Forvis Mazars in Malta engages Senior VAT Advisor

Apart from providing advice related to VAT issues, Joseph will be providing the firm’s employees with in-house training on VAT, mentoring, and updates on VAT topics.  He will also be assisting the firm’s VAT team with identifying risks in the handling of VAT matters.

Joseph Sammut served for 44 years in the Malta Public Service.  He started his tax career in 1989 at the Inland Revenue Department.  In 2002, he moved to the VAT Department and was appointed Director Operations VAT, at a time when Malta was joining the EU and had to implement the VAT Directive. Between 2005 and 2012, Joseph occupied the position of Director General and Commissioner of VAT.  Prior to joining Forvis Mazars in Malta, he served as VAT Technical Advisor. He has been a member of the Malta Institute of Taxation since 2004.

For 18 years, Joseph was head of the Maltese Delegation for the Working Party on Tax Questions on VAT in the EU Council. He was actively involved in meetings in Brussels dealing with changes in the VAT Directive and with various VAT Council Regulations. During Malta's Presidency of the Council in 2017, he presided over the meetings of this group.  He also participated in the EU Commission Group for the Future of VAT and in various Fiscalis seminars on VAT technical subjects.

Commenting on Joseph Sammut’s appointment, Forvis Mazars in Malta Managing Partner Anthony Attard stated that “the growth we are experiencing as a firm, including in the area of taxation, prompts the need to further invest in various specialised service areas, such as that of VAT. The engagement of a VAT expert of Joseph’s stature, ensures that we can tap into his extensive and in-depth knowledge of VAT matters, while also facilitating our staff members’ expansion of their own knowledge in this area of taxation. This will allow us to continue delivering customised solutions which address clients’ challenges in a bespoke manner, through the input of a dedicated team of experts, combining both local market knowledge and global technical advice. This approach consolidates our position as one of the leading audit, tax and advisory firms on the local market.”

Article first appeared on Times of Malta on 23rd July 2023.