Swiss Bankers Ask France to Increase Amnesty Uptake
The President of the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA), has suggested that France should extend and enhance its tax regularization facility to allow more taxpayers to make a voluntary declaration to normalize their tax affairs. At the moment the
See MoreSwitzerland – New VAT registration requirements on foreign companies
Switzerland is planning to require non-resident companies that provide services in Switzerland to charge Swiss VAT on the services at a rate of 8%. There is a need for all foreign service providers to comply with this requirement so that Swiss
See MoreSwitzerland: Consults on revised rules for expats
Switzerland is planning changes to the tax deductions to which expatriates are entitled, as a result of recommendations by a working group set up for the purpose. A revision to the legislation would involve changing the definition of an expatriate
See MoreSwitzerland: Expands professional training tax breaks
In Switzerland a federal law in relation to tax deductions for professional development and training costs is to take effect from 1 January 2016. The rules will widen the current tax deduction to encompass virtually all training fees rather than
See MoreSwitzerland – Pakistan DTA Negotiation
According to some media reports, Pakistan is looking to revise the double taxation agreement (DTA) with Switzerland. The current double tax agreement between the two countries was signed on 19 July 2005 and entered into force in 2008. No further
See MoreProtocol to treaty between Belgium and Switzerland signed
On 10 April 2014, Belgium and Switzerland signed an amending protocol to the double taxation treaty originally concluded between the two countries in 1978. No further details of the Protocol are currently
See MoreSwitzerland – Committee rejects IHT and VAT changes
A Swiss government committed has rejected an inheritance tax proposal from the Socialist Party and has also rejected a suggestion to introduce a consumption tax on energy in place of the VAT. The inheritance tax suggested by the Socialists would
See MoreSwitzerland – Bankers demand Investment Law Revision
The new Financial Market Infrastructure Act (FMIA) is being supported by the Association of Swiss Private Banks but the latter organization is also concerned that the legislation should not damage the competitive nature of the financial sector in
See MoreSwitzerland – Upper House passes China FTA
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Switzerland and China has been adopted by the Swiss Council of States. The agreement contains provisions in respect of trade in goods and services, competition, investment promotion, intellectual property
See MoreSwitzerland – new agreements for the exchange of tax information
Switzerland signed tax information exchange agreements with Greenland and Andorra in March 2014. These accords provide for the exchange of information on request in respect of tax investigations. The conclusion of information exchange agreements is
See MoreSwitzerland signs new DTA with Argentina
Switzerland and Argentina have signed a new double taxation agreement (DTA). When it enters into force this agreement will replace the provisional agreement signed in 1997. The agreement contains provisions relating to the exchange of information
See MoreSwitzerland Plans Stricter Rules for Biofuel Tax Breaks
The Swiss Council of States has given its approval to a bill strengthening the provisions on the eligibility of enterprises for biofuel tax breaks. Biofuels may be partly or wholly exempt from mineral oil tax provided that they conform to certain
See MoreSwitzerland Adopts Anti-Tax Evasion Bill
The Swiss Council of States has approved a Bill in respect of the revised recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The Bill raises the qualifying threshold for serious tax offences and therefore helps the fight against tax evasion.
See MoreSwiss Parliament rejects French IHT agreement
The Swiss Council of States has not accepted the text of a revised inheritance tax (IHT) agreement with France and has instead suggested that it should be renegotiated. Switzerland had asked for a renegotiation after France had communicated its
See MoreSwitzerland – Peru DTA
The double taxation agreement (DTA) between Switzerland and Peru which was originally signed on 12 September 2012 entered into force on March 10, 2014. The agreement raises the standard of tax information exchange between the two countries to the
See MoreSwitzerland – Kazakhstan DTA Protocol
On March 25, 2014 Switzerland confirmed that the protocol to the double taxation agreement (DTA) with Kazakhstan has entered into force. The protocol amends the DTA to provide for the exchange of tax information between the countries. The exchange
See MoreSwiss Parliament Passes Media Tax
Switzerland has introduced a new media tax which replaces the license fee previously charged in respect of radio and television. This is charged on large companies and households whose annual income or turnover exceeds EUR 500,000. The introduction
See MoreUS: DTA Protocols between the United States and various countries
The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held talks on February 26, 2014, on the double taxation agreement (DTA) Protocols between the United States and Switzerland and Luxembourg, and DTAs with Hungary and Chile, as part of the nation's
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