Swedish Expat In Malta Pushes Back Against ‘Tax Haven’ Label In Major Scandinavian Paper
When Aftonbladet, came to Malta to paint the islands as a shady tax and gambling haven, they probably didn’t expect to meet Pierre Lindh.
The 37-year-old Swede, co-founder and Managing Director of Next.io, who has lived in Malta for 15 years, says the journalists were looking for a story of luxury lifestyles and low taxes. Instead, Pierre gave them something different.
“They wanted to meet in a luxury setting to try and pin me with that lifestyle,” Pierre wrote on Facebook. “Instead, I took them to the Maltese countryside and got the opportunity to tell them that most companies here are happy to pay normal taxes and live a normal, good life. Unlike Sweden, where taxes are so high it’s practically impossible to run a company without dodging.”
Aftonbladet still ran their feature, with the headline “Pierre, 37, turns over millions in criticised industry in Malta,” focusing on Pierre’s work in the iGaming events world. But they also quoted him pushing back at the idea that every foreigner in Malta is here to avoid tax.
Pierre insists his company pays the full 35% corporate tax rate in Malta. Personally, he says, he also pays 30–35% income tax. “It feels ugly to go around, try to plan taxes and have strange arrangements that can change from one day to the next. We’ve chosen to run our company as it should be done, simply,” he told the paper.
Beyond business, Pierre used the interview to highlight what he loves about Malta — from the countryside to the way Maltese society pulls together when someone is in need.
“Despite the reporter already having decided on the angle to push, it ended up being a pretty good advertisement for Malta, my adopted home country since 15 years,” Pierre concluded.
Does Malta get a bad rep abroad, or is it justified?