Author: stefansollberger

This table covers the initial injection required to get your company formed, registered, and compliant. One-Off Launch Costs Zug AG (Prestige) Lucerne GmbH (Efficient) Notes Minimum Capital CHF 50,000 CHF 20,000 Recoverable liquidity. (AG requires 100k pledged, 50k paid-in. GmbH requires 20k fully paid). Notary & Registry Fees ~CHF 4,500…

You are looking for stability in an unstable world. You want a jurisdiction that respects privacy, honors capital, and operates with the precision of a chronometer. You don’t just want a company; you want a Swiss company. Whether you are a US tech founder seeking a European HQ or a…

Internal Memo for Finance Teams Subject: Procedural Differences for Reclaiming Foreign VAT Reclaiming VAT from Switzerland is not the same as reclaiming VAT from France, Germany, or Italy. It falls outside the EU “8th Directive” electronic system. The table below outlines the critical operational differences. The “Cheat Sheet” Feature Intra-EU…

Target Audience: EU/UK Executives & Finance Teams The Stakes: 8.1% Refund on Hotels, Transport, & Events If you are a German, French, or British executive who just returned from a conference in Switzerland, you might assume reclaiming VAT is easy. After all, inside the EU, you just log into your…

Target Audience: US-based Executives, CFOs, & LLC Owners The Stakes: 8.1% Refund on Swiss Expenses (Hotels, Transport, Events) If you run a US company (Inc, LLC, Corp) and you just spent a fortune in Davos, Geneva, or Zurich, you might assume you can’t get a VAT refund because the USA…

Target Audience: International executives & event planners Value: ~3.8% to 8.1% of your trip cost If you just returned from Davos, you likely have a stack of invoices that would make a CFO sweat. Between the CHF 1,000+ hotel nights and the five-figure event passes, the costs add up. But…

Target Strategy: Wealth Preservation & Growth without triggering the “Control Calculation” As we discussed, the “Control Calculation” is the enemy of the Lump-Sum taxpayer. To keep your tax bill fixed at your negotiated rate (e.g., CHF 170k/year), you generally need to avoid generating Swiss-sourced income or Foreign income where you…

Context: The Geneva Lump-Sum Regime (Forfait Fiscal) Risk Level: High (if you invest carelessly) Most people choose the Lump-Sum tax for certainty. You negotiate a deal based on your rent (e.g., 7x annual rent), and you expect your bill to stay flat every year. But there is a trapdoor. Every…

Target Audience: HNWIs considering the French-speaking region Reading Time: 4 Minutes One of the most common myths we hear from clients moving to Switzerland is: “I have money, so I should obviously choose the Lump-Sum tax.” In 2026, for the Canton of Geneva, this is often false. While the “Forfait…

The Executive Summary: Feature Canton of Zug (City of Zug) Canton of Geneva (City of Geneva) Headline Wealth Tax Rate ~ 0.22% – 0.25% ~ 1.0% Estimated Annual Bill ~ CHF 22,000 – 25,000 ~ CHF 100,000 The “Safety Valve” None needed (rate is low) The “Tax Shield” (Bouclier Fiscal)…

Reading Time: 3 Minutes For Swiss businesses, 2025 was a year of structural upheaval with the activation of the OECD’s “Pillar Two” Income Inclusion Rule (IIR) and major VAT reforms. As we settle into 2026, the focus shifts from implementation to compliance and optimization. Here is your executive summary of…

Staying on top of tax changes in Switzerland can be a challenge, but the last twelve months have brought some historic shifts. Whether you are a business owner, an expat, or planning for retirement, here is a quick summary of the latest developments you need to know right now. 1.…

Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, HNWIs, and Expats Focus: Strategic Relocation & Tax Optimization Moving to Switzerland is more than a change of address; it is one of the most powerful wealth preservation strategies available in 2026. Following the rejection of the federal inheritance tax initiative in late 2025, Switzerland has reaffirmed…