Taxation of NFTs in the luxury industry - a case study
Non-fungible tokens ("NFTs" for short), i.e. unique cryptographic tokens representing physical or digital value, are currently on everyone's lips - at least since the NFT "Everydays: the First 5000 Days" was auctioned by Christie's in 2021 for USD 69.3 million. Using the NFTs of the watch brand DuBois et fils, which were issued for the first time in 2021, it will be shown how companies in the luxury sector can use NFTs both to market products and to build a close customer relationship, and which tax issues have to be taken into account.
Quasi-property trading - from the elasticity of the criteria
In its ruling, which was heard in public on October 13, 2022 and served on the parties in writing on March 30, 2023, the Federal Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of a married couple residing in the Canton of Zurich. It upheld the ruling of the Administrative Court of the Canton of Zurich, according to which the taxpayers had qualified as quasi-real estate dealers by selling a rented apartment building. The Federal Supreme Court based its decision on the fact that the taxpayers, who also held other rented properties in co-ownership, had taken a high financial risk when acquiring the property, had sold the property after a short holding period (5 ½ years), had spent a great deal of time managing the property during the holding period and had acquired it with the plan of achieving the highest possible profit upon sale. In their discussion of the ruling, the authors deal with the Federal Supreme Court's reasoning and explain why the ruling leads to legal uncertainties in practice.
Income tax-free repayment of a hidden capital contribution to the shareholder
The Federal Supreme Court had to decide for the first time whether the repayment of a hidden capital contribution to the shareholder constitutes taxable investment income or whether it can be made tax-free. After interpreting the term "repayment of contributions" in Art. 20 para. 3 DBG, it comes to the conclusion that hidden capital contributions also fall under this, that the accounting requirement from Art. 5 para. 1bis VStG is not relevant and that the repayment of a hidden capital contribution is income tax-free.
Algorithmically verified tax return in the ordinary mixed assessment procedure
The digitization of the tax area and, in particular, the automation of the assessment process are advancing. In the process, risk management systems can be used to automatically check the plausibility of tax returns. Such a risk analysis can lead to challenges under fundamental rights and data protection law, which must be countered in particular by creating specific legal foundations.
Withholding tax: application of the limitation periods for refunds
On September 13, 2022, the FTA published a notice regarding limitation periods for the claim for refund of withholding tax in case of informal rejection (without issuance of a formal decision) of refund applications.
FTA publishes circular regarding the refund of withholding tax on lump-sum pension benefits in relation to Italy
On August 12, 2022, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published the circular "Explanatory notes on the refund of withholding tax on lump-sum pension benefits to recipients resident in Italy".
Deduction for health insurance premiums to be increased
At its meeting on 22 June 2022, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on increasing the deductions for insurance premiums and interest on savings capital for direct federal tax.
Federal Council adopts benchmarks for individual taxation
At its meeting on 25 May 2022, the Federal Council adopted the key values for individual taxation.
Canton of Zurich - Refund of withholding tax on undistributed inheritances
From 1 January 2022, taxpayers in the canton of Zurich will claim back their pro rata withholding tax on undistributed inheritances in their canton of residence.
Adjustment of the private share in the car costs in the leaflets N1/2007 and NL1/2007
On 22 March 2022, the FTA amended the information sheets N1/2007 and NL1/2007, as Art. 5a para. 2 of the Federal Ordinance on Professional Costs came into force on 01 January 2022, which now provides for a higher flat-rate travel cost deduction of 0.9% of the purchase price of the vehicle as monthly income.
Intra-family succession against payment and without payment
Workshop by Alexandra Hirt on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar on November 16, 2022 entitled "Tax Aspects of Business Succession".
Questions choisies d'impôts directs, droits de donation et succession
Workshop by Nicolas Candaux and Arnaud Cywie on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar of November 16, 2022 entitled "Structuration du patrimoine privé au moyen d'un trust ou d'une fondation".