News Analysis: Another Look at Swiss Lump Sum Taxation

News Analysis: Another Look at Swiss Lump Sum Taxation

Switzerland’s Federal Council recently issued a draft bill amending the Federal Direct Tax Act and the Federal Tax Harmonization Act to establish a new framework for the lump sum tax regime. The draft bill was approved by the Swiss parliament, and the amending law was published on September 28, 2012. (For prior coverage, see Tax Notes Int’l, Oct. 29, 2012, p. 461, Doc 2012-21770, or 2012 WTD 205-6.)

On October 19, however, a left-wing committee collected the necessary signatures to force a nationwide vote on the revocation of the lump sum tax at the federal level. The date of the referendum will be set following parliamentary debate and will likely be in two to three years. (...)