Automatic exchange of information and (unpunished) voluntary declarations
Since 1 January 2010, taxpayers in Switzerland have been able to go unpunished when they report tax evasion for the first time. Since then, tax transparency has increased internationally. Switzerland is pursuing the approach of implementing the international minimum standards. This now also includes the automatic exchange of information. On the way to a transparent taxpayer, the question arises as to whether the possibility still exists or should exist for taxpayers to disclose previously untaxed assets without having to expect a fine.
"Mother-daughter" arrangement between Italy and Switzerland
Opinion No. 537 of 6 August 2021 of the Italian tax authorities, described in this article, is a further sign of the "normalisation" of income tax relations between Italy and Switzerland.
Implementation of the tax reform and AHV financing (STAF) in the canton of Solothurn and first practical experiences
With the adoption of the STAF by the Swiss electorate on 19 May 2019, the cantonal tax privileges were abolished in all cantons as of 1 January 2020 and replaced by instruments that are internationally accepted. While the Solothurn electorate approved the STAF at federal level with 58.6% of the vote, it simultaneously rejected the first cantonal proposal to implement the STAF, which would have provided for a significant reduction in the profit tax rate, with 51.4% of the vote. In the second proposal, which was accepted by the electorate, it was possible to agree on a less extensive, but still substantial, reduction of the profit tax rate. For the city of Solothurn, for example, the effective profit tax rate for legal entities will be 15.29% from 2022 (previously: 21.23%). In addition to this reduction in the profit tax rate and the legislative changes prescribed by the Federal Act on the Harmonisation of Direct Taxes of the Cantons and Municipalities (StHG), individual provisions of the Tax Act were adapted to the new accounting law with the implementation of the STAF in the Canton of Solothurn and accompanying measures were adopted in the area of natural persons.
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.
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FTA publishes interest rates for direct federal tax 2023
On October 13, 2022, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published the - unchanged - interest rates for the 2023 direct federal tax:
Update of the areas of application for tax relief
On October 10, 2022, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) adopted an amendment to the "Ordinance of the EAER on the Determination of the Municipalities Included in the Areas of Application for Tax Relief" for the purpose of updating the areas of application for tax relief under regional policy.
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.
Federal Council opens consultation on ordinance on minimum taxation of large corporate groups
On August 17, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the Ordinance on the Minimum Taxation of Large Corporate Groups (Minimum Taxation Ordinance, MindStV).
Date for referendum on the revision of the Withholding Tax Act
The Federal Council has set the date for the referendum on the amendment of 17 December 2021 to the Federal Act on Withholding Tax (Withholding Tax Act, ITA) (strengthening the debt capital market) for 25 September.
Maritime shipping companies should be able to be taxed on the basis of tonnage
On 4 May 2022, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the Federal Tonnage Tax Act.
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Updates on withholding tax and stamp duties (2023).
Workshop on withholding tax and stamp duties by Thomas Jaussi and Markus Küpfer on the occasion of the ISIS seminar "Corporate Tax Law 2023" on June 19/20, 2023.
Update on the taxation of corporate restructuring (2023)
Workshop on the Taxation of Corporate Restructuring by Stefan Oesterhelt and Daniel Strahm on the occasion of the ISIS seminar "Corporate Tax Law 2023" on June 19/20, 2023.
