"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.
Consultation opened on lowering the tax-free limit for travel
In implementation of the 19.3975 Motion FK-N "Improving tax justice in the flow of goods in local border traffic", the FDF is planning to reduce the tax-free limit for goods in tourist traffic from CHF 300 to CHF 150 per person. The consultation on this has been opened.
Memoranda of Understanding between Switzerland and Italy - Telework 2023 / 2024-2025
On November 28, 2023, the SIF reported that the competent authorities in Italy and Switzerland had concluded two memoranda of understanding.
Federal Council adopts dispatch on amending DTA with Slovenia
On 22 November 2023, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on amending the DTA with Slovenia.
Federal Council adopts dispatch on the supplementary agreement to the DTA with France
On 22 November 2023, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the approval and implementation of an additional agreement to the DTA with France, which regulates in particular the taxation of cross-border teleworking to the extent of up to 40% of working hours per year.
Entry into force of the Protocol of Amendment to the DTA with Tajikistan
According to the SIF, the Protocol of Amendment to the DTA with Tajikistan entered into force on 2 November 2023 and is generally applicable from that date.
In the future, the international automatic exchange of information will also include crypto assets
In a joint declaration, around 50 countries, including Switzerland, commit themselves to the expanded international automatic exchange of information in tax matters (AEOI). The extension affects crypto assets and is scheduled to apply from January 1, 2026. By the end of June 2024, the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) will prepare a consultation draft for the implementation of the expanded AEOI.
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"