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Accounting and invoicing for game developers

Contract work for studios, own games, grants, platform payouts and licences: indie developers have income from several sources and long phases without revenue. Saldiqo writes invoices for contract work, matches platform payouts and records assets, engines and licences.

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What comes up for game developers

Long development, late income

A game takes months to years. Contract work finances the own project.

Several sources of income

Platform payouts, grants, publisher advances and contract jobs run in parallel.

Assets and licences

Engines, plug-ins, assets and music are costs that should be assigned to a game.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Contract work by invoiceMilestones, hours and flat fees as lines.
  • Cost centre per gameIncome and expenses per project.
  • Match payoutsUpload the bank statement and separate by source.
  • Record licencesReceipts by phone photo.

Typical invoice lines

Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.

  • Gameplay programming, 15 person days
  • Milestone 2: vertical slice
  • Prototype development, flat fee
  • Engine licence as per receipt
  • Audio integration, hours
  • Publisher advance, part payment

Tax and invoicing in Malta

What applies to invoices in Malta, in short. As of October 2026.

VAT
Rates 18 %, 12 %, 7 % and 5 %. Malta has no zero rate in law. Exports, EU supplies, food and medicines are exempt with credit, which lets you reclaim input VAT. Exempt without credit does not.
Article 11 small undertakings
With up to €35,000 of domestic turnover a year you can be exempt under Article 11. The status ends on the day the limit is passed, and you still register with the VAT department. Saldiqo adds the exemption note and leaves VAT off.
Tax invoice or fiscal receipt
A tax invoice is issued only when the customer gives you a VAT number. Otherwise a fiscal receipt from an approved system is required. Saldiqo writes invoices. It is not a fiscal receipt system, and a Saldiqo PDF does not replace a fiscal receipt.
Invoice timing
Issue the invoice by the 15th of the following month, or when payment arrives if that comes first. Simplified invoices are allowed up to €100.
E-invoicing
There is no mandate. Public bodies accept e-invoices through Peppol (EN 16931). The tax authority plans e-invoicing and real-time reporting but has set no dates, and EU rules apply from 1 July 2030.
VAT returns
Returns are due by the 15th day of the second month after the period, with 7 extra days when you file and pay electronically. Article 11 businesses file a yearly declaration by 15 February. Saldiqo does not file returns.
Record keeping
VAT records for 6 years, income tax records for 9 years and company records for 10 years. Plan for 10 years.
Late payment
Interest on late business payments is 10.40 %, plus €40 compensation between businesses.
Languages
Use Saldiqo in English or Maltese and send invoices in either language.

Frequently asked questions

Can I evaluate games separately?

Yes, with cost centres per game.

How do I treat grants?

You record them as income. How they are treated for tax you clear with your tax adviser.

Do game developers in Malta have to charge VAT?

If you are registered under Article 10, yes. Small undertakings under Article 11 with domestic turnover of up to €35,000 a year are exempt from charging VAT, but the status ends on the day the limit is passed.

Do game developers in Malta need a fiscal receipt?

Sales to consumers need a fiscal receipt from an approved fiscal receipt system, and Article 11 businesses use one for all sales. Saldiqo is not such a system. It covers tax invoices to customers who give you their VAT number.

How long should game developers keep invoices?

VAT records for 6 years, income tax records for 9 years and company records for 10 years, so plan for 10 years. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records stays with you.

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Write invoices, match payments, collect receipts and send reminders: free and without a trial period.

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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.