choosing an accountant in five steps
- Check the warrant – Look up the person and the firm in the Accountancy Board register, and the practising certificate if you need an audit.
- Sector and legal form – A firm with many limited companies, iGaming suppliers or retailers knows the questions you will have.
- Software and records – Ask which accounting package they use and how documents reach them.
- Contact and deadlines – Who is your contact, and when are VAT returns and year-end work prepared?
- Engagement letter – Scope, fee, extras and notice period in writing.
What to bring to the first meeting
- VAT number and registration type, company registration number if any
- turnover and the number of invoices and receipts per month
- your business bank accounts and card providers
- employees, or plans to hire
- recent tax returns and correspondence from the MTCA, the Malta Tax and Customs Administration that replaced the Commissioner for Revenue (CFR)
What is coming: e-invoicing
Malta has not set a date for domestic e-invoicing between businesses. The EU-wide change comes with ViDA: from 1 July 2030, structured e-invoices in EN 16931 and digital reporting apply to intra-EU B2B supplies (European Commission). If you sell to companies in other member states, ask a new accountant how they plan to handle it. Background is in ViDA explained.
Working together: documents as you go
Kontevia is in early access and is built for the step before your accountant. You send a receipt or invoice as a photo by WhatsApp or email. Amount, date, supplier and VAT are read, the document gets a category suggestion and is checked for duplicates. At month end your accountant receives a CSV export. More under receipts by chat. Bookkeeping, tax returns and advice stay with your accountant.
Official sources
- Accountancy Profession Act (Cap. 281)
- Accountancy Profession Regulations (S.L. 281.01)
- MTCA: VAT rates
- MTCA: VAT rules for small enterprises
- European Commission: VAT in the Digital Age
This article is general information and does not replace advice from a tax adviser or accountant. All details are correct as of 12 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an accountant cost in Malta?
- There is no official fee scale or price statistic, so fees are agreed between you and the firm, usually as a fixed monthly or annual fee or an hourly rate. The price depends on your legal form, VAT registration type, payroll, the number of documents and whether your company needs an audit.
- What is a CPA warrant in Malta?
- Under the Accountancy Profession Act (Cap. 281), no one may practise the profession of accountant unless they hold a warrant. A warrant holder may use the designation Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Using the title without a warrant is an offence punishable by a fine of up to 2,300 euro for a first offence.
- Can a bookkeeper prepare my VAT returns in Malta?
- The services that the law reserves to warrant holders are specific reports, such as reports on financial statements, including compilation reports, share valuations and reporting accountant work in prospectuses. Audits are reserved to holders of a practising certificate in auditing. Ask any provider which of these services they are allowed to sign.
- How do I check if an accountant holds a warrant?
- The Accountancy Board must keep an updated register of warrant holders and holders of auditing practising certificates and make it available electronically on its website.
Topics:choosing an accountant Maltaaccountant fees MaltaCPA warrantAccountancy Boardauditor MaltaMTCA
Kontevia is in early access. Country-specific behaviour described here reflects the rules of each state, not a promise that every feature is live in your country today.
Bookkeeping that keeps up with EU rules
Send a receipt by chat or e-mail, and Kontevia reads it, posts it under the rules of your country and prepares VAT and the export for your accountant. Early access is open.
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