Gibraltar residency · HEPSS status
Gibraltar HEPSS: capped tax for specialist senior executives
HEPSS lets high-earning executives with specialist skills limit their Gibraltar tax to the first band of salary only. The employing company applies — and Octopus manages the process from start to finish.
What is HEPSS status?
HEPSS — Higher Executives Possessing Specialist Skills — is a Gibraltar tax regime designed to attract senior talent whose skills are not readily available locally. Instead of paying tax across their full salary, a HEPSS individual is taxed only on the first band of their employment income; any remuneration above that threshold is not taxed in Gibraltar. The result is a capped, predictable annual tax bill for the executive and a practical way for Gibraltar employers to recruit specialist leadership from abroad.
Who HEPSS suits
The regime is aimed at individuals in genuinely specialist or senior roles — for example in financial services, technology, e-gaming, insurance or fund management — who command a high salary and whose expertise the employer cannot easily source within Gibraltar. It suits two parties at once: the executive relocating for the role, and the Gibraltar company recruiting them. Unlike Category 2, HEPSS is tied to employment rather than personal wealth.
Qualifying criteria
To qualify, the following broadly need to be satisfied:
- Salary: the individual must earn more than [VERIFY: current minimum salary threshold] per year from the qualifying employment.
- Specialist skills: the role must require skills of exceptional economic value to Gibraltar that are not readily available in the local labour market.
- Approved accommodation: the individual must occupy approved residential property in Gibraltar held for their exclusive use.
- Employer-led application: the company employing the individual makes the application, not the individual personally.
How the tax cap works
Under HEPSS, the executive is taxed only on the first [VERIFY: current threshold] of employment income, with no Gibraltar tax on remuneration above that figure. In practice this currently caps the annual tax at approximately [VERIFY: current capped amount], giving high earners a fixed and predictable liability.
Worked example
The application process
Octopus prepares and submits the application on the employer's behalf. The process typically involves:
- Confirming the role meets the specialist-skills and salary requirements.
- Securing approved residential accommodation in Gibraltar for the individual.
- Compiling the supporting documentation and employer application.
- Liaising with the relevant authority through to approval.
We also support the individual's wider relocation — banking, schooling and ongoing annual tax filing.
HEPSS vs Category 2
HEPSS
For high-earning specialist employees; tied to employment; the employer applies; tax capped on the first band of salary.
Category 2
For high-net-worth individuals; tied to personal wealth (£5m+); the individual applies; tax capped on a band of worldwide income.
How Octopus helps
As a Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC)-regulated firm (FSC No. 0827B), we manage HEPSS end to end for the employer and the executive: assessing eligibility, securing approved accommodation, preparing and submitting the application, and supporting banking, relocation and ongoing filing.
- Assessing eligibility for the role and the executive
- Securing approved residential accommodation
- Preparing and submitting the employer-led application
- Banking introductions, relocation and ongoing annual filing
Explore related services: Company Formation, Banking Introductions and Accounting & Tax, or go back to Gibraltar residency.
FAQs
Recruiting specialist talent — or relocating for a senior role?
We'll confirm HEPSS eligibility and handle the employer-led application from start to finish.
This page provides general information about Gibraltar HEPSS residency and does not constitute tax or legal advice.