Switzerland: Swiss Tax Reform Proposal 17 on track as first round of hearings are completed

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Switzerland: Swiss Tax Reform Proposal 17 on track as first round of hearings are completed

intl-updates-small.jpg
stocker.jpg
kistler.jpg

Raoul Stocker

Jacques Kistler

The Swiss Federal Department of Finance (SFDF) said on April 10 2017 that the designated Steering Committee of the Swiss Federation and the cantons has successfully concluded the first round of hearings with representatives of the Swiss business community, political parties, and the cities and municipalities, in regard to the so-called Tax Reform Proposal 17, which is replacing Corporate Tax Reform III that was rejected by the Swiss electorate in its proposed form.

Broad support for Tax Reform Proposal 17

Tax Reform Proposal 17 enjoys broad support among the various stakeholders. According to the SFDF, the hearings took place in an objective and constructive manner. The need for a comprehensive corporate tax reform is undisputed and there is common ground in regard to the objectives of the Tax Reform Proposal 17, namely to restore international acceptance of the Swiss corporate tax law and to maintain the attractiveness of Switzerland internationally as a business location, while at the same time securing adequate tax revenues at the federal, cantonal and communal levels.

Stakeholders aim for the reform to enter into force as soon as possible

According to the statement of the SFDF, the hearings confirmed the high expectations for Tax Reform Proposal 17. In the interest of legal certainty it is the clear desire of all stakeholders that the reform should enter into force as soon as possible. At its meeting on April 7 2017, the Steering Committee reaffirmed that the Swiss Federation and the cantons should ensure the greatest possible transparency in regard to the legislative process and the financial implications of the proposed tax reform and that cities and municipalities are to be closely involved in the process.

Next steps

The Steering Committee under the lead of the Swiss finance minister, which is tasked with submitting the tax reform proposal to the Swiss Federal Council, is evaluating the findings from the hearings and re-approaching the cities and municipalities in a second round of hearings. It is further expected that the Swiss Federal Council will then determine the basic parameters of the Swiss Tax Reform 17 and decide on the further procedure and timeline in the course of June 2017.

Raoul Stocker (rstocker@deloitte.ch) and Jacques Kistler (jkistler@deloitte.ch)

Deloitte

Tel: +41 58 279 6271 and +41 58 279 8164

Website: www.deloitte.ch

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

Wim Wuyts, who had been head of the specialist tax network since 2017, is moving on to a new role with WTS’s Belgian member firm
MNEs are increasingly using algorithmic tools in TP. Sahasranshu Dash argues that data ethics should therefore plug directly into the TP design process
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales also queried whether HMRC resources could be better spent scrutinising larger entities
Grant Thornton’s Austria tax head likens his practice to an escape room, shares his football coaching ambitions, and explains why tax is cool
Awards
ITR is delighted to reveal all the shortlisted nominees for the 2025 EMEA Tax Awards
Awards
ITR is delighted to reveal all the shortlisted nominees for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Tax Awards
The fates of pillars one and two hang in the balance after the US successfully threw its weight around in G7 and Canadian negotiations
Rafael Tena tells ITR about the ‘crazy’ Mexican market, ditching the hourly rate, and refusing to grow his fledgling firm in an ‘unstructured way’
It should be easy for advisers to be transparent about costs, Brown Rudnick partner Matthew Sharp said in response to exclusive ITR in-house data
The sprawling legislation phases out Joe Biden-era green tax incentives for businesses; in other news, the UK will reportedly maintain its DST despite US pressure
Gift this article