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On 23 March 2017, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published various adjustments to the share price lists (ICTax) regarding the Federal Direct Tax 2016.

The Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has published a circular on printed matters (order forms) concerning the direct federal tax, the flat-rate tax credit (pStA) and the additional tax retention USA (zStR USA) for the 2017 tax period for the attention of the cantonal administrations for the direct federal tax and the central withholding tax authorities of the cantons.

The Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has published an updated list of amendments to laws and ordinances relating to direct federal tax, value added tax, withholding tax and stamp duties.

On 8 March 2017, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) published various adjustments to the share price lists (ICTax) regarding the Federal Direct Tax 2016.

On 25 January 2017, the Swiss Federal Council approved the agreement between Switzerland and France on the tax regime at Basel-Mulhouse airport and an agreement on compensation for the costs incurred by the French air traffic control authority in the Swiss sector (media release of 25 January 2017). The VAT derogation requested by France has since been approved by the Council of the European Union (implementing Decision 2017/320 of 21 February 2017).

After a long political process and a fiercely contested vote, the Swiss people rejected the proposal for Corporate Tax Reform III (USR III) at the ballot box on 12 February 2017. The main thrust of the proposal was on the one hand the abolition of the special regimes for companies (mixed company, holding company, principal company, finance branch), the introduction of new regulations in the field of research and development and the deduction of interest on equity capital with the aim of maintaining Switzerland's attractiveness as a business location despite the abolition of the special regimes.

The Federal Department of Finance (FDF) is pressing ahead with work on a new edition of the Corporate Tax Reform III (USR III) entitled Tax Submission 17 (SV17).

The European Council has assessed the state of the EU's relations with the Swiss Confederation and has expressed its opinion, inter alia, on the vote on Corporate Tax Reform III.

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 a motion concerning the introduction of a bandwidth model for greater tax justice.

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 adopted a postulate on the reduction of regulatory costs by means of formal harmonisation of procedures, time limits and payment intervals in the area of corporate taxation.

At its meeting on 28 February 2017, the Council of States approved the adjustments to the taxation of commissions for real estate brokering on an intercantonal basis. This allows income from the brokerage of real estate to be taxed in the canton of residence of the natural person or in the canton of domicile of the legal person. Taxation in the canton in which the brokered property is located should only be permitted in exceptional cases in international proportion.

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).

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 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.

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.

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.