Legislation of Switzerland

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List of laws and regulations

Act name
Scope of law
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Tax treaties entered

Albania
Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Chinese Taipei
Colombia
Croatia
Czech Republic
Côte d'Ivoire
Denmark
Dominica
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
France
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guernsey
Hong Kong (China)
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan
Korea (Republic of)
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico
Moldova (Republic of)
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Tajikistan
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Viet nam
Virgin Islands (British)

Tax Exchange Information Agreement (TIEA)

Andorra
Belize
Brazil
Grenada
Guernsey
Isle of Man
Jersey
San Marino
Seychelles

List of state regulatory authorities

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Federal Department of Finance
Federal office Customs and Border
Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
Institute of Certified Accountants and Tax consultants
Private platform for founding companies
Central Business Name Index
Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce
Swiss Bankers Association
Cantonal Bank

Corporate info

Legal system
Civil law
Types of entity
Sole proprietorship (Einzelfirma);
Partnership (Kollektivgesellschaft);
Limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft);
Public limited company (AG);
Ordinary partnership (Kommanditaktiengesellschaft);
Private limited liability company (GmbH);
Cooperative society (Genossenschaft);
Branch of a foreign entity
Shelf companies permitted
No
Incorporation timescale for a new company
7 days
Company suffix
GmbH (or its equivalent in French or Italian)
Sensitive words
Switzerland, International, European, Insurance, Reinsurance, Fund Management, Bank, Collective Investment Schemes
Cyrillic alphabet permitted in company name
No
Local registered office
Yes
Local registered agent
Yes
Information to be kept at the registered office
Register of shareholders and directors, minutes of shareholders’ and directors’ meetings, accounting records
Seal required, type of seal
Not required
Redomiciliation (to, from) permitted
Permitted

Director and secretary

Minimum number of directors
1
Residency requirements for directors
Yes
Corporate directors permitted
No
Directors’ meetings/frequency/location
No requirements
Disclosure to local agent
No
Disclosure to public
Yes
Company secretary required
No
Residency requirements for a secretary
No
Qualified secretary required
No
Corporate secretary permitted
No

Shareholder and beneficiary

Minimum number of shareholders
1
Residency requirements for shareholders
No
Corporate shareholder permitted
Yes
Meetings/frequency/location
Yes / annually / anywhere
Disclosure to local agent
Yes
Disclosure to public
No
Beneficiary info disclosure to
No

Shares and share capital

Minimum authorized share capital
20 000
Minimum issued share capital
20 000
Minimum paid share capital
20 000
Authorized capital payment deadlines
Upon registration
Issued capital payment deadlines
Standard currency
Swiss franc
Standard authorized share capital
20 000
Standard par value of shares
100
Shares with no par value permitted
No
Bearer shares permitted
Yes

Taxes

Personal tax
0-48%
Сorporate tax
11,9-21,0%
Corporate tax (in detail)
The federal rate on net income is 8,5%, since income and capital taxes can be deducted when calculating taxable income, the real rate is 7,8%. Depending on the location of the company, the total tax rate, including federal, cantonal and municipal levels, ranges from 11,9% to 21,0%
Capital gains tax
21%
Capital gains tax. Details
Capital gains are included in taxable profits and subject to normal corporate income tax
VAT
7,7%
VAT. Details
The standard VAT rate is 7,7%. Reduced rates of 2,5% and 3,7% apply to some goods and services
Withholding tax
35% (dividend), 35% (interest), 0% (royalty)
Other taxes
Social contributions, Capital tax, Personal net asset tax, Inheritance and gift tax
Exchange control
No
Government fee
No
Stamp duty
1%

Accounts

Requirement to prepare accounts
Yes
Requirement to file accounts
Yes
Publicly accessible accounts
No
Requirement to file Annual Return
No
Publicly accessible Annual Return
No
Audit required
No

General information shortly

Location
Western and Central Europe
Total area
41 284 sq. km
Population
8 570 146 (2019)
Capital
Bern
National currency
Swiss franc
Conditional reduction of currency
CHF
Against USD
1,13 (2024)
Climate, average max and min t°
Temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers; avg. maximum temperature +25°; avg. minimum temperature -4°
Time difference from Moscow
- 1 hour
Dialing code
+41
State language
German, French, Italian, Romansch
Ethnic groups
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, other 7%
Literacy rate
99%
History
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Credit rating
AAA
Government type
federal republic
Executive branch
Federal Council (7 members, including President and Vice-President)
Legislative branch
Bicameral Federal assembly: Council of States (46 members) and National Council (200 members)
Judicial branch
Federal Supreme Court
Unemployment
3,1% (2020)
GDP per capita rank
5 (2020)
Corruption perceptions index rank
84 (2021)

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