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Last call: tax return deadline for companies in Zug and Zurich - 30th September approaching

Looking for accounting services in Zug or Zurich? F Trust helps with corporate tax returns, deadline extensions, and professional compliance support.

All you need to know about Swiss VAT

As of 1st of January, 2024, Swiss VAT rates have raised. However, even with the recent increase in the rates, Switzerland remains to have the lowest VAT rate in Europe.

• Standard rate - 8.1%

• Reduced rate - 2.6%

• Special rate for accommodation –3.8%

Payment Processing Service

Payment Processing Services

Year-end updates at Commercial Registry in Switzerland: important deadlines

To guarantee that changes are applicable in 2023, businesses must adhere to specific deadlines set by the commercial registry:

Canton Zug: Applications must be submitted before the 7th of December 2023
Canton Zurich: Applications must be submitted before the 1st of December 2023

Labour Leasing License Switzerland

Do you wish to setup the private placement company and/or lease your employees to Swiss companies? You have to be aware, that the Swiss market is regulated to protect its workers by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, which specifically governs the way in which temporary workers are employed and managed. This is done in order to prevent Swiss employers recruiting staff through foreign management companies and recruiters. Swiss companies are only to place personnel in the employment or under contrast with a Swiss client if they have a valid Swiss labour leasing license (as well called as body leasing or staff leasing license).

Countries Compared: Setting Up a Company in Switzerland vs. Liechtenstein

Comparing Setting Up a Company in Switzerland vs. Liechtenstein

Discover the key factors to consider when choosing between Switzerland and Liechtenstein for company incorporation. Explore the differences in corporate tax rates, shareholder and director requirements, filing obligations, and more. Find out how Switzerland's EU affiliation and Double Taxation Agreements compare to Liechtenstein's unique advantages. Make an informed decision for your business expansion with this comprehensive comparison.

Switzerland: A Safe Haven for Businesses and Investors

Why is Switzerland such a popular destination for businesses and investors? Its stable political climate, world-class infrastructure, and strong legal system are just a few reasons. Learn more about the benefits of having a company in Switzerland in our latest article. 💼 #SwissBusiness #Investment #Stability #Incorporation

Do I need to file a tax return in Switzerland?

In Switzerland you are required to file a tax return annually if you meet certain criteria:

you are a Swiss citizen
you have C resident permitt
you have B resident permit and >CHF 120’000 income per year
you own a property in Switzerland

Ready made company: What are costs for purchasing a shelf company?

Here are the 3 basic costs you have to consider before purchasing a ready-made company: purchase price, costs for the changes in the trade registry and basic operating costs. Purchase price - Depending on company profile, share capital, activity and legal form, the cost for a shelf company can vary significantly: For example, if the company holds a business license of some form, the price can be higher than the company without a business license.

Cost for changes in commercial registry

To officially own a company, apart from having a purchase agreement, in the case of a GmbH, you also need to register at the commercial registry as a shareholder of the company. The registration at the commercial registry also needs to be done for both AG and GmbH if you want to change the company name, seat, director and purpose. For an AG the share register must be updated and signed.

Ready made company: Do your own Due Diligence: Important points to consider before purchasing a Swiss Shelf company.

look at Company profile and filing history - This includes company name, seat, purpose and incorporation year. Do these fit your requirements, your future plans for activity and domicile? The fewer changes you need to make the better. Changing the name, domicile or purpose of the company will require Articles to be amended at a Swiss notary. Whilst F Trust can draft these and represent you at the notary, these are extra costs

Ready made company: What are the benefits of buying a shelf company?

What would be the benefits of purchasing a shelf company? Time saving – For example when you need a company to close an urgent deal, purchasing a shelf company might be a good solution as the process can be as fast as a day, as opposed to 10 days or more that it can take to incorporate a new one. Credibility – for example if you have been operating as a sole trader or out of another entity, and now decided to incorporate a company, but you do not want to appear as a newly incorporated company, purchasing a shelf company that has been around for a while may be an advantage.

Swiss VAT raise to 8.1% in 2024

Swiss VAT rates change in 2024 - According to Swiss referendum results in September 2022, one of the key changes is the increase of VAT rates in Switzerland as following: Standard rate - 7.7% to 8.1%, Reduced rate - 2.5% to 2.6%, Special rate for accommodation – 3.7% to 3.8%. The new VAT rates will be in force as of 1st January 2024.

FINMA UPDATE – Portfolio managers and trustees need to submit application by 31 December 2022 to update the existing license

Is the change applicable to you? Why you should act now ? Due to a change in legislation in 2020, portfolio managers and trustees have been granted 3-year transitional period to fulfil the licensing requirements and are required to submit the license application to FINMA in order to maintain the existing license. This transitional period ends on 31 December 2022. License holders that wish to carry on their business legally in 2023 must submit an application to FINMA by the end of the year. However, the application process will need to go through a supervisory organization (SO) first before FINMA. Therefore, FINMA recommends to submit the application to SO before June 2022 to allow an adequate amount of time for the affiliation process.

Are you ready for QR payments to replace payment slips from 1st October 2022?

“Swiss QR code” was introduced on 30th June 2020 as one of the Swiss payment methods and has been widely used in the country since then. Two years later, Switzerland is exclusively switching to QR bills and e-bills for payment transactions. Starting on 1st October 2022, it will no longer be possible to make transactions via the traditional red and orange slips (orange ISR / red IS); these will be replaced definitely by the QR invoices

Private tax return Switzerland 2022 – Do you own property in Switzerland? Do you need assistance filing yours? Do you need an extension to file after March?

Private tax return Switzerland 2022 – Do you own property in Switzerland? Do you need assistance filing yours? Do you need an extension to file after March? In most cantons, the individual tax return has to be handed in before March 31st. However, upon request, submission extension can be granted until September. When it comes to filing private tax return, apart from basic information such as salaries, marital status, loans and debts, there is more info you might want to declare, either to get deductions, or make sure you don’t get taxed on assets in the future. Here are some examples of them:

Limited liability company (GmbH) VS Sole Proprietorship

A frequent question we are asked by clients considering starting their own business is which of the two to go for: a limited liability company (a GmbH in German, an Sarl, in French and Italian part of Switzerland) or a Sole Proprietorship, (an Einzelunternehmen in German, L'entreprise individuelle in French and Ditta individuale in Italian parts of Switzerland).

Company domicile, operational address or office spaces – as per needs of your business

Are you in the process of registering your Swiss company and looking for domicile solutions? Or looking to move your business to a new location? Whether a legal domicile, operational address, virtual office or working table, meeting room or the whole office space – we are able to assist you.

Private tax return deadline extensions in Switzerland

When is the deadline for submitting private tax return? Can I extend my private tax return submission deadline? Until when is the extension for a private tax return submission? How can I submit my private tax return?

Why Swiss company? 6 reasons why you should expand or start your business in Switzerland.

One of the hassles of small-medium sized Swiss ecommerce companies is how to handle VAT when selling and delivering products to customers in other European countries. In this scenario, the VAT of the recipient country (known as import VAT) will need to be paid before the products can be delivered to the customers.

Swiss E-commerce Taxation: How to handle VAT when selling products from Switzerland to Europe (B2C)

Swiss company during liquidation

Even though a company is registered as being ‘in liquidation’, it isn’t actually dissolved. The company must still fulfil some requirements to comply with liquidation status maintain good standing status in order for the authorities to finally delete the company.

How to liquidate a Swiss company?

If you would like to close your Swiss company and delete it from Swiss trade registry, you will need to file for liquidation - rather predictably. What can surprise clients, and of course is slightly inconvenient, is that it is not possible to terminate a company immediately; a liquidation procedure needs to be carried out, only then can the company be dissolved.

AHV/IV/EO Swiss social security contribution increasing to 5.3% - What employers in Switzerland should know

The AHV/IV/EO contributions are part of salary deductions. They are borne half by the employer and half by the employee. As of 2021, the EO rate has been adjusted resulting in the increasing of monthly AHV/IV/EO contribution from 5.275% to 5.3%. For this reason, Swiss employers need to carry out adjustments in pay slips and salary declarations for 2021.

Swiss Bearer Shares – Conversion deadline April 2021

Swiss companies which provide financial services or engage with financial-market activities need to gain authorization or a license from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), providing that the company meets the qualifications and requirements of the categories in which they apply for.

5 Things to Consider before Setting up a Swiss Company

You can optimize a Swiss company by looking at some key considerations before incorporating a new company, such as choice of Canton for the domicile: there being different attractions such as low corporate tax, or incentives to attract business and employment in some Cantons and which company or individual should the shareholder be? Different % of ownership or residence of the shareholder will change dividend distribution taxation. Read our 5 key points to consider below – before setting up your Swissco.

Swiss Branch VS GmbH

One of the questions we often receive from our clients who already conduct business in other jurisdictions is whether they should go for a Swiss GmbH or AG subsidiary or a Branch of a foreign company. We have made an easy-to-understand pro-con list for both types of companies. Below you can find our pro-con comparison of both company types:

License for Financial Services in Switzerland

Business Licenses in Switzerland

Usually, a Swiss Commercial Registry is sufficient for a Swiss company to operate general business activities. However, if a company operates in certain sectors, special licenses are required for a company to start such activity.

Main Steps to Setup a Company in Switzerland

Setup a company in Switzerland: this guide will help you to understand what are the main stages to get your company established. The procedure of registration consists of 6 steps

How can you setup Swiss company online?

Are you considering starting a business in Switzerland and having doubts if you need to visit Switzerland to handle the registration or if you could setup the company online?

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