Should Swiss financial institutions take part in the EU FASTER Directive?
The EU directive on Faster and Safer Tax Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes (FASTER) was formally approved at the end of 2024. The purpose of the directive is to make the refund procedure for withholding tax in the EU more efficient for investors and more secure for tax authorities. Member States will have to transpose the directive into national legislation by December 31, 2028, and these rules will become applicable from January 1, 2030. But what are the implications for Swiss-based financial institutions (FI)?
Need for practical adjustments in the case of intercantonal and international home office establishments
At the end of 2025, the OECD published an update to the OECD Model Tax Convention, which sets out in detail the conditions under which working from home can constitute a permanent establishment. The OECD introduces the new concept of a company's deemed power of disposal over its employees' homes. Based on the legal principles and previous Federal Supreme Court rulings, this article analyzes whether Swiss practice regarding home office permanent establishments should be adapted in light of this new concept and the experience gained from several years of home office work.
Tax issues relating to real estate - current trends and hot topics
This issue is entirely dedicated to the topic of "Real Estate". The four articles shed light on the key issues that shape practice today. Real estate forms its own universe in tax law: the issues are complex and cantonal in nature. Between current taxation, property gains, corporate law structures and international interdependence, it is clear that even supposedly classic issues raise new questions. The latest developments impressively demonstrate how dynamic real estate taxation has become.
The Swiss taxation of real estate transactions in an international context
The Swiss real estate market is an increasingly interesting investment target for foreign investors. This article provides an introduction to the key tax aspects in connection with real estate transactions with cross-border implications. In addition to a brief outline of current tax issues, the article deals in depth with investments in commercial real estate and the question of whether an operating company or a real estate company exists for basic tax purposes, as well as the tax treatment of a sale of shares in a Swiss real estate company under Swiss unilateral law and treaty law.
FTA publishes FATCA final rulings
On 29 January 2021, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) notified the issuance of final rulings pursuant to Art. 5 para. 3 lit. b FATCA Agreement.
Technical information "Withholding tax according to DTA" has been updated
The following documents have been updated:
FTA updates the publication "Tax burden in international comparison
The publication summarises the tax rates and tax ratios in various OECD countries. Among other things, it compares corporate tax rates, capital tax rates for companies, withholding tax rates, emissions and turnover taxes, VAT rates and the treatment of losses in 2020. In particular, the publication also contains various statements on the ratio of direct to indirect taxes.
FTA updates guidance on the standard for AEOI in tax matters
The FTA has updated the guidance on the standard for the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) in tax matters.
New cross-border commuter agreement between Switzerland and Italy of 23 December 2020
On 23 December 2020, Switzerland and Italy signed a new agreement on cross-border commuters, which replaces the current agreement of 1974 and now applies reciprocally.
Canton of Zurich: Tax segregation of companies with foreign permanent establishments
Section 57 para. 3 StG ZH was adapted to the corresponding provision in the law on direct federal tax with effect from 01 January 2021.
Cross-border restructuring
Workshop on "Cross-border Restructuring" by Patrick Schmid and Thomas Hug on the occasion of the ISIS seminar "Corporate Restructuring" on August 29, 2023.
Current cases on intercantonal and international corporate tax law (2023)
Workshop on intercantonal and international corporate tax law by René Matteotti and Philipp Betschart on the occasion of the ISIS seminar "Corporate Tax Law 2023" on June 19/20, 2023.
Seminar folder ISIS)-Seminar "Real Estate Transactions - Tax Consequences National and Cross-Border
Case studies, detailed solution notes and slides: Here you will receive all documents of the individual workshops according to the following DeepL description from the ISIS) seminar "Real Estate Transactions - Tax Consequences National and Cross-Border" from September 12 and 13, 2022 under the direction of Julia von Ah.
