Швейцарский Федеральный Совет согласовал новое соглашение по обмену налоговой информацией (TIEA) с Бразилией / Swiss Council Adopts Brazilian TIEA

Швейцарский Федеральный Совет согласовал новое соглашение по обмену налоговой информацией (TIEA) с Бразилией и представил его в парламент на утверждение.

Это десятое соглашение по обмену налоговой информацией (TIEA), подписанное Швейцарией.

Федеральный Совет отметил, что соглашение регулирует обмен налоговой информацией по запросу. Он добавил, что обе страны стремятся усилить налоговое сотрудничество и могут заключить налоговое соглашение о двойном налогообложении.

В результате сделки, Швейцария будет навсегда удалена из «черного списка» Бразилии, как страна с недостаточными положениями об обмене информацией, связанной с налогами.

Федеральный Совет отметил, что это соглашение предоставит швейцарским компаниям, работающим в Бразилии, большую правовую и инвестиционную безопасность.

TIEA должно теперь быть одобрено парламентом Швейцарии, а также будет вынесено на всеобщий референдум.

Swiss Council Adopts Brazilian TIEA

The Swiss Federal Council has adopted a dispatch on the implementation of a new tax information agreement (TIEA) with Brazil and submitted it to Parliament for approval.

The agreement was signed in November 2015. It is the tenth TIEA signed by Switzerland.

The Council said that the agreement governs the exchange of tax information upon request. It added that both countries are striving to strengthen tax-related cooperation and could conclude a double tax agreement.

As a result of the deal, Switzerland will be permanently removed from Brazil's "blacklist" of countries with insufficient provisions for the exchange of tax-related information. The Federal Council said this will give Swiss companies operating in Brazil greater legal and investment security.

The TIEA must now be approved by the Swiss Parliament. It is subject to an optional referendum.

Another four Swiss double taxation agreements with Iceland, Cyprus, Estonia and Uzbekistan in force

Bern, 24.11.2015 - Another four double taxation agreements (DTAs) between Switzerland and Cyprus, Iceland, Estonia and Uzbekistan have come into force. They contain provisions on administrative assistance in accordance with the internationally applicable standard. They will also promote the development of bilateral economic relations.

Switzerland has concluded its first ever DTA with Cyprus. The new DTA was signed on 25 July 2014 and came into force on 15 October 2015.

The DTA with Iceland replaces the agreement which had been in force since 1989. It was signed on 10 July 2014 and came into force on 6 November 2015.

Finally, the DTAs with Estonia and Uzbekistan, which both date from 2002, have been updated with a protocol of amendment. The protocol of amendment to the DTA with Estonia was signed on 25 August 2014 and came into force on 16 October 2015. The protocol of amendment to the DTA with Uzbekistan was signed on 1 July 2014 and came into force on 14 October 2015.

The four DTAs will therefore be applicable from 1 January 2016.

To date, Switzerland has signed 53 DTAs and ten tax information exchange agreements (TIEAs) that are in line with the international exchange of information standard. Of these, 46 DTAs and seven TIEAs will be in force at the end of November 2015.

Switzerland signs tax information exchange agreement with Brazil

Bern, 24.11.2015 - On 23 November 2015 in Brasilia, Switzerland and Brazil signed a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA). The agreement with Brazil is the tenth TIEA signed by Switzerland.

Switzerland and Brazil are deepening their bilateral relations with the agreement. Switzerland will also be permanently removed from Brazil's blacklist of countries with an insufficient exchange of tax-related information, which will give Swiss companies operating in Brazil greater legal certainty and investment security. The agreement governs the exchange of information upon request in tax matters. In the future, the Swiss and Brazilian authorities will strive to further extend tax-related cooperation, which could also include the conclusion of provisions for the avoidance of double taxation.

The TIEA has to be approved by Parliament before it can come into force. It is subject to an optional referendum. During the hearing procedure which followed the completion of negotiations, the cantons and the business associations concerned expressed their support overall.

On 4 April 2012, the Federal Council decided to enter into administrative assistance agreements in accordance with the international standard not only in the form of double taxation agreements (DTAs) but also via TIEAs. In principle, DTAs and TIEAs are equivalent instruments for concluding an administrative assistance clause in accordance with the international standard. Unlike DTAs, which are aimed primarily at avoiding double taxation and therefore contain other material provisions, TIEAs merely govern the exchange of information upon request.

Federal Council adopts two dispatches on double taxation agreements with Liechtenstein and Norway

Bern, 28.10.2015 - Today, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the new double taxation agreement (DTA) with Liechtenstein and on its implementation in addition to the dispatch on the revision of the DTA with Norway. Both dispatches were submitted to Parliament for approval.

The new DTA signed with Liechtenstein on 10 July 2015 is a comprehensive agreement for the avoidance of double taxation on income and capital. It replaces the current agreement of 22 June 1995 between Switzerland and Liechtenstein which only covers the taxation of certain income. The new DTA governs in particular the taxation of old age and survivors' insurance (AHV) pensions. These can be taxed solely in the state of residence, and the DTA will eliminate the current double taxation of AHV pensions from Liechtenstein for people who live in Switzerland. For cross-border commuters, the respective state of residence will continue to retain the right of taxation. The taxation of dividends, interest and royalty payments is now also governed by the DTA. The DTA contains solutions for this income which are comparable to those recently concluded by Switzerland in other agreements.

On 4 September 2015, Switzerland and Norway signed a protocol of amendment in Oslo to their DTA in the area of taxes on income and capital. The most favoured nation clause will be implemented with this protocol of amendment. The new arbitration clause ensures that double taxation will be avoided. In addition, Article 26 on the exchange of information was amended at Norway's request.

The cantons and business associations concerned have welcomed both agreements. Switzerland has concluded 52 double taxation agreements overall that are in line with the international standard on the exchange of information; 41 of these are in force.

Federal Council adopts dispatch on double taxation agreement with Oman

Bern, 14.10.2015 - Yesterday, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the new double taxation agreement (DTA) with Oman and submitted it to Parliament for approval. The agreement will promote bilateral economic relations and contains provisions on the exchange of information upon request in accordance with the OECD standard.

Aside from the exchange of information, Switzerland and Oman have in particular agreed that dividends can be taxed at a maximum rate of 15% in the source state. Dividend payments from significant holdings can be subject to a maximum of 5% tax in the source state, and dividend payments to pension funds and the contracting states are taxable solely in the recipient's state of domicile. Interest may be taxed at no more than 5% in the source state. Moreover, provision has been made for taxation solely in the recipient's state of domicile for certain interest payments. The source state can tax royalty payments at a rate of no more than 8%, whereby lower maximum tax rates for royalty payments agreed by Oman with third countries will apply also for Switzerland by virtue of a most favoured nation clause. Pensions may also be taxed at source. Furthermore, it has been stipulated that contributions to pension funds in the other country are deductible.

The new double taxation agreement was signed on 22 May 2015. Following parliamentary approval in both countries, it will probably enter into force in 2016. To date, Switzerland has signed 53 DTAs and nine tax information exchange agreements (TIEAs) that are in line with the international exchange of information standard, and of these, 41 DTAs and seven TIEAs are in force.

Швейцария расширяет сеть налоговых соглашений

Федеральный Совет Швейцарии вынес положительное заключение в части имплементации положений Соглашения об обмене налоговой информацией между Конфедерацией, Белизом и Гренадой.

Соответствующее заключение, одобренное Советом 7 октября текущего года, в ближайшее время будет внесено в парламент для дальнейшего утверждения.

Соглашения об обмене налоговой информацией с Гренадой и Белизом были подписаны 19 мая и 10 августа текущего года, соответственно.

В рамках слушаний, последовавших за процедурой заключения соглашений, кантоны и бизнес-ассоциации страны выразили полную поддержку обоим соглашениям.

Federal Council adopts dispatch on more tax information exchange agreements

Bern, 07.10.2015 - Today, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on a further two tax information exchange agreements, which will now be submitted to Parliament for approval. The agreements in question are with Belize and Grenada.

Tax information exchange agreements (TIEAs) - like double taxation agreements (DTAs) - are instruments for concluding an administrative assistance clause in accordance with the international standard. Unlike DTAs, which are aimed primarily at avoiding double taxation and therefore contain other material provisions, TIEAs merely govern the exchange of information upon request.

The TIEAs on which the Federal Council adopted the dispatch today were signed on 19 May 2015 (Grenada) and 10 August 2015 (Belize). The agreements have to be approved by Parliament before they can come into force. They are subject to an optional referendum. During the hearing procedure which followed the conclusion of negotiations, the cantons and the interested business circles expressed their support.

In addition to these two TIEAs, Switzerland has concluded seven other TIEAs with Andorra, Greenland, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, San Marino and the Seychelles, which have already come into force.

Another four tax information exchange agreements now in force

The tax information exchange agreements Switzerland with Andorra, Greenland, San Marino and the Seychelles have come into force. They will apply from 1 January 2016.

Following the completion of the corresponding ratification processes, the tax information exchange agreements (TIEA) have come into force with Andorra (27 July 2015), Greenland (22 July 2015), San Marino (20 July 2015) and the Seychelles (10 August 2015). The agreements will be applied from 1 January 2016.

On 4 April 2012, the Federal Council decided to enter into administrative assistance agreements in accordance with the international standard not only in the form of double taxation agreements (DTAs) but also via TIEAs. In principle, DTAs and TIEAs are equivalent instruments for concluding an administrative assistance clause in accordance with the international standard. Unlike DTAs, which are aimed primarily at avoiding double taxation and therefore contain other material provisions, TIEAs merely govern the exchange of information upon request.

To date, Switzerland has signed 51 DTAs and 9 TIEAs that are in line with the international exchange of information standard, and of these, 41 DTAs and 7 TIEAs are in force.

Швейцария и Белиз подписали соглашение об обмене налоговой информацией / Switzerland signs tax information exchange agreement with Belize

Для Швейцарской Конфедерации подписанное соглашение является девятым по счёту. Его положения предусматривают обмен информацией по запросу. Соглашение затрагивает федеральные, кантональные и коммунальные налоги Швейцарии в части налогообложения актов наследования и дарения. В случае Белиза, соглашение затрагивает подоходный налог, налог на предпринимателя (business tax) и общий налог с продаж (general sales tax).

В апреле 2012 года Федеральный Совет Швейцарии принял решение применить международные стандарты в части административного содействия к заключённым правительством соглашениям об обмене налоговой информацией и соглашениям об избежании двойного налогообложения. Соглашения об обмене налоговой информацией с Джерси, Гернси и островом Мэн начали применяться с 1 января текущего года. Соглашения с Андоррой, Гренландией, Сан-Марино и Сейшельскими островами вступили в силу в июле текущего года, их применение начнётся с 1 января 2016 года.

On 10 August 2015, Switzerland and Belize signed a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) in London. Such agreements are concluded within the framework of Switzerland's administrative assistance policy.

The agreement with the Central American country has to be approved by Parliament and subjected to an optional referendum before it can enter into force. During the hearing procedure which followed the completion of negotiations, the cantons and the business associations concerned expressed their support.

Switzerland has signed eight other TIEAs to date. The agreements with Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are in force and have been applicable since 1 January 2015. The agreements with Andorra, Greenland, San Marino and the Seychelles entered into force in July 2015 and will be applicable from 1 January 2016 onwards. Finally, Switzerland also signed a TIEA with Grenada on 19 May 2015. Negotiations with other countries and territories are under way.

On 4 April 2012, the Federal Council decided to adopt the international administrative assistance standard not only in double taxation agreements (DTAs) but also in TIEAs. In principle, DTAs and TIEAs are equivalent instruments for concluding an administrative assistance clause in accordance with the international standard. Unlike DTAs, which are aimed primarily at avoiding double taxation and therefore contain other material provisions in this regard, TIEAs merely govern the exchange of information upon request.

Switzerland signs tax information exchange agreement with Grenada

19 May 2015, Switzerland and Grenada signed a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) in London. Such agreements are concluded within the framework of Switzerland's administrative assistance policy.

The agreement has to be approved by Parliament and subjected to an optional referendum before it can enter into force. During the hearing procedure which followed the completion of negotiations, the cantons and the business associations concerned expressed their support.

Switzerland has signed eight TIEAs to date. The agreements with Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are in force and have been applicable since 1 January 2015. The agreements with Andorra, Greenland, San Marino and the Seychelles were approved by Parliament on 20 March 2015 and are likely to enter into force this autumn, subject to a referendum being called. Negotiations with other interested jurisdictions are under way.

On 4 April 2012, the Federal Council decided to adopt the international administrative assistance standard not only in double taxation agreements (DTAs) but also in tax information exchange agreements.

In principle, DTAs and TIEAs are equivalent instruments for concluding an administrative assistance clause in accordance with the international standard. Unlike DTAs, which are aimed primarily at avoiding double taxation and therefore contain other material provisions in this regard, TIEAs merely govern the exchange of information upon request.