Joint and several liability between spouses in tax law "So examine him who is eternally bound..."
"I'm living in separation and my ex-partner refuses to carry outstanding tax bills from our marriage. "Can the IRS require me to carry those bills on my own?" These and similar questions are common in tax consulting. The answer is "It depends." This article answers the relevant questions and analyses the differences in cantonal and municipal taxes.
Taxation of compensation payments from share certificates
This paper focuses on the income tax treatment of income from investments in classical index and basket certificates from equities. The focus is on the view of the investor resident in Switzerland who holds the products as part of her private assets.
Taxation of spouses in international relations
An "international" spouse relationship from a tax law perspective exists if only one spouse is subject to unlimited tax liability in Switzerland, while the other spouse has no or only limited tax liability in Switzerland. It must also be a legally and factually unseparated marriage. The taxation of such "international" spousal relationships is opposed by the addition of factors as prescribed by law. However, according to the established case law of the Federal Supreme Court, the latter - unlike in intercantonal relations - cannot create any tax liability in Switzerland.
The unsuccessful move from Binningen to Wollerau - The location of the parking spaces for a Maserati and a Ferrari must be taken into account when determining tax residence
In its ruling of 19 September 2019 (2C_170/2019), the Federal Supreme Court had to judge an unsuccessful move from Binningen to Wollerau. It confirmed the ruling of 14 November 2018 of the Basel-Landschaft Cantonal Court (810 18 59).
FTA publishes tax statistics 2016
On 1 November 2019, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published the tax statistics of natural and legal persons for 2016.
FTA updates information sheets for athletes and organizers
On 22 October 2019, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) pointed out in its Special Information that athletes, sportswomen and sports teams resident or based abroad may become liable to tax by participating in a sports event in Switzerland.
Remuneration, default and refund interest rate for direct federal tax for the calendar year 2020
The Federal Department of Finance (FDF) has decided that for the calendar year 2020 it will continue not to pay any refund interest on amounts of direct federal tax paid early. The interest rate on arrears and the reimbursement rate also remain unchanged.
FTA publishes working paper on cryptocurrencies and ICOs/ITOs
The emergence and spread of crypto-currencies have raised various questions about the tax treatment of these book-entry securities. The Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has published a working paper outlining the practice developed to date (status end of May 2019).
Simplified taxation of the private use of company cars
According to a decision of the Federal Assembly, private use of company cars should be taxable at a flat rate which now also includes travel costs to the place of work. On 28 June 2019, the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) submitted an amendment to the ordinance for consultation.
Federal Council adopts additional message on the elimination of the "marriage penalty
On 14 August 2019, the Federal Council adopted the supplementary message on the amendment of the Federal Act on Direct Federal Taxation (Balanced Couples and Family Taxation).
Federal Council rejects popular initiative "Take the pressure off wages, tax capital fairly
At its meeting on 26 June 2019, the Federal Council dealt with the popular initiative "Relieve the burden on wages, tax capital fairly" and instructed the FDF to prepare a dispatch with a motion for rejection without a counter-proposal.
Circular: List of cantons with different imputed rental values for cantonal taxes and direct federal tax as of tax period 2018
On 9 July 2019, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published a circular containing a list of cantons with different imputed rental values for cantonal taxes and direct federal tax as of the 2018 tax period.
Specialties in wealth tax (valuation, bouclier fiscal, etc.)
Workshop by Marco Greter and Nina Blanz on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar on September 23-24, 2024 entitled "Specialties in wealth tax"
Asset structuring through trusts and foundations
Workshop by Andrea Opel and Andrea Hildebrand on the occasion of the ISIS seminar from 23 - 24 September 2024 entitled "Asset structuring using trusts and foundations"