Taxation of employees in the case of cross-border work in the home office
Sarah Bühler, René Matteotti and Peter Vogt address the taxation of international employees and their home office activities. They provide an overview of the existing regulations and pay particular attention to the cross-border commuter agreements with Switzerland's neighboring countries.
Implications of the home office for cross-border commuters between Switzerland and Germany
Working from home has become much more important due to the Corona pandemic. Many employers have found that working from home has proven successful and have introduced regulations that enable mobile working. This also affects cross-border commuters between Germany and Switzerland. A variety of tax regulations, especially in the DTA D-CH, as well as consequences under social security law must be taken into account.
Home office and the cross-border commuter agreement with Italy
Today, around 85,000 Italian residents work in the border cantons of Ticino, Grisons and Valais. The cross-border commuter agreement concluded with Italy is of great importance especially for the canton of Ticino with its approximately 75,000 cross-border commuters, of which around 66,000 are considered cross-border commuters within the meaning of the agreement.
Cross-border commuter regulation Switzerland-Liechtenstein
The double taxation agreement between Switzerland and Liechtenstein contains a special rule for cross-border commuters, according to which the income from employment earned in the State of activity is allocated to the State of residence for taxation. If, on the other hand, an employee in a cross-border context does not meet the criteria established for cross-border commuters, the earned income is allocated for taxation to the State of activity and the State of residence on a pro rata basis in accordance with the general principles. Against this background, employers who employ cross-border commuters from Liechtenstein or Switzerland have different clarification and declaration obligations.
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FTA publishes circular regarding the refund of withholding tax on lump-sum pension benefits in relation to Italy
On August 12, 2022, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published the circular "Explanatory notes on the refund of withholding tax on lump-sum pension benefits to recipients resident in Italy".
Memorandum of Understanding between Switzerland and Italy
On July 22, 2022, the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) announced that Switzerland and Italy have agreed that the Memorandum of Understanding on the impact of COVID-19 measures on the treatment of earned income from employment under the 1974 DTA and the 1974 Cross-Border Agreement (see our article of June 20, 2020) will remain applicable until the end of October 2022 to all individuals who are residents of a Contracting State and regularly engage in gainful employment in the other Contracting State. Before the end of October 2022, the competent authorities will consult again.
Memorandum of Understanding between Switzerland and France
On July 20, 2022, the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) announced that a mutual agreement had been reached between the competent authorities of Switzerland and France regarding the taxation of cross-border workers who work in their home offices as a result of measures taken to combat Covid-19. This agreement implements the joint declaration of June 29, 2022 (see our article of July 2, 2022) without amending it, thus helping to clarify the situation. The Memorandum of Understanding is valid until October 31, 2022, as the two countries agreed on June 29, 2022 to work on the implementation of a permanent agreement on telework applicable to cross-border workers by that date.
Withholding Tax: Adjustment of the FTA's Practice in the Event of a Secondary Adjustment
In a communication dated July 19, 2022, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) informs about the following effects of the Federal Law on the Implementation of International Agreements in the Tax Field (StADG), which entered into force on January 1, 2022, on the practice of the FTA in the field of withholding tax in the case of a secondary adjustment:
Consultation agreement between Switzerland and Germany concerning non-return days
The State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) informed on 18 July 2022 that the competent authorities of Switzerland and Germany have agreed on the basis of Art. 26 para. 3 DBA that working days on which a cross-border commuter within the meaning of Art. 15a para. 2 sentence 1 DBA works all day at the place of residence in the State of domicile are not deemed to be working days on which the person does not return to the place of residence after the end of work due to the performance of his or her work. These working days are therefore not considered non-return days within the meaning of Art. 15a, para. 2, sentence 2 DBA.
Switzerland and Tajikistan sign Protocol of Amendment to Double Taxation Agreement
On July 11, 2022, SIF informed that on July 04, 2022, Switzerland and Tajikistan signed a protocol amending the Convention on the avoidance of double taxation in the field of taxes on income and capital.
The Confederation regulates the implementation of the OECD minimum tax in Switzerland
In order to implement the OECD/G20 project on the taxation of the digital economy, the Federal Council proposes a supplementary tax, with 25% of the revenue going to the Confederation and 75% to the cantons and municipalities.
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Intercantonal and international tax differentiation for real estate of business and private assets
ISIS)-Seminar on 11-12 September 2017 - Intercantonal and international tax differentiation for real estate held as business and private assets
