If you would like to close your Swiss company and delete it from Swiss trade registry, you will need to file for liquidation - rather predictably.  What can surprise clients, and of course is slightly inconvenient, is that it is not possible to terminate a company immediately; a liquidation procedure needs to be carried out, only then can the company be dissolved. 

The AHV/IV/EO contributions are part of salary deductions. They are borne half by the employer and half by the employee. As of 2021, the EO rate has been adjusted resulting in the increasing of monthly AHV/IV/EO contribution from 5.275% to 5.3%. For this reason, Swiss employers need to carry out adjustments in pay slips and salary declarations for 2021.

Swiss companies which provide financial services or engage with financial-market activities need to gain authorization or a license from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), providing that the company meets the qualifications and requirements of the categories in which they apply for.

You can optimize a Swiss company by looking at some key considerations before incorporating a new company, such as choice of Canton for the domicile: there being different attractions such as low corporate tax, or incentives to attract business and employment in some Cantons and which company or individual should the shareholder be? Different % of ownership or residence of the shareholder will change dividend distribution taxation. Read our 5 key points to consider below – before setting up your Swissco.

One of the questions we often receive from our clients who already conduct business in other jurisdictions is whether they should go for a Swiss GmbH or AG subsidiary or a Branch of a foreign company. We have made an easy-to-understand pro-con list for both types of companies. Below you can find our pro-con comparison of both company types:

Swiss companies which provide financial services or engage with financial-market activities need to gain authorization or a license from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), providing that the company meets the qualifications and requirements of the categories in which they apply for.

Usually, a Swiss Commercial Registry is sufficient for a Swiss company to operate general business activities. However, if a company operates in certain sectors, special licenses are required for a company to start such activity.

Setup a company in Switzerland: this guide will help you to understand what are the main stages to get your company established. The procedure of registration consists of 6 steps

Are you considering starting a business in Switzerland and having doubts if you need to visit Switzerland to handle the registration or if you could setup the company online?

At the start of 2020, Findexable published the Global Fintech Index 2020 which shows the top jurisdictions having a major impact on and drive the fintech industry forward. Switzerland is ranked the 5th fintech country, inferior to the USA, UK, Singapore and Lithuania.

Since April, more than 190,000 companies have applied for short-time work compensation for around 1.9 million employees. This number represents 36 % of all employees in Switzerland.

Who is subject to submit Swiss corporate tax return?

The Public Limited Company (AG) and the Limited Liability Company (GmbH) are required to file tax returns in Switzerland on an annual basis. The usual tax year in Switzerland runs from 1st January to 31st December, unless the company’s statutes states otherwise. The tax is payable from the date the company is registered in the trade register.

Starting from July 6th, Switzerland will relax all COVID 19-related restrictions on the admission of workers from non EU/EFTA countries. The cantons will also again process resident permits for non-active third-country citizens, such as people who have retired and are not planning to work in Switzerland; the normal criteria before the epidemic for this permit will once again apply.

The so-called “Swiss QR code” is a new payment option which will be launched in Switzerland on 30th June 2020. The new QR Bill has been developed by SIX Group (Swiss Infrastructure and Exchange).The aim of the new payment option is to harmonize and simplify payment ‘slips’ as they are currently know, because it will function across all Swiss payment methods.

According to the new support, Commercial tenants, such as shops and restaurant owners, who were forced to close down by the government due to COVID-19 will only liable 40% of the agreed rent during the epidemic period, provided that the usual monthly rent does not exceed CHF 20’000.

At the latest federal meeting last Friday, June 5th, the Swiss government re reviewed the epidemic situation and announced the reopening of its borders, not just with its 4 neighbouring countries, but also with all EU/EFTA states and the UK. The move is in line with that of many other Schengen countries.

The Swiss government announced that despite lockdown having a significant impact on its economy, the country is still well-positioned as the fore-planned measures and low public debt have played a significant role in minimizing economic and social damages caused by COVID-19.

Further Easing of Restriction on Entering Switzerland and Permit situation. June 8th: Processing of permit applications submitted by EU/EFTA workers and recruitment of international workers by Swiss companies.