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).
Good news: Art. 23 VStG in conjunction Art. 70d VStG also applies to requests for reverse power under Art. 58 VStG
Since 1 January 2019, Art. 23 VStG in conjunction Art. 70d VStG concerning the non-forfeiture of the refund of withholding tax in force. The new regulation applies to claims that have not yet been legally decided since 1 January 2014 and, according to a new Federal Supreme Court decision, also applies to cases in which a tax office offset income and refunded the withholding tax, but reclaimed it after a reduction order by the EStV and the taxpayer appealed against it.
Refund of withholding tax under the new Art. 23(2) VStG - an interpretative regulation
The reimbursement of withholding tax to domestic recipients of services requires, among other things, that the income subject to withholding tax and the assets on which it is based are declared "in an orderly manner".
Canton of Zurich - Adjustment of the fact sheets on the deduction of property maintenance costs and energy-saving measures and updating of the Zurich tax booklet
Since the 2020 tax period, there is the new deductibility of deconstruction costs with regard to a replacement new building (section 30 para. 2 StG) and the transferability of expenses for investments that serve to save energy and protect the environment, as well as deconstruction costs with regard to a replacement new building (section 30 para. 2bis StG). These costs are deductible in the two subsequent tax periods insofar as they could not be fully taken into account for tax purposes in the current tax period. The two information sheets were adapted for this purpose:
Notice from the Cantonal Tax Office Zurich regarding professional expenses and Corona in the 2021 tax period
On 26.03.2021, the Cantonal Tax Office of Zurich published a notice according to which dependent employees can claim their professional expenses for the year 2021, as they did for the year 2020, as if there had been no measures to combat the Corona pandemic.
FTA extends flat-rate taxation for the private use of business vehicles
On 17 March 2021, the FTA published the amendment to Art. 5a of the Professional Costs Ordinance. On the one hand, the current flat rate will be regulated in the Professional Costs Ordinance from 1 January 2022, and on the other hand, the flat rate will now take into account commuting costs and will be increased from 0.8% to 0.9% per month (or from 9.6% to 10.8% per year) for this purpose.
Taxation of capital benefits in the Canton of Zurich
The taxation of lump-sum benefits on withdrawals from the pension fund or the third pillar will be reduced in the canton of Zurich from the beginning of 2022 in order to take account of higher life expectancy and lower conversion rates in occupational pension provision.
Memorandum of Understanding between Switzerland and France
In view of the fact that the measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 are still topical, Switzerland and France have agreed that the mutual agreement signed on 13 May 2020 should remain in force until 30 June 2021.
List of surrenderable Pillar 3b endowment insurance policies published
The Federal Tax Administration published the circular "List of surrenderable Pillar 3b endowment insurance policies, as of 31 December 2020" on 9 March 2021.
List of recognised providers for pillar 3a published
The Federal Tax Administration published the circular "List of providers of recognised tied pension products (pillar 3a), as at 31 December 2020" on 8 March 2021.
Canton of residence responsible in future for withholding tax on heirs
An amendment to the Ordinance on Withholding Tax is due to come into force on 1 January 2022, according to which the heirs of an inheritance that has not yet been distributed will be able to reclaim withholding tax on inheritance income in their canton of residence (previously: last canton of residence of the deceased).
ISIS) seminar folder "The world of work on the move: tax and social security challenges (2025)"
All documents from the ISIS) seminar "The world of work on the move: tax and social security challenges" held on May 22, 2025 under the direction of Petra Caminada in one PDF document. Case studies, detailed solution notes and slides: Here you will find all documents from the individual workshops according to the following content description.
Withholding taxes
Workshop by Dominique Frison and Jennifer Herren on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar on May 22, 2025 entitled "Withholding taxes"
