Are Swiss dividends taxed?
Dividend income derived from investments is taxed at the ordinary rates together with the other income. In general, dividends from Swiss sources are subject to a 35% WHT that can be credited against the Swiss income tax liability if such dividend income is declared correctly and in full.
How are stock dividends taxed in Switzerland? Dividends and interest payments are generally subjected to a withholding tax before they are paid out to you. The Swiss withholding tax is 35 percent, and is applied to dividends and interest payments from Swiss stocks and bonds.
If you want to reclaim withholding taxes on income out of Switzerland (Verrechnungssteuer) – such as taxes on dividends or interest payments, you will need to file a request for refund with the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (SFTA).
Certain nonresident aliens who are in the U.S. for more than 183 days will be subject to capital gains taxes. Nonresident aliens are subject to a dividend tax rate of 30% on dividends paid out by U.S. companies.
The US Switzerland tax treaty, signed in 1996, serves as an agreement between the two countries for determining the taxation of income where both nations may have the legal right to tax according to their respective laws.
- Residence in a tax-favourable municipality/canton;
- Investment in real estate (domestic or foreign);
- Investment in units of collective investment schemes with direct real estate ownership;
- Retirement savings;
- Investment in securities or items with no market value.
All tax-resident individuals are taxed on their worldwide income and wealth. Non-tax-resident individuals are only taxed on Swiss sources of income and wealth.
However, to avoid double taxation—being taxed both in the source country and the US—taxpayers may claim a Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) if they paid taxes on these dividends to the foreign country. This credit reduces the US tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis for the amount of foreign taxes paid.
The statutory rate of Swiss WHT is 35%. Relief, if any, is generally granted by refund.
Forms 1099-INT or 1099-DIV - Foreign Dividends and/or Interest Received. To report foreign dividend or interest income, enter the information as though you had received a Form 1099-DIV Dividends and Distributions or Form 1099-INT Interest Income, but leave off the Payer's Federal Identification Number.
Are foreign dividends taxed twice?
Key Takeaways. Double taxation refers to income tax being paid twice on the same source of income. This can occur when income is taxed at both the corporate level and the personal level, as in the case of stock dividends. Double taxation also refers to the same income being taxed by two different countries.
Under the Treaty, there is a special exemption from U.S. withholding tax on interest and dividend income that you earn from U.S. investments through a trust set up exclusively for the purpose of providing retirement income. These trusts include RRSPs, RRIFs, LIRAs, LIFs, LRIFs and Prescribed RRIFs.
Qualified dividends are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% depending on taxable income and filing status. Nonqualified dividends are taxed as income at rates up to 37%. IRS form 1099-DIV helps taxpayers to accurately report dividend income.
As of 2022, information about your Swiss bank account must be handed over to the IRS in the United States. The IRS is responsible for collecting taxes and assessing the wealth of Americans, even wealth held in Swiss bank accounts must be accounted for.
Double taxation is generally avoided by applying the 'exemption with progression' method, i.e. all income is considered in order to determine the applicable tax rate, but on the exempted income no taxes are actually levied.
Both residents and non-residents who remain in Switzerland for employment purposes are subject to tax on employment income. In general, residents are not subject to withholding tax on employment income.
Although Switzerland is no longer a place to "hide" money due to pressure from the United States and the European Union (EU), it still offers the wealthy some benefits for living and keeping their money there.
According to the latest data, to be considered rich in Switzerland, a single person would have to have an income of at least 8.508 francs a month before tax, or 102.096 francs a year. For a couple with two children, the pre-tax monthly income threshold increases to more than 17.867 francs, or 214.404 francs a year.
Switzerland recognizes pension income as taxable income. The tax rate depends on the canton you live in and the sum of your pension income. Notably, the country has a number of agreements in place with many countries that prevent double taxes on pensions. In this case, taxes only apply in the country of residence.
Understanding the 183-Day Rule
Generally, this means that if you spent 183 days or more in the country during a given year, you are considered a tax resident for that year.
Do foreigners pay capital gains tax in Switzerland?
On the whole, Switzerland offers an attractive tax environment. No capital gains tax is levied on private financial returns. Spouses and direct descendants are usually exempt from gift and inheritance tax in most cantons, and taxed at modest rates in others.
Category | Amount in CHF | Amount in USD (approx.) |
---|---|---|
Average Gross Monthly Salary | CHF 6,665 | USD 7,439 |
- Average for Women | CHF 6,211 | USD 6,935 |
- Average for Men | CHF 6,963 | USD 7,776 |
Geneva Minimum Wage (Gross) | CHF 4,426 | USD 4,940 |
The double taxation of dividends is a reference to how corporate earnings and dividends are taxed by the U.S. government. Corporations pay taxes on their earnings and then pay shareholders dividends out of the after-tax earnings.
Not all countries impose a capital gains tax, and most have different rates of taxation for individuals compared to corporations. Countries that do not impose a capital gains tax include Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, the Cayman Islands, the Isle of Man, Jamaica, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and others.
Of all the options for avoiding US double taxation, the most reliable is the Foreign Tax Credit. In fact, this credit was instituted for the sole purpose of warding off double taxation for Americans living abroad.
References
- https://www.expattaxonline.com/swiss-bank-account/
- https://www.investec.com/en_ch/legal/deposit-insurance.html
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/05/switzerland-faced-a-bank-run-if-credit-suisse-went-bankrupt-swiss-regulator.html
- https://www.economicsobservatory.com/why-did-credit-suisse-fail-and-what-does-it-mean-for-banking-regulation
- https://www.axios.com/2023/03/15/why-we-should-care-about-credit-suisses-problems
- https://www.economicactivity.org/top-billionaires-in-switzerland-nations-richest-and-their-residences/
- https://www.degiro.cz/helpdesk/tax/how-can-i-reclaim-withholding-taxes-income-out-switzerland
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/where-millionaires-keep-money-070638027.html
- https://www.alpian.com/news/comparative-study-interest-rates-2024/
- https://findependent.ch/en/investing-in-switzerland/
- https://silverbird.com/blog/articles/how-to-open-a-swiss-bank-account-for-business
- https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/tse:cs/forecast
- https://www.londondaily.news/why-do-people-put-money-in-swiss-bank-accounts/
- https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us-news/en/articles/media-releases/credit-suisse-expects-aquisition-effective-date-june-and-corresponding-delisting-of-csg-shares-202306.tag*article-topic--media-release---adhoc-release.html
- https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/cs/dividends
- https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/CS/
- https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/switzerland/individual/taxes-on-personal-income
- https://www.savills.com/landing-pages/guide-to-buying-property-in-switzerland.aspx
- https://studyinginswitzerland.com/best-swiss-banks-all-features-and-prices/
- https://www.expatica.com/ch/finance/taxes/switzerland-tax-rates-101589/
- https://www.quora.com/Is-400k-to-500k-chf-considered-as-rich-in-Switzerland
- https://www.tetraconsultants.com/blog/4-best-business-to-start-in-switzerland-in-2022/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/double_taxation.asp
- https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-cs/en/faq-shareholders.html
- https://companiesmarketcap.com/credit-suisse/shares-outstanding/
- https://wise.com/us/blog/opening-a-bank-account-in-switzerland
- https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/switzerland/individual/income-determination
- https://www.expatica.com/ch/finance/banking/how-to-open-a-swiss-bank-account-102298/
- https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-abroad/do-you-agree-with-a-recent-survey-of-expats-that-switzerland-is-beautiful-but-it-s-tough-to-settle-in-and-make-friends/46627210
- https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/survey-swiss-prefer-savings-accounts-to-stocks/49108406
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/08/swiss-bank-account.asp
- https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/this-is-what-killed-credit-suisse
- https://fortune.com/europe/2023/04/24/credit-suisse-ugly-demise-69-billion-panic-close-call-historic-bankruptcy-record-profit-wiping-out-bondholders/
- https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/business/ubs-cost-cuts-credit-suisse/index.html
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-much-house-switzerland-rigby-ag-ihhve
- https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-cs/en.html
- https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us-news/en/articles/media-releases/credit-suisse-and-ubs-to-merge-202303.html
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/credit-suisse-era-ends-after-ubs-takeover-becomes-official-a0d677ee
- https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/17/investing/credit-suisse-shares-drop-despite-lifeline/index.html
- https://qz.com/credit-suisse-biggest-losers-shareholders-ubs-takeover-1850242803
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11408-023-00443-0
- https://companiesmarketcap.com/credit-suisse/total-debt/
- https://www.lawyersswitzerland.com/opening-a-bank-account-in-switzerland
- https://www.moneyland.ch/en/stock-market-profits-tax-free
- https://blakeharrislaw.com/blog/challenges-for-foreign-banking-for-u-s-citizens
- https://klasing-associates.com/swiss-offshore-bank-account-information-still-handed-irs-2022/
- https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us-news/en/articles/media-releases/credit-suisse-investment-outlook-2023--fixed-income-assets-provi-202211.html
- https://www.cimbanque.com/en/online-account-opening/
- https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/year-credit-suisses-rescue-banks-remain-vulnerable-2024-03-15/
- https://www.investopedia.com/what-happened-at-credit-suisse-and-why-did-it-collapse-7369825
- https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/swiss-private-bank-banque-pictet-admits-conspiring-us-taxpayers-hide-assets-and-income
- https://wise.com/gb/blog/banks-in-switzerland
- https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/investing/credit-suisse-shares-all-you-need-to-know/
- https://www.greenbacktaxservices.com/knowledge-center/double-taxation-agreement/
- https://blakeharrislaw.com/blog/swiss-bank-accounts-for-us-citizens
- https://www.dnbcgroup.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-living-in-switzerland-a-comprehensive-guide/
- https://passportlegacy.com/richest-people-in-switzerland/
- https://companiesmarketcap.com/credit-suisse/pb-ratio/
- https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/2024020681/ubs-shares-tumble-after-results-as-bank-looks-to-take-out-more-credit-suisse-costs
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_gains_tax
- https://www.expatica.com/ch/finance/money-management/why-is-switzerland-so-rich-1068261/
- https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/what-happens-to-my-credit-suisse-account/48793374
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-31/ubs-smashes-banking-profit-record-as-it-absorbs-credit-suisse
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Switzerland
- https://www.livemint.com/news/world/how-did-credit-suisse-collapse-amid-nationalisation-plans-by-injecting-57-6-billion-11702947107996.html
- https://www.expatica.com/ch/finance/money-management/invest-in-switzerland-218615/
- https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/credit-suisse-how-did-it-get-crisis-point-2023-03-16/
- https://studyinginswitzerland.com/swiss-bank-accounts/
- https://www.ser-ag.com/en/resources/notifications/media-releases/20230605-delisting-creditsuisse.html
- https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/20/investing/credit-suisse-at1-bond-write-down-explainer/index.html
- https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/switzerland-becomes-first-major-economy-to-cut-interest-rates-in-surprise-move.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/060716/why-switzerland-considered-tax-haven.asp
- https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/living-in-switzerland
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/taxes/dividend-tax-rate
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/au/investing/credit-suisse-shares-all-you-need-to-know/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/102915/tax-implications-opening-foreign-bank-account.asp
- https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/switzerland/individual/foreign-tax-relief-and-tax-treaties
- https://www.taxact.com/support/21034/forms-1099-int-or-1099-div-foreign-dividends-and-or-interest-received
- https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/credit-suisse-saw-68-billion-first-quarter-outflows-it-crumbled-2023-04-24/
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-is-credit-suisse-in-trouble-the-banking-turmoil-explained-6f8ddb5b
- https://www.axios.com/2023/03/20/credit-suisse-unavoidably-messy-bank-failure
- https://www.pictet.com/lu/en/corporate-news/historical-performance-shares-bonds-in-switzerland/expert-commentary-performance-of-swiss-equities-and-bonds
- https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/banking-fintech/credit-suisse-collapse-one-year-on-the-key-unanswered-questions/73909716
- https://www.moneyland.ch/en/swiss-bank-accounts-for-foreigners
- https://www.ubs.com/global/en/media/display-page-ndp/en-20230612-ubs-credit-suisse-acquisition.html
- https://www.iamexpat.ch/career/employment-news/how-much-do-you-need-earn-be-considered-rich-switzerland
- https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/eur/en/insights/wealth-planning/moving-to-switzerland
- https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Compare/Credit-Suisse-vs-UBS-EI_IE3141-E3419.htm
- https://www.vischer.com/en/knowledge/blog/wealth-tax-and-how-it-can-be-reduced-part-2-39335/
- https://www.expat.hsbc.com/expat-explorer/expat-guides/switzerland/tax-in-switzerland/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/1/183-day-rule.asp
- https://www.investing.com/equities/credit-suisse-group
- https://www.moneyland.ch/en/best-interest-rates-switzerland
- https://www.dividendmax.com/switzerland/six-swiss-exchange/banks/credit-suisse-group-ag/dividends
- https://www.cpasforexpats.com/post/us-switzerland-tax-treaty-guide
- https://www.morningstar.hk/hk/news/233221/credit-suisses-demise-a-timeline-of-scandal-and-failures.aspx
- https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-news-today-03-15-2023/card/credit-suisse-stock-price-hits-new-low-as-jitters-mount-aXTBTPBvUgAvRJ0uk6eH
- https://www.legal500.com/guides/chapter/switzerland-investing-in/
- https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/takeover-benefits-ubs-investors-warm-credit-suisse-deal-2023-07-17/
- https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/switzerland/corporate/withholding-taxes
- https://www.expattaxonline.com/tax-on-foreign-dividends/
- https://karpeo.ch/en/swiss-salaries-wage-switzerland/
- https://www.credit-suisse.com/ch/en/about-cs-ch/faq-integration.html
- https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/investors-rethink-risk-after-credit-suisse-bonds-wiped-out/48440718
- https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/ubs/forecast
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/ubs-credit-suisse-explainer-1.6784957
- https://www.expatica.com/ch/finance/retirement/a-guide-to-retiring-in-switzerland-100004/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acquisition_of_Credit_Suisse_by_UBS
- https://groww.in/blog/how-to-open-swiss-bank-account
- https://www.offshorecorporation.com/swissbanktips/
- https://www.expatica.com/ch/housing/buying/buying-a-swiss-property-100026/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/03/102203.asp
- https://ca.rbcwealthmanagement.com/documents/1647873/0/Tax+Implications+of+Investing+in+the+United+States.pdf
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/06/nonusresidenttax.asp
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/19/ubs-agrees-to-buy-credit-suisse-as-regulators-look-to-shore-up-global-banking-system.html
- https://myjourney.packimpex.com/en/guides/buying-property-switzerland-complete-guide/