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At its meeting on 10 March 2017, the Swiss Federal Council decided to strengthen the financing activities of groups of companies in Switzerland and approved the amendment to the Withholding Tax Ordinance. The amendment shall enter into force on 1 April 2017.

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 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 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.

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.