Switzerland

The Swiss Federal Council has asked the Federal Department of Finance to prepare a consultation on a draft tax reform package by September. Earlier this month, the steering body tasked with drawing up “tax proposal 17” (TP17) published its recommendations. The Council said that it largely took on board the…

Switzerland has explained how it will amend its double tax agreements after it signed the OECD’s new multilateral tax compact to implement anti-base erosion and profit shifting measures. On June 7, Switzerland was one of 76 countries and jurisdictions to sign or express their intention to sign the Multilateral Convention…

Changes to Switzerland’s Value Added Tax (VAT) Act will enter into force on January 1, 2018, with the aim of removing VAT-related competitive disadvantages for domestic companies. Currently, a multinational company pays only VAT on its Swiss turnover. Foreign companies providing services in Switzerland do not have to pay VAT…

Swiss voters have rejected a plan to reform the country’s corporate tax system, sending the government back to the drawing board. Business and political circles in Switzerland had supported the plan, which was designed to prevent taxes rising sharply for foreign investors. However, 59% of voters opposed the plan in Sunday’s…

A VAT rate of 8% applies to most goods and services. A reduced rate of 2.5% applies to certain everyday consumer goods such as foodstuffs, non-alcoholic beverages, books, newspapers, magazines, medicines, but also to tickets for sports and cultural events. Only overnight stays at a hotel (incl. breakfast) are taxed…