Client story
Client's Background
Where they started
Nurlan has been engaged in importing goods from Asia for many years and by the time of contact had grown to volumes requiring a substantial European structure - a head trading company in the EU for contracts, banks and reputation with suppliers and retail networks.
Why the standard route did not work
Malta attracted him with its status as a full EU member and English-language business practices. However, the first figure was a deterrent: nominal corporate income tax rate - 35%. For a trading business with that turnover, this meant giving up one third of the margin, and on paper Malta looked more expensive than offshore jurisdictions and many EU countries.
What BRIDGES had to solve
Nurlan was not looking for gray schemes - he needed a white, reputable structure, but with reasonable tax burden. The question was twofold: reduce the company's corporate tax and at the same time not fall under high personal tax when receiving profit as an owner.
Why a standard answer would not do
He contacted BRIDGES because he had heard about the Malta tax refund system, but did not understand how it worked in practice and how to link it with personal status to make the benefit real, not theoretical.
I looked at 35% and thought - what's the point, better to go offshore. But offshore today means closed doors at banks and suppliers. They explained to me that Malta's real rate is quite different if everything is properly structured. In the end, I have a white company in the EU with tax like an offshore.
