The Federal Council and Parliament recommend that voters accept proposal to implement minimum taxation
Bern, 24.04.2023 - The Federal Council and Parliament want to implement the OECD/G20 reform on minimum taxation for large multinational enterprises, thereby creating stable framework conditions and securing both tax receipts and jobs in Switzerland. The electorate will vote on the requisite constitutional amendment on 18 June 2023. At the press conference on 24 April 2023, Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter presented the arguments in favour of accepting the proposal. Representatives from the cantons and communes were also present.
Switzerland has signed up to the OECD/G20 minimum taxation project for large multinational enterprises, together with around 140 other countries. The aim is that, in each jurisdiction, such companies pay at least 15% tax on profits if their annual turnover exceeds CHF 750 million. According to an estimate by the Federal Tax Administration (FTA), only a few hundred Swiss and a few thousand foreign corporate groups are directly affected by the OECD/G20 reform. The OECD/G20 minimum tax rate should be introduced by means of a constitutional amendment, which will be subject to a vote by the people and the cantons.
At the press conference on 24 April 2023, Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, together with Ernst Stocker, President of the Cantonal Council of Zurich, Nathalie Fontanet, Member of the Cantonal Council of Geneva, and Daniel Leupi, Member of the Cantonal Council of Zurich and President of the Conference of City Finance Directors, explained the reasons for accepting the proposal, which was adopted by Parliament in December 2022. By implementing the minimum tax rate, the Federal Council and Parliament are aiming to ensure internationally stable framework conditions for Switzerland as a business location, and secure Swiss tax receipts and jobs. If Switzerland did not introduce minimum taxation, other jurisdictions could collect the difference between the lower tax burden in Switzerland and the minimum tax rate of 15%. Thus, introducing the minimum tax rate ensures that the tax receipts remain in Switzerland. Moreover, the legal framework creates legal certainty for the affected companies in Switzerland.
Additional receipts will benefit everybody
Under the proposal, Switzerland will implement the minimum tax rate by means of a supplementary tax. This covers the difference between the current tax burden and the minimum tax rate of 15%. The FTA estimates that the receipts from the supplementary tax will amount to CHF 1-2.5 billion in the first year. However, it is difficult to gauge either the short- or the long-term financial impact of the supplementary tax.
Of the receipts from the supplementary tax, 75% will go to those cantons in which the current tax burden for the companies concerned is less than 15%. The Confederation will be entitled to 25% of the receipts. This distribution ratio was decided by Parliament and is based on a compromise reached between representatives of the Confederation, cantons, cities and communes.
The cantons will decide independently how they will use their receipts, but they must take appropriate account of the communes. The supplementary receipts will be taken into consideration for national fiscal equalization. This ensures that all cantons benefit from the tax receipts, including the financially weaker cantons. Around a third of the federal share will also go towards national fiscal equalization. The Confederation will use the remaining funds for the nationwide promotion of locational appeal; this could, for example, involve fostering research or measures to achieve better work/life balance.
A bone of contention during the parliamentary debate was the distribution of the receipts from the supplementary tax between the Confederation and cantons, and between the cantons themselves. The chosen distribution ratio led a minority to reject the proposal. The majority of parliamentarians want to be able to introduce the OECD minimum tax rate in Switzerland and are in favour of the proposal.
Swift implementation via ordinance
Many jurisdictions – especially the EU – are planning to bring the minimum tax rate into force by 2024. The proposal which will be submitted to a popular vote ensures that Switzerland will be ready at the same time, by allowing the Federal Council to temporarily introduce the minimum tax rate via an ordinance. Subsequently, the Federal Council will submit a law to Parliament within six years. This will replace the ordinance.
Address for enquiries
FDF Communications
Tel. +41 58 462 60 33,
info@gs-efd.admin.ch
Documents
Links
Publisher
Federal Department of Finance
https://www.efd.admin.ch/efd/en/home.html
State Secretariat for International Financial Matters
http://www.sif.admin.ch
The Federal Tax Administration
https://www.estv.admin.ch
