The Swiss tax system
The Swiss tax system is decentralized. Corporate and personal income taxes are collected at three levels - federal, cantonal, and municipal:
The Confederation
At a national level, the confederation applies a rate of 8.5% on the profit declared net.
The canton
At a regional or county level, the cantons apply different rates to the net profit and the capital. In the canton of Vaud, these rates are variable according to the amounts declared. Generally, the rate applied to the net profit is between 4% and 14%. The rate applied to the companies capital is between 0.75‰ and 1,2‰ and depends on the type of company.
The Commune
The third level, that of the towns and villages is that of the legal entity known as the commune. The communes apply a rate as a percentage of the cantonal rate and it varies according to the commune. At Lausanne, the rate is 83% of the cantonal rate.
Tax exemptions and reductions
The canton of Vaud actively encourages business investments and has generous provisions for firms that are likely to stimulate the cantonal economy. The cantonal tax authority is the only body able legally to negotiate tax rates. All enquiries should be addressed to:
Administration cantonale des impôts
Route de Berne 46
CH-1014 Lausanne
Tel. +41 21 316 21 21
Fax +41 21 316 21 40
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