Charitable foundations in tax law - open questions
Non-profit status depends largely on the framework conditions. If these are right, people are willing to make a contribution - be it through donations or volunteering. Tax law provides important incentives: it exempts charitable organizations from tax liability and allows donations to charitable organizations to be deducted from taxable income. Tax law has thus made a significant contribution to the strong growth of the charitable sector in recent years. The foundation sector is booming.
Tax exemption for charitable organizations with a few Basel treats
The charitable sector is of enormous importance in Switzerland. With around 13,900 foundations, Switzerland has the highest density of foundations in Europe. These foundations are managed by around 62,000 foundation board members. Foundation assets are estimated at CHF 140 billion. With distributions of CHF 1.5 to 2.0 billion per year, charitable foundations in Switzerland make a valuable contribution. The recipe for success is in particular the favorable legal framework in Switzerland, first and foremost the standards for tax exemption due to charitable status.
Tax exemption for charitable institutions - New practice definitions in Zurich
This article discusses the new practice in the Canton of Zurich regarding the tax exemption of charitable institutions, which has been published since February 2024. First, procedural issues, in particular the application for tax exemption, are discussed. It then looks at the key points of the practice determinations, i.e. compensation for governing bodies, activities abroad and entrepreneurial funding models.
Generational change in the foundation landscape - a look at charitable foundations
This article deals with the tax treatment of donations by founders and sponsors. In particular, it examines the extent to which the establishment of a charitable foundation can be interesting from a tax perspective in addition to social or socio-political motives, but also what specific obligations and challenges are associated with this. It also examines the question of whether legal entities in particular, such as foundations, can make donations.
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.
Supplementary tax: Tax treatment of business units that qualify as permanent establishments
On March 18, 2025, the FTA explained the treatment of business units that are considered permanent establishments in a communication on the minimum taxation of multinational enterprise groups.
FTA publishes circular no. 32a: Reorganization of corporations and cooperatives
On January 20, 2025, the FTA published circular no. 32a regarding the "Restructuring of corporations and cooperatives".
FTA publishes imputed interest rate on the security equity 2025
The imputed interest rate on the security equity corresponds to the yield on ten-year federal bonds on the last trading day of the calendar year preceding the beginning of the tax period in accordance with Article 25abis paragraph 4 first sentence StHG.
Federal Council adopts dispatch on the extension of loss offsetting
On November 27, 2024, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on extending loss offsetting from seven to ten years.
Practical specifications for sales tax for brokerage activities within a group relationship
Recent case law in the area of sales tax for intermediaries in a group relationship has prompted the FTA to make clarifications in its administrative practice regarding Art. 13 para. 1 and Art. 13 para. 3 lit. b no. 2 StG. The two practical clarifications will be applied with immediate effect and will apply to all cases currently pending with the FTA.
Federal Council enacts Federal Act on the Taxation of Telework as of 1.1.2025.
At its meeting on October 16, 2024, the Federal Council decided to bring the Federal Act on the Taxation of Teleworking into force on January 1, 2025.
New circular no. 6a: Hidden equity capital
On October 10, 2024, the FTA published the updated circular no. 6a regarding "Hidden equity".
Taxes in the cost-plus method - FTA publishes statement on the ruling of the Federal Supreme Court 9C_37/2023
In its ruling 9C_37/2023 of June 11, 2024 (see our article), the Federal Supreme Court addressed, among other things, the question of whether or not the tax expense should be taken into account in the cost base when applying the cost-plus method in the context of Art. 58 para. 3 DBG.
Trusts and Foundations in Switzerland: Quo Vadis? Civil law and tax perspectives
Workshop by Catherine Grun and Derya Özdogan on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar of November 16, 2022 entitled "Structuration du patrimoine privé au moyen d'un trust ou d'une fondation".
Special issues with real estate in business assets
Workshop by Martin Huber and Samuel Ramp on the occasion of the ISIS) seminar on September 12/13, 2022 entitled "Special Issues in Real Estate in Business Assets".
Seminar folder ISIS)-Seminar "Practice on Withholding Tax and Outlook on Current Developments
Case studies, detailed solution notes and slides: Here you will receive all documents of the individual workshops according to the following DeepL description from the ISIS) seminar "Praxis zur Verrechnungssteuer und Ausblick auf aktuelle Entwicklungen" of August 30, 2022 under the direction of Thomas Jaussi.
