Double taxation agreement with Kosovo enters into force
The double taxation agreement (DTA) in the area of income taxes between Switzerland and Kosovo entered into force on 10 October 2018. The Agreement shall take effect from 1 January 2019.
Consultation agreement between Switzerland and Germany
The State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) has concluded a new consultation agreement between Switzerland and Germany on the reasonableness of returning to the place of residence of frontier workers.
Updated overview of the changes in tax law and ordinances with effect from 2019-2021
The Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has updated the list of changes to laws and ordinances in tax and duty law with effect from 2019.
Extension of the list for the exchange of country-specific reports and adaptation of ALBAV
At its meeting on 17 October 2018, the Federal Council decided to extend the exchange of country-specific reports to other states. It also adopted an amendment to the Regulation concerning the international automatic exchange of country-specific reports by multinational corporations (ALBAV).
FTA publishes circular "Interest rates in the area of direct federal tax for the calendar year 2019 / maximum pillar 3a deductions in the 2019 tax year
On 18 October 2018, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published the circular "Interest rates in the area of direct federal tax for the calendar year 2019 / maximum pillar 3a deductions in the 2019 tax year".
Selected parliamentary business in tax matters at federal level (19 October 2018)
The FTA has published a revised version of the overview of selected parliamentary business in the tax area at federal level.
Adjustments to the price lists relating to direct federal tax and the lists of bonus shares 2017 and 2018 (9 October 2018)
On 9 October 2018, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published various adjustments to the share price lists (ICTax) regarding direct federal tax.
Remuneration, default and refund interest rate for direct federal tax for the calendar year 2019
The Federal Department of Finance (FDF) has decided to continue not to pay any refund interest for the calendar year 2019 on amounts of direct federal tax paid early. The default / refund interest rate also remains unchanged.
Protocol of amendment to the DTA with Latvia enters into force
The Protocol amending the double taxation agreement (DTA) between Switzerland and Latvia in the area of taxes on income and wealth entered into force on 3 September 2018. It shall take effect from 1 January 2019.
AIA: First exchange of information on some 2 million financial accounts
The Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has exchanged information on financial accounts for the first time. The exchange takes place within the framework of the global standard for automatic information exchange (AIA).
VAT: Publication of the drafts of the practice statements of the VAT Department (4 October 2018)
On 4 October 2018, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published a new first draft for the definition of practice in the consultative body.
Parliament approves amendment of the Withholding Tax Act concerning the refund of withholding tax in the event of non-declaration
In the final vote, Parliament adopted a bill to amend the Withholding Tax Act, under which the right to a refund of withholding tax in the event of failure to declare a service subject to withholding tax in the tax return is no longer forfeited if a subsequent declaration is made or the tax authority offsets the service.
Council of States adopts motion "Value added tax liability of online platforms for sales from abroad to Switzerland
In its session of 24 September 2018, the Council of States adopted a motion requesting the Federal Council to take measures to make foreign online marketplaces and service platforms subject to value-added tax when supplying goods or services to Switzerland.
Parliament approves federal law on tax reform and AHV financing (STAF; formerly SV17)
In their final vote on 28 September 2018, the National Council and Council of States passed the Federal Law on Tax Reform and OASI Financing (STAF; formerly Tax Bill 17, SV17). In the process, amendments were made to the bill right up to the last minute.
Parliament wants tax breaks for start-ups
Parliament wants to improve the tax situation of start-ups and their employees. Following the National Council, the Council of States has now also adopted a motion to this effect on 24 September 2018, which aims to ensure competitive tax treatment of start-ups (including their employee shareholdings).
Council of States adopts DTA with Zambia
At its meeting on 24 September 2018, the Council of States adopted a new double taxation agreement (DTA) with Zambia
Council of States adopts amendment to DTA with Ecuador
At its meeting on 24 September 2018, the Council of States adopted an amendment to the double taxation agreement (DTA) with Ecuador.
Motion: "Harmonisation of interest rates for federal tax exemptions"
In its session of 10 September 2019, the Council of States adopted a motion to instruct the Federal Council to harmonise the interest rates in federal tax decrees in such a way as to establish a generally applicable default and refund interest rate.
Council of States approves tax bill 17 (SV17)
On 17 September 2018, the Council of States discussed tax bill 17 (SV17) and approved the National Council's draft. The template is thus cleaned up.
Calculation of the participation deduction for too-big-to-fail instruments
According to the dispatch of February 14, 2018 on the Federal Act on the Calculation of the Participation Deduction for Too-Big-to-Fail Instruments, the calculation of the participation deduction for group parent companies of systemically important banks is to be corrected selectively.
Federal law on the tax treatment of financial sanctions
On September 18, 2018, the National Council discussed the dispatch on the Federal Act on the Tax Treatment of Financial Sanctions.
Introduction of automatic exchange of information on financial accounts with the Republic of Singapore and Hong Kong and with other partner countries
On 17 September 2018, the Council of States discussed the message of 9 May 2018 on the introduction of automatic information exchange on financial accounts with Singapore and Hong Kong from 2018/ 2019 and with other partner states from 2019/2020.
Adjustments to the price lists relating to direct federal tax and the lists of bonus shares 2017 and 2018 (18 September 2018)
On 18 September 2018, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published various adjustments to the share price lists (ICTax) regarding direct federal tax.
Motion: "Stop the tax penalty in pillar 3b. In the case of a capital withdrawal, tax the income share instead of the capital contribution".
In its meeting on 10 September 2019, the Council of States adopted a motion to instruct the Federal Council to submit to parliament an amendment to the DBG and the StHG so that, in the case of surrenderable pillar 3b pension insurance policies, the surrender sum (during life) and the premium refund (after death) are taxed at the actual share of earnings (departure from the improper 40 percent rule).
Motion: "No forfeiture on withholding tax"
In its session of 10 September 2019, the Council of States rejected a motion instructing the Federal Council to amend the Withholding Tax Act so that individuals resident in Switzerland do not forfeit the refund of withholding tax due to inadvertent or negligent failure to declare or false declaration, as long as it is guaranteed that the investment income subject to withholding tax will be taxed. The concerns of the motion have already been met with the revision of the Withholding Tax Act (VStG).
