Withholding tax and debt capital, including the planned revision of the Withholding Tax Act
In terms of withholding tax, we focus on withholding tax on the income from equity securities. In particular, pecuniary benefits occupy us and often lead to emotionally profound experiences and contacts with withholding tax. Similarly, we constantly deal with the question of the refund of withholding tax owed, including the issue of "How can I repatriate profit reserves subject to withholding tax abroad?
Refund of withholding tax in international relations
The refund of withholding tax on dividends from Swiss companies by foreign shareholders can only be made on the basis of a double taxation agreement between Switzerland and the country of residence of the claimant. In order to claim relief from withholding tax under the applicable double taxation treaty, the residence of the claimant must be confirmed by the foreign tax authorities.
Transfer of the registered office to Switzerland - A case for the old reserve practice?
The problem of old reserves has become an integral part of daily tax consulting practice in Switzerland. The corresponding problem will be examined in this article on the basis of a transfer of the registered office of a foreign company to Switzerland. Here, too, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) initially assumed that the "old reserves" brought into Switzerland were subject to Swiss abuse practice without restriction.
Procedural law: The withholding tax as a self-declaration tax
The withholding tax is a self-declaration tax: The taxpayer is responsible for declaring the withholding tax and fulfilling his tax liability. In contrast to the mixed assessment procedure, the procedure is not characterised by the cooperation of tax authorities and taxpayers. The responsibility for the payment of the withholding tax, including the determination of the assessment basis, lies solely with the taxpayer.
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.
Federal Council adopts dispatch on the BEPS Convention
On 22 August 2018, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the multilateral agreement on the implementation of measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). The message was referred to the Federal Councils.
WAK-S: Withholding tax
The commission agreed by 6 votes to 4 with 1 abstention to the decision to follow the commission initiative of its National Council sister commission 17,494.
Tax deductibility of fines under certain conditions
For the second time, the WAK-N dealt with the tax treatment of financial penalties (16,076). It proposes by 13 votes to 12 that fines and penalties imposed abroad should be tax deductible under certain conditions.
Tax bill 17 - the WAK-N on course for the Council of States
The Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxes of the National Council (WAK-N) has begun detailed consultations on tax bill 17 (18,031) and has taken decisions on a number of key issues. So far, it has followed the Council of States in all points, including social compensation via the AHV and dividend taxation. The detailed discussion will be concluded at the meeting on 3 September.
Simultaneous dividend booking in group relationships
The Swiss Accounting and Reporting Manual allows a domestic parent company to recognize the investment income of its subsidiary (i.e. its dividend declared in financial year n+1) as income on a deferred basis in the financial year in which the subsidiary earned it. If the parent company makes the final booking of this income to the income statement at the time of distribution of the dividend, this constitutes proper booking for the purposes of the refund of the withholding tax and for the implementation of the reporting procedure.
Withholding tax refund despite non-declaration in the tax return - National Council vote
Anyone who has not declared income in the tax return should still receive the withholding tax back if he has been negligent. The National Council has approved this change, but wants to go considerably further than the Federal Council.
Tax template 17 is linked to AHV restructuring
Tax Bill 17 will be linked to the AHV restructuring. This was decided by the Council of States. This approach is intended to help the corporate tax reform achieve a breakthrough and relieve the burden on old-age pensions.
Tax submission 17 (12 April 2018)
The Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxes of the Council of States (WAK-S) has already unanimously agreed to tax bill 17 at its meeting on 12 April 2018. At its meeting on 15 May 2018, the WAK-S unanimously supported an overall concept with the following four central elements:
