Implementation of the Federal Law on Tax Reform and OASI Financing (STAF) in the Canton of Berne
Based on the Corporate Tax Reform Act III (USR III) passed by the Federal Parliament on 17 June 2016, the Berne Cantonal Government Council expressed its views on the content of USR III at the end of November 2016, as well as the possible effects on the Canton of Berne and the preliminary positioning of the Canton of Berne in intercantonal tax competition. In the interests of Berne as a business location, the Government Council intended to cushion the abolition of cantonal tax privileges and the associated transition to ordinary taxation with replacement measures as part of the revision of the tax law in 2019. It was planned to reduce the maximum tax burden on profits from 21.64% in two steps; namely to 20.20% in 2019 and then to 18.71% in 2020. Further reductions in the profit tax rate should then have taken place with the 2021 tax law revision. In addition, the 2019 tax law revision also provided for the reduction of the applicable capital tax rate.
Amendment to the tax laws of the Cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft - Tax Template 17 (SV17)
Prior to the revision of the cantonal tax law, the canton of Basel-Stadt was one of the cantons with the highest ordinary income tax rate, with an effective ordinary income tax burden of a maximum of 22.18%. Significantly lower tax rates, namely between 7.8% and around 11%, were applied to status companies. Despite this low tax rate, the share of the status companies in the canton's tax revenue from taxes on profits and capital amounted to 60%. When implementing the tax reform and AHV financing (STAF), the challenge for Basel-Stadt was therefore to reduce the ordinary profit tax rate to such an extent that the status companies do not migrate, but at the same time sufficient tax revenue can be generated. In addition, it was assumed - probably rightly so - that it was crucial to create legal certainty for the companies concerned as soon as possible, which is why the new tax rate was communicated very early on and the reduced tax rate came into force on 1 January 2019.
Mise en œuvre de la réforme de la fiscalité des entreprises en Romandie
This publication focuses on the implementation of the reform of corporate taxation (RFFA) on 1 January 2020 in the French cantons (i.e. Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Valais and Vaud) with regard to non-captive companies. The particularities relating to companies with share capital (apport de capital) as well as to independent companies are not dealt with in this way; those relating to the shareholder are, on the other hand, dealt with in greater detail. Cette publication se base sur les informations disponibles au 31 juillet 2020. Il est précisé qu'entre la date de remise du manuscrit et sa publication, le canton du Valais a annoncé que le référendum déposé contre le projet de loi n'avait pas abouti. La loi fiscale valaisanne est ainsi également entrée en vigueur rétroactivement au 1er janvier 2020.
One Uber as a digital business location?
Based on the concrete example of Uber , the aim of this paper is to find answers to the following questions: Can users play a decisive role in the value creation of a company in the digital economy? And if so, how can they be used to address the challenges of taxation in the digital economy?
Compensation paid by Swiss companies to foreign directors
This video provides information on the possible tax and social security implications of a board of directors resident in an EU country in the case of a Swiss company limited by shares if the board of directors is also self-employed in its country of residence.
Circulars No. 9 and No. 16 of the FTA repealed
Circular No. 16 of the FTA of 13 July 2007 concerning "Inadmissibility of the tax deduction of bribes" and 1-009-DV-2005 of 22 June 2005 concerning "Proof of business-related expenses in foreign-foreign transactions" have both been repealed and replaced by Circular No. 50 of 13 July 2020.
Federal Council is against the widespread abolition of stamp duties
The Commission for Economic Affairs and Taxes (WAK-N) has proposed further steps to abolish stamp duties. These were rejected by the Federal Council at its meeting on 18 November 2020. However, it supports the demand to abolish the emissions tax. It also wants to abolish the turnover tax on domestic bonds as part of the planned withholding tax reform.
Adjustment SSK-KS 28: New calculation of the capitalization rate and clarification regarding start-up companies
The Swiss Tax Conference published an updated version of SSK-KS 28 on 3 November, which concerns the calculation of the capitalisation rate for determining the capitalised earnings value and a clarification of the practice for the valuation of start-up companies.
Federal Council wants to exempt too-big-to-fail instruments of banks from withholding tax by the end of 2026
At its meeting on 28 October 2020, the Federal Council adopted a dispatch on the Federal Act on Withholding Tax with regard to the treatment of interest on too-big-to-fail instruments (TBTF).
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".
Canton of Zurich: New information sheet on the additional deduction for research and development expenses
On 25 September 2020, the cantonal tax office in Zurich published a new information sheet on the additional deduction for research and development expenses.
Tax policy agenda: First meeting of the "Expert Group on Switzerland as a Tax Location
On behalf of Finance Minister Ueli Maurer, a tax policy agenda is to be adopted by the end of 2020.
FTA publishes Circular Letter No. 49 "Proof of business-related expenses for foreign transactions abroad" and Circular Letter No. 50 "Inadmissibility of tax deduction of bribes paid to public officials".
On 13 July 2020, the FTA published Circular No. 49 "Evidence of business-related expenses for foreign-foreign transactions" and Circular No. 50 "Inadmissibility of the tax deduction of bribes paid to public officials". At the same time, the predecessor circulars of the same name, No. 9 of 22 June 2005 and No. 16 of 13 July 2007, are repealed.
Asset deal versus share deal for corporations
Workshop on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar on 23 November 2017.