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At its meeting on 27 February 2017, the National Council rejected a postulate to draw up a report on the origins, development and effects of tax competition in Switzerland.

At its meeting on 27 February 2017, the National Council rejected a motion to ensure tax transparency for high management salaries.

At its meeting on 28 February 2017, the Council of States rejected a motion concerning the elimination of unequal treatment in family taxation.

At its meeting on 27 February 2017, the National Council rejected a motion concerning the introduction of a bandwidth model for greater tax justice.

At its meeting on 28 February 2017, the Council of States rejected a motion concerning the introduction of a one-off option for imputed rental value.

At its meeting on 27 February 2017, the National Council adopts a motion to promote innovation for SMEs (to allow provisions for research and development).

At its meeting on 27 February 2017, the National Council rejected the introduction of a minimum interest rate for prematurely paid amounts of direct federal tax.

The Conference of Cantonal Finance Directors (FDK) welcomes the decision of the Swiss Federal Council, with the participation of the cantons and the municipalities, to rapidly draw up a new draft for Corporate Tax Reform III (USR III).

The increase in VAT rates introduced in 2011 for the purpose of IV supplementary financing expires at the end of 2017. It remains to be seen whether VAT rates will fall. The current VAT rates are to be retained in order to close the financing gap in the AHV. This, however, requires a referendum, the outcome of which is open.

At its meeting on 22 February 2017, the Swiss Federal Council instructed the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) to draw up the key figures for a new draft of Corporate Tax Reform III (USR III) by mid-2017 at the latest.

On 15 February 2017, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) launched the form for the repayment of interest on arrears already paid. Only this form is to be used for the reclaim.

On 15 February 2017, the Swiss Federal Council adopted a dispatch to Parliament which provides for the exemption of Italian fiduciary companies serving as tax security (Fiduciarie statiche) from the turnover tax. If Parliament approves, Swiss banks that manage Italian assets will no longer be penalised by multiple turnover taxes.

On 14 February 2017, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published the interest rates for advances or loans in Swiss francs and foreign currencies recognised for tax purposes for the year 2017.

On 12 February 2017, Swiss voters voted on the Corporate Tax Reform III (USR III). The reform was not adopted.

The State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) has published various understanding agreements on double taxation agreements (DTAs) with Germany and Liechtenstein.

The current report of the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) on international financial and tax issues provides information on activities in the areas of financial market regulation, involvement in international financial bodies and international tax policy in 2016 and provides an outlook on the challenges ahead.

On 31 January 2017, the Conference of Cantonal Finance Directors (FDK) published a media release in which it judged the Corporate Tax Reform III (USR III) to be very balanced and well applicable to all cantons.

With regard to direct federal tax, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published two circulars on 7 February 2017 on the providers of recognised tied self-provision products (pillar 3a) as well as a list of surrenderable pillar 3b endowment policies.

On 2 February 2017, the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) opened a consultation on the introduction of automatic information exchange in tax matters (AIA) with additional countries.

On 15 February 2017, the amendments to the Federal Withholding Tax Act enter into force. Within one year of the effective date, companies may, upon request, reclaim interest already paid on arrears which they had to pay because they had not reported intra-group dividend payments to the Federal Tax Administration until after the 30-day period had expired.