Relaxation of Swiss residency laws

www.swissinfo.org

Increasing numbers of the rich and famous could soon be moving to Switzerland following the removal of residency restrictions on European Union citizens, but experts say wealthy foreigners are also still attracted by the country’s famous tax breaks and its high quality of life.

Switzerland - whose population is made up of 20 per cent foreigners - is already home to thousands of prosperous immigrants and it is estimated that at least half of the country’s 300 richest people come from abroad. Some, such as Ingvar Kamprad, founder of furniture empire Ikea, are among the world’s richest businessmen. Others come from the world of entertainment, such as singers Phil Collins and Tina Turner, or sport, like motor-racing driver Michael Schumacher and former tennis champion Boris Becker. But due to the lifting of settlement and labour restrictions on EU citizens, they may soon find their privileged haunts on the shores of Lake Zurich or Lake Geneva becoming more crowded.

"Since June 2004, European citizens have not needed a work permit in order to take up residence in Switzerland," said the Federal Migration Office’s Mario Tuor. "They just need to prove they have the funds to support themselves."

Previously there were a lot of legal restrictions to settling down in Switzerland, with even the wealthiest of Europeans being refused residency in more than 50 per cent of cases.

Tax regime

One of Switzerland’s most famous attractions remains its relaxed tax regime for rich non-Swiss citizens.

But François Micheloud, who runs a relocation firm for foreigners coming to Switzerland, says this is not the only reason for the country’s popularity. "It is true that Switzerland would not attract many foreigners if it had a tax regime like that of Finland. But nor can it be regarded as a tax haven," he told swissinfo.

"A billionaire trying to avoid tax is more likely to move to Monaco or the Bahamas," added Micheloud, who has advised people from 90 different countries, including Britain, France and Scandinavia. Micheloud says there are other factors – often under-rated – which make Switzerland so attractive. One of these is its central position in Europe. This factor is particularly important for Scandinavians, who, living so far north, are a long way from the Mediterranean holiday resorts and suffer from lack of sunshine during the long winter.

Swiss efficiency

Another plus point, particularly appreciated by the British, is Swiss efficiency. "In Britain, my clients tell me, many public and social services have deteriorated over the last 20 or 30 years," said Micheloud, adding that the Swiss health system is particularly valued.

The consultant says that the British also feel more secure in Switzerland. "They believe that their children will be able to grow up in a friendly environment, without bullying or violence in schools," he said.

Micheloud’s French clients are mainly attracted to the Swiss shores of Lake Geneva, an area which is geographically and culturally close to France. It is also quieter and has more privacy. But what impresses the French the most is the Swiss sense of civic duty. And this goes much deeper than the traditional Swiss reputation for order, cleanliness and care for the environment.

Moving experience

"Some of my clients have been surprised to find that children in Switzerland are openly friendly towards adults. That’s how it was in France 50 years ago, they say, and they find it quite moving," explained Micheloud. The French are also attracted by the simplicity of life in Switzerland with its smaller towns, lighter traffic and less bureaucracy.

Overall, Micheloud is convinced that the advantages of life in Switzerland are manifold. "Many Swiss people are unaware of it, but our country offers a quality of life that is hard to find elsewhere," he told swissinfo.

"For many foreigners, the idea of living out their days in Switzerland is the height of social success."

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Taxation of individuals in Switzerland

Resident individuals are subject to personal income and net wealth taxes. Partnerships (and similar groups of persons without legal personality) are transparent for tax purposes, the partners being taxed individually.

Non-residents deriving income from certain Swiss sources (see below) may be subject to certain withholding taxes.

Income taxes are levied by the confederation and also by the 26 cantons and their municipalities. The federal income tax is regulated in the Federal Direct Tax Act. There is no federal net wealth tax. The cantonal and municipal income and net wealth taxation is settled in cantonal tax laws.

As at 1 January 2001 all cantons have to brought their income and net wealth taxes into line with the Federal Tax Harmonization Law. Subject to harmonization are mainly the concept of income and most of the deductions and allowances. The cantonal sovereignty in respect of the amount of deductions and the tax rates, however, is not affected by the Tax Harmonization Law. Thus, the tax burden will differ considerably also in the future, depending on the canton and municipality of which the taxpayer is a resident.

Income Residence

An individual is resident for tax purposes mainly if the centre of his vital interests is in Switzerland (and in the canton/municipality respectively). Key factors are where a person has a permanent home, where his family lives and where his most important personal and economic contacts are. This concept is similar to Art. 4 of the OECD Model Convention.

Tax residence, however, may also arise if an individual works in Switzerland for a period of minimum 30 days or if he stays in Switzerland (without working) for a period of minimum 90 days. He may be taxed as a resident for this period of time (pro rata temporis).

Resident taxpayers are subject to world-wide taxation in Switzerland, subject to unilateral exemptions and prevailing tax treaty provisions, of course. The most important unilateral exemptions are:

Real estate abroad, and permanent establishments abroad. The exemption with progression method applies to such income and net wealth. Non-resident taxpayers may be subject to Swiss taxes only with respect to income from certain Swiss sources.

Important examples are:

- income from Swiss real estate (assessed tax)

- income from business performed in Switzerland and permanent establishments located in Switzerland(assessed tax)

employment income performed in Switzerland or on bord of international aircraft/ships/trucks if paid by an employer being resident in CH or having a permanent establishment in CH (withholding tax)

- directors' fees (withholding tax)

- interest secured by mortgage on Swiss real estate (withholding tax)

- pensions and similar payments related to a former employment in Switzerland (withholding tax)

- income from certain Swiss retirement funds ("gebundene Selbstvorsorge"), excluding the public old-age/survivor/disability insurance (withholding tax)

Very often, however, the right to levy these taxes is also restricted by tax treaties.

Taxable income

Swiss tax laws (federal and cantonal/municipal) apply a rather broad concept of income. It includes income from gainful activities (employment, self-employment), income from movable and immovable property, retirement income, compensations etc.

All types of income are pooled and taxed together (excluding capital gains on immovable property, see below). Income from husband and wife is aggregated and taxed together, unless they are separated or divorced. Alimony payments are deductible for the payor and taxable for the recipient. The rental value of owner-occupied dwellings is taxable income. The valuation, which is made by the cantonal tax authorities, varies between 50% and 100% of fair market values.

Capital gains on private movable property (e.g. capital gains on shares) are tax-free (unless the taxpayer performs a business, i.e. his assets are business property). See also employee stock options.

Capital gains on immovable property are tax-free at the federal level (unless the taxpayer is a professional real estate broker). All cantons, however, levy specific real estate profit taxes on capital gains realized on the alienation of immovable property located in the canton. The rules of calculation of the capital gain, deductions and tax rates vary considerably. Real estate profit tax apply to both residents and non-residents, selling Swiss real estate.

Deductions

In general, all expenses related to taxable income are deductible. Important examples are: employment expenses and maintenance costs of immovable property. Interest paid is fully deductible if related to business property. Private interest payments are also deductible, but only up to the total amount of [all gross income from property + CHF 50'000].

Depreciation (capital allowances) is deductible only in respect of business assets. Self-employed taxpayers may also carry-forward losses (in general 7 years). There is no carry-back in Switzerland. Alimonies paid are deductible (but taxed in the hands of the recipient).

Tax rates

In general, Swiss income tax rates are progressive. Very often different rates apply for married and single taxpayers, as the income of husband and wife is aggregated and taxed together. The maximum federal income tax rate is 11.5%. A taxable income of CHF 100'000 is taxed at about 4%(singles) and 3% (married). The rates for CHF 200'000 are 8% and 7.5% respectively. The cantonal rates vary considerably. Usually, the tariff mentioned in the cantonal tax act only results in so-called "basic rates". These rates are subject to annually fixed cantonal and municipal multipliers. Parish taxes (church taxes) are levied in the same way.