The Federal Council endorses the use of the tax data for statistical purposes
Bern, 05.04.2023 - The Federal Council wishes to use certain tax data for statistical purposes. At its meeting on 5 April 2023, it instructed the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) to incorporate a tax data survey into the Ordinance on the Collection of Statistics. The data will be used for statistical purposes only and tax secrecy maintained.
Tax data from the cantonal tax authorities are essential for the statistical analysis of the income and assets of private households. Detailed tax data are needed, for example, to quantify the financial impact of reforms to fiscal and social policy. Currently, the Confederation has insufficient information in these sectors to fulfil its tasks. This is why it wishes to be able to collect tax data in future.
The Federal Office of Justice, which was commissioned to analyse the legal basis for a tax data survey, concluded that a sufficient basis in federal law is provided for in the Federal Statistics Act, on condition that the Federal Council weigh public interest in statistical data against the public and private interest in tax secrecy.
The Federal Council weighed up these interests against one another and came to the conclusion that public interest in statistics had priority. The planned survey does not affect tax secrecy. As soon as the data are transferred to the Confederation, they are subject to statistical secrecy, ensuring that taxpayers' privacy is protected, the information received is treated confidentially, data are used for statistical purposes only and data security is guaranteed.
The Federal Council has instructed the FDHA to incorporate a tax data survey into the Ordinance on the Collection of Statistics. The Ordinance is currently undergoing a complete revision. It is planned that the new Ordinance will come into force in early 2025. Prior to this a consultation will take place.
Address for enquiries
Markus Schwyn, Dep. Director General FSO,
tel.: +41 58 463 67 02,
e-mail: Markus.Schwyn@bfs.admin.ch
FSO Media Service,
tel.: +41 58 463 60 13,
e-mail: media@bfs.admin.ch
Publisher
The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html
Federal Department of Home Affairs
http://www.edi.admin.ch
