Home office and the cross-border commuter agreement with Italy
Today, around 85,000 Italian residents work in the border cantons of Ticino, Grisons and Valais. The cross-border commuter agreement concluded with Italy is of great importance especially for the canton of Ticino with its approximately 75,000 cross-border commuters, of which around 66,000 are considered cross-border commuters within the meaning of the agreement.
Cross-border commuter regulation Switzerland-Liechtenstein
The double taxation agreement between Switzerland and Liechtenstein contains a special rule for cross-border commuters, according to which the income from employment earned in the State of activity is allocated to the State of residence for taxation. If, on the other hand, an employee in a cross-border context does not meet the criteria established for cross-border commuters, the earned income is allocated for taxation to the State of activity and the State of residence on a pro rata basis in accordance with the general principles. Against this background, employers who employ cross-border commuters from Liechtenstein or Switzerland have different clarification and declaration obligations.
Tax pitfalls in the dissolution of a community of preferential heirs
Particularly from a tax law perspective, caution is required with such conversions or investments, as a community of anticipated heirs could qualify as a simple partnership under tax law, the dissolution of which would result in the settlement of deferred real estate gains tax. The members of a community of anticipated inheritance are often not aware of these tax consequences.
Charitable foundations - explosive tax law issues
Legal entities that meet the respective requirements of Art. 56 lit. e, g and h of the Federal Law on Direct Federal Tax (DBG) generally benefit from a subjective tax exemption. If legal entities are subjectively tax-exempt due to the pursuit of charitable purposes, according to Art. 56 lit. g DBG, the acquisition and management of "significant capital investments in companies" are only permitted under restrictive conditions. The Federal Supreme Court recently had to assess the question under which circumstances the holding of a significant equity interest in an operating company by a charitable foundation precludes a subjective tax exemption.
FTA publishes update to circular no. 37 "Taxation of employee shareholdings
On 30 October 2020, the FTA published an update to Circular Letter No. 37 "Taxation of Employee Participation".
FTA publishes circular "Interest rates in the area of direct federal tax for the 2021 calendar year / maximum pillar 3a deductions in the 2021 tax year".
On 22 October 2020, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published the circular "Interest rates in the area of direct federal tax for the calendar year 2021 / maximum pillar 3a deductions in the 2021 tax year".
Canton of Zurich: Amendment of the directive on the valuation of usufruct and periodic benefits for inheritance and gift tax purposes
The directive of the Finance Directorate of the Canton of Zurich on the valuation of usufruct and claims to periodic benefits for inheritance and gift tax purposes has been updated due to changes in life expectancy.
Deduction of professional expenses in the light of COVID-19 in the tax return 2020 (Canton of Zurich)
On September 9, 2020, the Cantonal Tax Office of Zurich published a notice according to which dependent employees can deduct their professional expenses (e.g. travel expenses between home and place of work and meals) in their 2020 tax return as they would have been incurred without COVID-19.
FTA publishes circular on flat rates for professional expenses and remuneration in kind 2021
The Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has published a circular entitled "Professional expense allowances and benefits in kind 2021 / Compensation for the consequences of cold progression in direct federal tax for the 2021 tax year".
FTA publishes statistics on the tax burden on individuals
A review of the 2010-2018 data shows that the tax burden in Switzerland has declined during this period.
Vote on the proposal to increase child deductions
On 27 September 2020, a vote will be held on whether the general child deduction and the deduction for third-party childcare should be increased in the Federal Direct Federal Tax Act (DBG).
Block chain and distributed ledger technology: No changes to tax law
At its meeting on 19 June 2020, the Federal Council took note of the report on a possible need to adapt tax law in the area of block chaining. The report comes to the conclusion that there is no need for specific legislative adjustments in tax law.
Accrual and deferral of profit and income from real estate held as business and private assets (in particular sale and realisation transactions), taxation of rent and imputed rental value as well as ground rent
ISIS) seminar on 11-12 September 2017 - Accrual and deferral of profit and income from real estate held as business and private assets (in particular sale and realisation transactions), taxation of rent and imputed rental value and of ground rent
Determination of the real estate gain of real estate of private assets as well as problems of taxation of the real estate gain in case of gift, advance withdrawal of inheritance and inheritance
ISIS) seminar on 11 September 2017
