Fiscal perspective

Case 1: Commercial property trading versus private asset management

1. facts of the case

Giovanni passed away on 5 February 2016; he was predeceased by his wife Hortensia. Giovanni and Hortensia were childless. Giovanni was a teacher, Hortensia a nurse. Neither had any relevant experience in the real estate sector.

According to the inheritance contract of March 2013, the three sisters Annastasia (52), Ladina (50) and Madlaina (49), who reside in GR, were appointed as equal heirs in A's estate. They also have no experience in the real estate sector.

In addition, the spouses stipulated in the inheritance contract that 40% of the estate should go to the "Giovanni and Hortensia" Foundation. The purpose of this foundation is to provide financial support to young people up to the age of 30 for grammar school education, tertiary education or second-chance education. The foundation has a non-profit character.

In the inheritance contract, the spouses stipulated the following:

"Prior to the payment of the legacy to the foundation and the execution of the division in the estate of the second deceased, the property no. 9911 belonging to the estate shall be sold by the executor and the existing securities shall be sold in silver.

On plot no. 9911 there is a multi-family house consisting of three flats. The rest of the property area of about 2,300 m2 is undeveloped.

On the recommendation of the executor to realise the valorisation themselves, the three heirs decided in mid-2020 not to sell the property as such, but to proceed as follows:

• After the establishment of condominium ownership in May 2021, a development with 21 flats will be realised on the undeveloped part. Of the 21 flats, the three heirs will each keep one flat (sole ownership), five flats will be transferred to the "Giovanni and Hortensia" Foundation in settlement of the bequest claim of 40% of the estate. The remaining 13 flats will be sold to third parties. The development will be financed mainly from the sale of the flats.
• A fourth flatwill be created in the apartment building in order to subsequently sell all flats.
• Of the total of 25 flats, 22 will be built by the heirs and 17 will be sold; a large number of the flats have already been reserved.
• Planning application: mid-2020 | Building permit: End of 2020 | Justification of StWE: July 2021 | Start of construction: August 2021 | Sale: Has already started.

Questions

• Does the action of the three heirs qualify as commercial property trading?
• If the answer is in the affirmative: Which steps are to be systematically distinguished and how are they to be assessed under tax law?

Factual variant:

How are the facts to be assessed if the domicile of the three heirs is outside Graubünden?

Case 2: Freelance artist - abandonment of activity

2. facts of the case

Kelly Kolor is a well-known artist. She currently lives in Austria and also has her studio there, where she produces paintings and sculptures of all kinds. One of the not too many, Kelly has been successful in her lifetime - she has regular exhibitions and sells her work through galleries, auctions and directly.

Kelly's work is very material intensive. She travels a lot to galleries, events, artist friends and inspiring places of power. Because her motifs are not exactly "mainstream", in addition to comparatively high bills from her trustee, she also has to repeatedly conduct lawsuits (e.g. for personal and image rights), which also expose her to high legal costs.

• Kelly Kolor is considering moving her residence and place of work to Davos. Her son Flavio from her first marriage lives there. He runs a successful ski school and has basically nothing to do with the art scene. Kelly's daughter from her second marriage, Denise, lives in Zurich, where she studied graphic design and runs a small art and design studio. Kelly would like to settle down in Davos and from there also set up a foundation that will perpetuate her work and impact.
• Kelly Kolor dies unexpectedly after moving in and leaves her children, on the one hand, the foundation that has already been set up but is not yet particularly active, which has a tax exemption. On the other hand she leaves

1. An extensive collection of artworks of various styles in her flat
2. A storage room with already finished works and works in progress in Davos
3. The studio in Davos with various materials and tools
4. A storage room in Vienna with even more works and extensive literature regarding the art scene.
5. Works on consignment at various galleries in Berlin, New York and Amsterdam.
6. Accounts at three Swiss banks, a mortgage at the Bündner Kantonalbank and household effects and jewellery.

While Kelly has bought her flat in Davos, she has rented the studio and storage rooms. For years she has still been contracting with Agent Alex, with whom other works are located and who also serves on the board of trustees of the Fundaziun Kelly.

Kelly had written a will when she moved in, according to which certain works (from the series "Nature and Man") should go to her foundation, while Flavio and Denise inherit the rest. She appointed her friend and lawyer Wanda (domiciled in Chur) as executor.

Question(s)

• What aspects need to be considered regarding Kelly's move and in relation to her artistic activity?
• What aspects are at the forefront of Kelly's estate in relation to her artistic activity, and what planning opportunities exist for her heirs?

Case 3: Self-employment or hobby / Hobby

3. facts

The married couple A. (born 1943) and B. reside in U. (Canton of Zurich) and are founders of a clothing company and owners of various properties. The husband A. is the owner of the sole proprietorship "Gasthof B." with its registered office in C., Canton of Zurich, which was entered in the commercial register in 2007. A. had acquired the historic inn property in need of renovation in 2001. From 2003 onwards, he invested around CHF 5 million from his own funds.

In 2007, the inn was reopened as an upscale hotel and restaurant with top chefs. In the business years 2007 up to and including 2012, the business generated losses totalling around CHF 3.1 million (for details, see the table below). In the 2012 business year, a loss of CHF 516,093 was incurred.

In the 2012 business year, A. achieved gross operating income of CHF 1,843,987 with the inn, or net operating income of CHF 116,202 after deduction of the cost of goods (CHF 582,044) and personnel expenses of CHF 1,145,741. After deduction of further expenses, a loss before depreciation of approximately CHF -350,000 resulted.

In the tax return for the 2012 tax period, A. and B. declared a loss for the year of CHF 516,093 and claimed losses from the previous year of around CHF 645,000 that had not yet been offset. Their taxable assets amounted to CHF 10.4 million.

In the assessment rulings of 8 March 2017 (direct federal tax and Zurich state and municipal taxes), the tax office of the Canton of Zurich does not allow the deduction of either the annual or the previous year's losses. In the absence of an intention to make a profit, self-employment was to be denied.

A. wants to defend himself against this view. He employs 21 full-time employees, other part-time employees and temporary staff and has been receiving advice from a trust company specialised in catering businesses since 2010. The inn is a member of two restaurant and hotel cooperatives and is present on relevant booking platforms.

At the beginning of 2017, a new manager took over the inn. Together with A.'s son, D., who is now involved, he changed the business concept and oriented the kitchen towards a simpler, but still high-quality, home-style cuisine. He reduced the number of staff considerably. Previously, staff costs accounted for a large part of the annual operating income. The new concept foresees a profit surplus for 2017.

Question

Is A. self-employed for the 2012 tax year or should his activity be classified as a hobby?