Federal Council adopts mandate text on EU dialogue on corporate tax regimes

Bern, 01.06.2012 - During its meeting today, the Federal Council adopted the mandate text for the dialogue with the EU on corporate tax regimes. The aim of the dialogue is to find a solution for corporate taxation that is internationally accepted and yet strengthens Switzerland as a business location and maintains the finances of the cantons and the Confederation. The mandate text was approved by the Conference of the Cantonal Governments of Switzerland today. In addition, it will be the subject of consultations with the responsible committees of both chambers in the weeks ahead.

The European Union considers that certain tax regimes in Swiss cantons are discriminatory, as the profits of domestic and foreign companies are sometimes taxed differently. In 2010, the EU invited Switzerland to adopt the EU's Code of Conduct for business taxation. Exploratory talks have since been conducted with the EU in order to define the conditions for a dialogue.

The Federal Council has set out three objectives in the mandate text: safeguard and further develop the tax appeal of Switzerland as a business location; promote the international acceptance of Switzerland's corporate tax system; secure the receipts of the Confederation, cantons and communes for financing government activities.

The mandate text was approved by the Conference of the Cantonal Governments of Switzerland today. In addition, it will be the subject of consultations with the responsible committees of both chambers in the weeks ahead.


Address for enquiries

Mario Tuor, Communications State Secretariat for International Financial Matters
+41 (0)31 322 46 16
mario.tuor@sif.admin.ch


Publisher

The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html

Federal Department of Finance
https://www.efd.admin.ch/efd/en/home.html

Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html

https://www.admin.ch/content/gov/en/start/dokumentation/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-44786.html