Tax rulings - Swiss success model at risk?
Tax rulings are omnipresent in Swiss tax consulting. With the StAhiV, they have been incorporated into Swiss legislation for the first time as of 1 January 2017 and are referred to there as "preliminary tax assessments", about which other states must be informed in certain situations. Recently, the courts have also been increasingly concerned with questions relating to tax rulings.
Development of case law on the interpretation of the DTA Germany - Switzerland in 2014
The following contribution presents the 2014 case law of the German and Swiss tax courts regarding the application and interpretation of the Convention between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Swiss Confederation for the Avoidance of Double Taxation in the Field of Taxes on Income and Capital of 11 August 1971 (hereinafter referred to as the DTA). This contribution is a continuation of the overviews published in previous years on the development of case law on the interpretation of the DBA Germany/Switzerland.
Home Office - Tax treatment in the cross-border area
Today, many tasks can be done from anywhere. The traditional workplace in the office has had its day. A telecommuting job at home brings advantages for both sides: The employer saves the costs of renting the room, the employee saves the way to the office. The following article examines the question of whether working from home can give rise to a tax permanent establishment in cross-border international situations. For the purposes of this paper, "home office" means a room or rooms which are located in the employee's home and which are used, at least in part, not only for residential purposes but also for work purposes.
Development of case law on the interpretation of the DTA Germany/Switzerland in 2013
The following contribution presents the case law of the German tax courts from 2013 with regard to the application and interpretation of the Convention between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Swiss Confederation for the Avoidance of Double Taxation in the Field of Taxes on Income and Capital of 11 August 1971 (hereinafter referred to as the DTA). This contribution is a continuation of the overviews published in previous years on the development of case law on the interpretation of the DBA Germany/Switzerland.
The Tax Information Agreement with Brazil has entered into force
The Tax Information Agreement between Switzerland and Brazil entered into force on 4 January 2019. The provisions of the Agreement shall be applied from 1 January 2020.
Commission suspends consultation on double taxation agreement with Saudi Arabia
Following the murder of the journalist Khashoggi, the Commission has decided to suspend discussion of this agreement until the Federal Council has thoroughly reviewed Switzerland's relations with Saudi Arabia.
Federal Council repeals the transitional provision in the Ordinance on the International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters
At its meeting on 7 November 2018, the Federal Council decided to repeal the transitional provision on the term "participating states" in the Ordinance on the International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters as of 1 January 2019. This will implement an international requirement.
First exchange of information on around 2 million financial accounts
The Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has exchanged information on financial accounts for the first time. The exchange takes place within the framework of the global standard for automatic information exchange (AIA).
Federal Council adopts dispatch on double taxation agreement with Brazil
On 5 September 2018 the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the double taxation agreement (DTA) in the area of income taxes with Brazil. This is the first DTA between Switzerland and Brazil. The agreement was signed in Brasilia on 3 May 2018 and will come into force following approval by the parliaments of both countries.
No extension of mutual assistance for fiscal offences
Following its decision not to revise the law on fiscal offences, the Federal Council has also decided not to extend mutual assistance in fiscal offences. In particular, it would put the Swiss tax authorities at a disadvantage compared to foreign tax authorities. The Federal Council took this decision at its meeting on 29 August 2018.
Federal Council adopts dispatch on the BEPS Convention
On 22 August 2018, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the multilateral agreement on the implementation of measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). The message was referred to the Federal Councils.
FTA sends country-specific reports from multinational corporations for the first time (June 2018)
At the end of June, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) will for the first time send country-specific reports from multinational corporations to 35 partner states. The reports are sent as part of the so-called country-by-country reporting. By the end of June, the FTA will have sent a total of 109 reports to 35 countries. The country-specific reports contain, among other things, information on the worldwide distribution of income, the taxes paid and the most important economic activities of the Group in various countries. The content is confidential and subject to the principle of speciality.
Problems with special forms of investment (trust, foundation, trust and similar) - national and international
Workshop on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar on 10-11 September 2018
Current questions on withholding tax and stamp duties, including international issues (2018)
Workshop on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar on 4-5 June 2018 entitled "Current problems and perspectives of corporate tax law".