Harmonisation of interest rates for federal tax exemptions
Silvia Hunziker
On 10 September 2018, the Council of States adopted the motion "Harmonisation of interest rates in federal tax decrees" with the following amendment: "The Federal Council is instructed to harmonise interest rates in federal tax decrees in such a way that a generally applicable default and refund interest rate is established".
The Motion had also requested that this reference rate be firmly linked to market developments. This reference to a reference interest rate was omitted. According to the Commission spokesperson, the default interest rate and the remuneration interest rate do not necessarily have to be the same. Late payment interest should be an incentive for the timely payment of taxes due, while it is important to avoid that interest on remuneration becomes a profitable investment for debtors.
The National Council had already adopted the motion on 31 May 2017.
.
