Tax-exempt legal entities for profit and supplementary taxes in Switzerland - A legal comparison
Not only the federal, cantonal and communal taxes on profits (DBG, StHG), but also the supplementary taxes (GloBE model regulations, MindStV) recognize the concept of subjective tax exemption for legal entities. The regulations are basically congruent, but there are several case constellations of practical relevance in which the supplementary taxes override the profit tax exemption (e.g. cantonal banks, health insurance companies, newly established companies). The author therefore sees a need for action on the part of legislators and tax authorities.
Taxation of spouses in international relationships - Federal Supreme Court ruling of September 23, 2024 Prejudice on tax separation issues
In its ruling of September 23, 2024, the Federal Supreme Court issued a long-awaited precedent on the issue of international tax differentiation of debts and debt interest in the case of international spouses and revised its ruling of March 2023 on the international transfer of maintenance payments to the divorced spouse. What does this precedent mean for practice and how should other exciting practical cases be handled?
Implementation of global minimum taxation - safe harbor transitional rules for investment entities
On January 1, 2024, Switzerland partially introduced the OECD minimum tax by means of the Minimum Tax Ordinance (MindStV). The implementation of the global legal requirements poses considerable challenges for companies due to the complexity of the regulations and the technical implementation in the accounting systems. For this reason, many companies fall back on safe harbor regulations provided by the OECD. In this context, the following article examines whether these also apply to investment entities that are part of the corporate group.
The new double taxation agreement between Italy and Liechtenstein - advantages and specific cases of application
On July 12, 2023, Liechtenstein and Italy signed a double taxation agreement (DTA). The agreement is based on the international standard of the OECD Model Tax Convention 2017, takes into account the results of the BEPS project and follows the agreement on the exchange of information (TIEA) that was concluded with Italy in 2015. The DTA increases legal certainty, leads to significant withholding tax reductions, reduces existing barriers to investment and financing and will make a decisive contribution to further strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
FTA publishes notices on FATCA group requests (June 2021)
On 28 June 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 22 June 2021, Germany and Switzerland announced that the mutual agreement on the taxation of international workers would be extended until 30 September 2021. The parties will then consult again in due course.
Mutual agreement on arbitration pursuant to Art. 24, para. 5 of the DTA with the United Kingdom
On 16 June 2021, Switzerland and the United Kingdom concluded a mutual agreement on the conduct of arbitration proceedings in accordance with Art. 24 para. 5 of the DTA between Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
FTA - Instruction on the correct submission of applications for the refund of foreign withholding tax to collective investment schemes
On 17 June 2021, the FTA published the new directive on how to submit applications for the refund of foreign withholding tax to collective investment schemes.
Memorandum of Understanding between France and Switzerland
On 16 June 2021, France and Switzerland announced that the Memorandum of Understanding on the taxation of international workers would be extended until 30 September 2021.
Strengthening Switzerland as a business location in the context of OECD work
The Federal Council has taken note of the status of the OECD/G20 work on global corporate taxation.
Mutual agreement between Switzerland and the USA on withholding tax exemption for pension plans
The Protocol of Amendment to the Double Taxation Treaty between Switzerland and the USA, which was approved on 17 July 2019, provides that dividends paid to tied pension institutions (e.g. pillar 3a) will be exempt from withholding tax from 1 January 2020, provided that they do not control the US company paying the dividends.
Possibilities and limits of corporate tax planning - national and international
Workshop on the occasion of the ISIS seminar on 9/10 September 2019 entitled "Tax planning in the area of conflict between cost optimisation, tax compliance and Good citizenship - opportunities and risks".
Tax planning between legality and crime: tax evasion, abuse of rights, treaty abuse and tax crime - national and international
Workshop on the occasion of the ISIS seminar on 9/10 September 2019 entitled "Tax planning in the area of conflict between cost optimisation, tax compliance and Good citizenship - opportunities and risks".
Possibilities and limits of tax planning for investments of natural persons - national and international
Workshop on the occasion of the ISIS seminar on 9/10 September 2019 entitled "Tax planning in the area of conflict between cost optimisation, tax compliance and Good citizenship - opportunities and risks".
Possibilities and limits of securing tax planning (rulings, notifications, assurances, preliminary notices and the like), exchange of information, administrative and legal assistance
Workshop on the occasion of the ISIS seminar on 9/10 September 2019 entitled "Tax planning in the area of conflict between cost optimisation, tax compliance and Good citizenship - opportunities and risks".