Business and the tax industry are experiencing regular and complex changes. We want to help you find your way in this changing environment by offering to set up a monitoring procedure allowing you to react to any changes in tax policy and to assess their impact from an economic point of view. We have a rich experience with individuals and companies of all sizes for all aspects of the life the tax life-cycle – planning, staffing, compliance and litigation.
The Swiss fiscal federalism
Switzerland is organized as a federal state, which is widely reflected in its taxation. Direct taxes are levied not only by the federal government, but also by the 26 cantons. Each of these cantons enjoy their own fiscal sovereignty, the right to levy taxes and to use the resulting resources. Therefore, Switzerland has 27 different tax laws (federal + cantonal) .Cantons may tax its residents’ income and wealth, legal persons’ income and capital, estate, capital gains and more in a very different way. Municipal taxes generally target the same assets as cantonal tax, at a usually higher rate. The 2,500 municipalities levy taxes in accordance with the same legal basis as the township but with different rates.
Personal taxation
With a wide range of personal taxation services, we offer solutions to national and cross-border planning.
We help you in your search for a wide range of tax services in such areas as tax, planning and advice. We prepare your professional tax returns with calculations along with personal advice and the implementation of comprehensive integrated tax planning.
Business taxation
Specializing in the prevention of disputes prior to tax returns, we can help you complete and prepare the required supporting documentation.
At Maximum Value, tax advice is composed of the following areas :
- Indirect taxes
- Legal Services
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Business taxation and estate
Offshore services
With more and more people choosing a perpetually transient lifestyle, the desire to invest in an international or ‘offshore’ manner is becoming increasingly popular.
As a matter of fact, many expatriates want to avoid the situation where their investments are scattered around the world, so as to avoid losing track of what is invested and where.
Our job is to recommend, in consultation with you, the most appropriate investment plan. This is will be based upon your attitude to risk and your investment time horizon.
Family business
Family businesses draw their strength from a structure which includes sustainability, homestead and professional management. It helps provide valuable competitive advantages, albeit presenting potential risks.
VAT
The VAT rate is fixed at 8% of the taxable turnover. This applies to consumption of a drink or a meal in a hotel or in a restaurant. But spending a night in the same hotel (including breakfast) will be subject to the special rate of 3.8%.
The reduced rate of 2.5% is levied on certain goods of daily use such as food, soft drinks, books, newspapers, magazines, drugs or sports or cultural events.
Two accounting methods may be used to record VAT:
- actual count: every three months
- net tax debt rate: you must declare your turnover every six months (including VAT charged your customers) and multiply it by the rate of net tax set by the Tax Authorities. The preliminary tax is paid as a flat rate and therefore does not have to be determined.
As regards to the period during which the count should be established, it depends on the counting mode, which must be applied for at least one tax period.