"Mother-daughter" arrangement between Italy and Switzerland
Opinion No. 537 of 6 August 2021 of the Italian tax authorities, described in this article, is a further sign of the "normalisation" of income tax relations between Italy and Switzerland.
Refund of withholding tax in international relations
The refund of withholding tax on dividends from Swiss companies by foreign shareholders can only be made on the basis of a double taxation agreement between Switzerland and the country of residence of the claimant. In order to claim relief from withholding tax under the applicable double taxation treaty, the residence of the claimant must be confirmed by the foreign tax authorities.
Transfer of the registered office to Switzerland - A case for the old reserve practice?
The problem of old reserves has become an integral part of daily tax consulting practice in Switzerland. The corresponding problem will be examined in this article on the basis of a transfer of the registered office of a foreign company to Switzerland. Here, too, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) initially assumed that the "old reserves" brought into Switzerland were subject to Swiss abuse practice without restriction.
Place of actual administration in the age of digitalisation & home office
Since the concept of the place of actual administration was incorporated into the law in 1951, digitisation has progressed in great strides. The author explores the question of the extent to which, in the age of home offices and video conferencing via the internet, criteria such as office space, lack of staff, lack of telephone accessibility and address redirection are still contemporary and whether the place of actual administration can still be determined geographically at all in the face of increasing mobility.
OECD publishes Transfer Pricing Guidelines
On 20 January 2022, the OECD published the latest version 2022 of the Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Tax Administrations.
Federal Council opens consultation on the automatic exchange of information with twelve other partner states
At its meeting on 3 December 2021, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the introduction of the automatic exchange of information on financial accounts (AEOI) with twelve additional states and territories.
Memorandum of Understanding between Switzerland and France
On 7 December, SIF announced that the mutual agreement between Switzerland and France of 13 May 2020 on the taxation of cross-border workers who work in the home office as a result of measures to combat Covid-19 will remain in force until 31 March 2022. Unless terminated by either party, it will then remain in force until 30 June 2022.
Entry into force of the amending protocols of three DTAs (Cyprus, Malta, Liechtenstein)
The protocols amending the DTAs with Cyprus, Malta and Liechtenstein have entered into force. Most of the amendments apply from 1 January 2022, but some already apply from the date of entry into force.
FTA publishes notices on FATCA group requests
On 30 November 2021, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published FATCA group requests pursuant to Article 12 paragraph 1 of the FATCA Act.
Consultation agreement between Switzerland and Germany
On 30 November 2021, SIF announced that the consultation agreement between Switzerland and Germany of 11 June 2020 concerning the taxation of cross-border workers during the COVID-19 pandemic will not be terminated until at least 31 March 2022.
Federal Council adopts dispatches on amendments to the DTAs with Japan and Northern Macedonia
The Dispatches on the Protocols of Amendment to the DTAs with Japan and Northern Macedonia were adopted by the Federal Council on 17 November 2021.
Switzerland and Armenia sign Protocol of Amendment to the Double Taxation Agreement
Switzerland and Armenia signed a Protocol of Amendment to the corresponding DTA on 12 November 2021. The protocol implements the minimum standards from the BEPS project in matters of double taxation agreements as well as the international standard in matters of information exchange.
Withholding taxes
Workshop by Dominique Frison and Jennifer Herren on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar on May 22, 2025 entitled "Withholding taxes"
Social security law
Workshop by Franziska Stadtherr and Andreas Schiek on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar on May 22, 2025 entitled "Social Security Law"
