Malta vs Netherlands: which jurisdiction wins?

Malta vs Netherlands — both credible, very different trade-offs. Below: side-by-side on the variables that actually move the decision.

	Malta	Netherlands
Tax headline	35% headline, ~5% effective via refund system	25.8% corporate; participation exemption for holdings
Formation days	7	5
First-year cost	$4,500	$6,500
Treaties	70+	95+
Substance	EU substance requirements + DAC6	Substance decree — mandatory directors, payroll, office
Banking	Bank of Valletta, APS, plus EU EMIs	ING, Rabobank, ABN AMRO

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Wrong jurisdiction, wrong substance, or wrong bank shortlist is a 12-month problem. A 30-minute briefing fixes 80% of it.