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.
FTA - Notification withholding tax: Declaration of reserves from capital contributions
On September 18, 2024, the FTA clarified the administrative practice in accordance with item 9 of circular no. 29c on the capital contribution principle dated December 23, 2023 regarding the declaration of reserves from capital contributions.
International supplementary tax IIR to come into force in 2025
At its meeting on September 4, 2024, the Federal Council decided to bring the Income Inclusion Rule (IIR) into force on January 1, 2025. In addition to the QDMTT, which was already introduced on January 1, 2024, this rule is intended to ensure that tax revenue remains in Switzerland.
Transitional solution for the too-big-to-fail instruments for withholding tax
At its meeting on August 21, 2024, the Federal Council approved a temporary extension of the special regulations for interest from TBTF instruments until December 31, 2031. Without an additional extension, interest on TBTF instruments issued after December 31, 2026 would be subject to withholding tax.
Introduction of the OECD/G20 minimum taxation on January 1, 2024
On December 22, 2023, the Federal Council decided to levy the supplementary tax in Switzerland from January 1, 2024.
FTA publishes tax statistics of natural and legal persons 2020
On 16 November 2023, the FTA published the 2020 tax statistics.
FDF publishes first report on cantonal measures in connection with the implementation of the OECD minimum tax
On August 8, 2023, the FDF published the first report on the expected impact of the implementation of the OECD minimum tax on the individual cantons as well as the planned measures of the individual cantons as of May 31, 2023.
Federal Council opens consultation on expanded loss offsetting
According to parliament, the loss offset period for companies is to be extended from seven to ten years. This is intended to enable companies affected by the Corona pandemic in particular to recover better. The Federal Council has drawn up the legal amendments for this and opened the consultation process at its meeting on June 28, 2023.
ISIS) seminar folder "Exchange of services between affiliated companies (2025)"
All documents from the ISIS) seminar "Exchange of services between affiliated companies" from February 05, 2025 under the direction of Thomas Hug in one PDF document. Case studies, detailed solution notes and slides: Here you will find all documents of the individual workshops according to the following content description.
Transfer pricing for SMEs
Workshop by Stefan Piller and Rita Sommariva on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar on February 05, 2025 entitled "Transfer Pricing for SMEs"