Company formation

The cantonal laws and tax rates in Switzerland may vary considerably from one canton to another, which is why it’s important to carefully consider where you establish a company in Switzerland.

A Swiss holding company is usually founded in the form of a GmbH or AG. This type of company holds and manages long – term financial investments and participations in other corporations. A holding company is the perfect solution for investors that need to manage the majority of the shares from other companies. Switzerland is currently one of the countries that offer the best tax benefits for foreign investors.

The Swiss tax system is characterized by various levels of direct taxation: direct federal tax, cantonal taxes and municipal taxes. The tax legislation in the individual Swiss cantons is often very different from one canton to another.

Since the establishment of the Bilateral Agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, citizens from the EU residing in Switzerland for profit – making purposes, have a legal claim to the access to the Swiss labor market, given that all the required legal conditions are met. The agreements also apply to the states that are members of the European Free Trade Association.

The taxes in Switzerland can be divided into three major categories: federal taxes, cantonal taxes and municipal taxes. In order to avoid overlapping taxation, Switzerland has concluded double taxation agreements with most industrialized countries, to protect foreign investors from double taxation.