Federal Council wants to exempt too-big-to-fail instruments of banks from withholding tax by the end of 2026
At its meeting on 28 October 2020, the Federal Council adopted a dispatch on the Federal Act on Withholding Tax with regard to the treatment of interest on too-big-to-fail instruments (TBTF).
FTA - Memorandum of Understanding between Switzerland and Liechtenstein
On 27 October 2020, the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters SIF reported the conclusion of a new memorandum of understanding between Switzerland and Liechtenstein on the effects of measures to combat COVID-19 on the treatment of cross-border commuters under the DTA.
FTA publishes update to circular no. 37 "Taxation of employee shareholdings
On 30 October 2020, the FTA published an update to Circular Letter No. 37 "Taxation of Employee Participation".
FTA - VAT: Publication of drafts of the practical definitions of the VAT Department (23 October 2020)
On 23 October 2020, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published a new first draft on the definition of practice in the consultative body.
FTA publishes circular "Interest rates in the area of direct federal tax for the 2021 calendar year / maximum pillar 3a deductions in the 2021 tax year".
On 22 October 2020, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published the circular "Interest rates in the area of direct federal tax for the calendar year 2021 / maximum pillar 3a deductions in the 2021 tax year".
FTA publishes material adjustments concerning publications on the VAT Act (20 October 2020)
On 20 October 2020, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published material adjustments concerning the following publications on the Value Added Tax Act (VAT Act).
Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer meets with Ticino government on the agreement with Italy on cross-border commuters
On 16 October 2020, Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer met with the Cantonal Government of Ticino and informed about the latest exchange with the Italian Ministry of Finance on the agreement with Italy on the taxation of cross-border commuters.
OECD public consultation on Pillar One and Pillar Two in the taxation of digital business models
On 12th October the OECD published the blueprints for Pillar One and Pillar Two and launched a public consultation until 14th December 2020. The aim is to reach an agreement between the states on the open points by mid 2021.
FTA publishes understanding agreement on DTA with Liechtenstein
On 12 October 2020, the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) published a memorandum of understanding on the DTA with Liechtenstein concerning the treatment of income of FC Vaduz players resident in Switzerland under the DTA between Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Selected parliamentary business in the tax area at federal level (October 2020)
On 29 May 2020, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published a revised version of the overview of selected parliamentary business in the tax area at federal level
Interest rate for reimbursement, default and refund of direct federal tax for the calendar year 2021
The Federal Department of Finance (FDF) decided on 15 October 2020 to continue not to pay interest on prematurely paid amounts of direct federal tax for the calendar year 2021. The rates for interest on arrears and interest on refunds also remain unchanged at 3%.
The FTA has updated the statistics on the capital contribution principle (September 2020)
The Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has updated the statistics on the capital contribution principle (capital contributions, repayments and other changes) as of 30 September 2020.
Exchange of information with 86 countries on around 3.1 million financial accounts
This year, the FTA automatically exchanged information on financial accounts with 86 countries.
FTA publishes the document "Structure and record formats of withholding tax rates" valid from 2021
On 2 October 2020, the FTA adapted the document "Structure and record formats of withholding tax rates for import into payroll accounting systems (ERP systems)" due to the revision of the withholding tax on earned income.
FTA publishes substantive amendments concerning publications on the VAT Act
On 1 October 2020, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published material adjustments concerning the following publication on the Value Added Tax Act (VAT Act).
FTA refunded VAT credits during the Corona pandemic quickly
During the corona pandemic, 470 applications for early payment of VAT credits have been received by the FTA so far. Applications amounting to CHF 235 million have been processed and paid out to companies within one to seven days.
FTA - Memorandum of Understanding between Switzerland and Australia
On 15 September 2020 the Memorandum of Understanding on the procedural rules of the arbitration procedure provided for in Article 24 (Mutual agreement procedure) paragraph 5 of the Double Taxation Convention Switzerland - Australia was signed.
Canton of Zurich: New information sheet on the additional deduction for research and development expenses
On 25 September 2020, the cantonal tax office in Zurich published a new information sheet on the additional deduction for research and development expenses.
Canton of Zurich: Amendment of the directive on the valuation of usufruct and periodic benefits for inheritance and gift tax purposes
The directive of the Finance Directorate of the Canton of Zurich on the valuation of usufruct and claims to periodic benefits for inheritance and gift tax purposes has been updated due to changes in life expectancy.
National Council adopts bill on electronic procedures in tax matters
On 21 September 2020, the National Council adopted the Federal Law on Electronic Procedures in the Tax Field, with the following amendments in particular.
Dossier tax information "Inheritance and Gift Taxes" updated
On 10 September 2020, the article "Inheritance and Gift Taxes" from the Federal Tax Administration's (FTA) Tax Information Dossier was updated.
Updated overview of changes to laws and regulations that come into force in the years 2021-2023
The Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has updated the list of changes to laws and ordinances on direct federal tax, value added tax, withholding tax and stamp duties.
Memorandum of Understanding between Switzerland and France on the taxation of cross-border commuters for teleworking or home office work remains in force until the end of 2020
The State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) reported on 28 August 2020 that the provisional understanding agreement of 13 May 2020 between Switzerland and France on the taxation of frontier workers working in the home office as a result of measures to combat COVID-19 remains in force until 31 December 2020.
Tax policy agenda: First meeting of the "Expert Group on Switzerland as a Tax Location
On behalf of Finance Minister Ueli Maurer, a tax policy agenda is to be adopted by the end of 2020.
Federal Council comments on various motions, postulates and interpellations
In the course of August 2020, the Federal Council commented on various motions, postulates and interpellations (tax amnesty, micro-tax, VAT, etc.).
