sep 19 2010

Switzerland Holding

Fidelitas7 @ 16:10

Switzerland Holding Company

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Topic Details
Establishing HoldCo  
Are advance rulings available? Yes, not necessary but advisable
Are there restrictions on activities? Yes
Are there substance requirements? No
Is capital duty payable? 1%
Is there a special tax regime for holding companies? Not on Federal level; only on cantonal and communal levels
Is there CFC or equivalent legislation? No
Number of jurisdictions with active income tax treaties (minimum) 92
What is the effective corporate tax rate? 7.8%
Tax Treatment of Disposal of HoldCo  
Is any tax payable in HoldCo country on disposal of HoldCo shares by a nonresident corporate shareholder? No
Tax Treatment of Payments by HoldCo  
Dividends: What is the (non-treaty / treaty) rate of withholding tax on dividends paid to nonresidents? Non-treaty: 35%; treaty: 0%-15%; EU: 0%
Interest: Are there thin cap limits or other restrictions on interest deductibility? Yes
Interest: Is interest on loans to acquire subsidiaries deductible against HoldCo’s profits? Yes
Interest: What is the (non-treaty / treaty) rate of withholding tax on interest paid to nonresidents? 0% (non-treaty, treaty and EU)
Liquidation payments: Is there withholding tax on liquidation payments? Yes
Taxation of HoldCo Income  
Dividends: Does the foreign subsidiary have to meet any substance requirements? No
Dividends: Does the foreign subsidiary have to pay tax locally? No
Dividends: How are dividends taxed? Exempt
Dividends: What is the required holding period? N/A
Dividends: What is the required percentage ownership? 20% or market value of CHF 2 million
Gains on disposal of participations: Are capital losses deductible? Yes
Gains on disposal of participations: Does the foreign subsidiary have to meet any substance requirements? No
Gains on disposal of participations: Does the foreign subsidiary have to pay tax locally? No
Gains on disposal of participations: How are gains on the sale of a subsidiary taxed? Exempt
Gains on disposal of participations: Is relief available for the write-down in value of subsidiaries? Yes
Gains on disposal of participations: What is the required holding period? 12 months
Gains on disposal of participations: What is the required percentage ownership? 20%
Is joint taxation for groups available? No