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.
Federal Council opens consultation on implementation of OECD/G20 minimum taxation
On 11 March 2022, the Federal Council decided that the OECD/G20 project on the taxation of the digital economy in Switzerland should be implemented in stages with a constitutional norm and transitional provisions. The corresponding consultation will last until 20 April 2022.
Mutual agreement between Switzerland and Liechtenstein
On 02 March 2022, SIF announced the termination of the Mutual Understanding between Switzerland and Liechtenstein of 20/22 October 2020 on the impact of COVID-19 measures on the treatment of cross-border commuters under the DTA on 31 March 2022.
Tax relief for Ireland and the Philippines
On 25 February 2022, SIF updated the overview of the effects of the agreement on tax relief for Ireland and the Philippines.
Update of the overview of the effects of the agreement (extent of relief) concerning Australia
The State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) has updated the overview of the effects of the agreement (extent of relief) concerning Australia.
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.
ISIS seminar folder "Gratuitous transfer of assets under tax law"
All documents from the ISIS) seminar "Gratuitous transfer of assets in tax law" from October 28, 2025 under the direction of Peter Mäusli-Allenspach in one PDF document. Case studies, detailed solution notes and slides: Here you will find all documents of the individual workshops according to the following content description.
Practical examples of cross-border issues in relation to Germany
Case studies, slides and detailed solution notes from the workshop held by Hanna Brozzo and Iring Christopeit on October 28, 2025 on the occasion of the ISIS seminar "Gratuitous asset transfers in tax law".
