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The Most Important 15 Questions to Ask About the Forfait in Switzerland

The Most Important 15 Questions to Ask About the Forfait in Switzerland

As one door closes for non-doms in the U.K., a tried and true door may open in Switzerland, in the form of a negotiated annual tax amount. For many decades, several cantons in Switzerland have adopted a special taxation regime known as the forfait. It allows foreign nationals relocating to the respective canton to pay tax based on worldwide living costs. Although the forfait regime was abolished in a number of cantons, a national vote was held in 2014 turning down a proposal calling for its elimination. In his article, Michael Fischer, the founding partner of Fischer Ramp Buchmann AG, Zürich, asks – and answers – questions about the most important elements to be considered when considering Switzerland as a new place of residence.

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Spontaneous Exchange of Tax Rulings – The Swiss Angle

Spontaneous Exchange of Tax Rulings – The Swiss Angle

Most – but not all – global tax advisers know that the tax planning universe has changed.  The few holdouts hoping that the old ways may yet be available were disappointed, again, when Switzerland announced procedures for the spontaneous exchange of tax rulings.  Rulings issued on and after January 1, 2010, will be exchanged beginning January 1, 2018.  Michael Fischer and Marc Buchmann of Attorneys Fischer Ramp Partner AG, Zurich, explain the new procedures and how taxpayers may take steps to stop the spontaneous exchange of existing rulings.

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The Forfait Tax Regime in Switzerland – A Venerable Alternative

The Swiss forfait tax regime is discussed by Michael Fischer of Froriep in Zurich. The forfait is battle-tested and has beaten back a referendum in 2014 that would have repealed the benefit. Beware – the forfait is not available in all cantons and the minimum tax rate varies widely. In comparison to the U.K. and Ireland, remittances from abroad are not penalized with tax.

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