For owners of successful companies, Switzerland offers stable taxation, reliable banks and long-established structures for passing wealth to the next generation. Find out how to keep more of what you earn, hold your assets securely and arrange your succession under Swiss law.
When you have built a successful business, the questions change: how to hold your wealth securely, how to reduce the tax on income and inheritance, and how to pass the company and the family assets on to the next generation. Switzerland answers them with stable taxation, some of the most experienced private banks and trustees in the world, and a legal system that respects private property.
Wealth, income and inheritance are taxed by the cantons, and the differences between them are considerable. Spouses are exempt from inheritance tax in every canton, most cantons also exempt children, and Schwyz levies no inheritance or gift tax at all. The choice of canton is therefore one of the most important decisions a family makes when it moves here.
Foreign nationals who do not work in Switzerland may apply for lump-sum taxation, under which tax is assessed on living expenses rather than on worldwide income and assets. Zurich and several other cantons have abolished it; Geneva, Zug and Ticino still offer it.
Swiss law has no trust of its own, but Switzerland recognises foreign trusts under the Hague Trust Convention, and trustees in Switzerland administer trusts governed by English, Jersey or Singapore law. Under the Financial Institutions Act, professional trustees need a FINMA licence and are supervised, which gives settlors and beneficiaries an additional layer of protection.
Residence and Relocation
Switzerland does not sell residence or citizenship, but it offers wealthy individuals, entrepreneurs, retirees and their families several ways to settle in the country. The articles collected here explain residence permits for people who do not work in Switzerland, permits for entrepreneurs and employees, family reunification, the taxation according to expenditure, the choice of canton, and the path to permanent residence and citizenship. They also cover the practical side of a move, from schools and housing to buying property and bringing assets and companies to Switzerland. To the articlesPrivate Client Taxation
Switzerland taxes individuals on their worldwide income and wealth, and the cantons have considerable room to set their own rates. The articles collected here explain income and wealth tax, the taxation according to expenditure available to wealthy foreign nationals who do not work in Switzerland, the tax consequences of moving to Switzerland and leaving it again, the treatment of trusts, foundations and holding companies of Swiss residents, and inheritance and gift tax. They are written for families and entrepreneurs who are considering Switzerland as their home and want to know what it will mean for their taxes. To the articlesSuccession, Trusts and Foundations
Switzerland is a preferred location for families who want to plan their succession across several countries. The articles collected here explain Swiss succession law and forced heirship, the choice of law for an estate, the recognition of trusts under the Hague Trust Convention, Swiss family foundations and their limits, Liechtenstein foundations and offshore trusts, and philanthropic foundations. They are written for families and entrepreneurs from Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and for their advisers, who want to know which structures work in Switzerland and how they interact with the law of the family's home country. To the articlesInternational Structures and Offshore Financial Centres
Many families hold their wealth through structures outside Switzerland, and the trustees, banks and advisers who administer them are often in Switzerland. The articles collected here explain trusts, foundations and companies in Jersey, Guernsey, Liechtenstein, the Cook Islands and other offshore centres, how they are recognised in Switzerland under the Hague Trust Convention, how they are taxed when a settlor or beneficiary lives in Switzerland, and what banks and authorities expect in terms of substance, reporting and the exchange of information. To the articlesFamily Offices
Wealthy families increasingly organise the management of their assets through a family office in Switzerland. The articles collected here explain single and multi-family offices, when a family office needs a licence as an asset manager or trustee and when it does not, the choice of legal form and canton, the tax treatment of the office and of the family's holding structures, and the governance that keeps the office working across generations. They are written for families from Asia, the Middle East and Africa who are considering Switzerland as the base for their family office. To the articlesTrustees and Fiduciary Services
Since 2023, independent asset managers and trustees in Switzerland need a licence from FINMA and are supervised by an authorised supervisory organisation. The articles collected here explain the licensing requirements under the Financial Institutions Act, the organisation, capital and insurance a trustee or asset manager needs, the duties of conduct under the Financial Services Act, and the responsibilities of fiduciaries who administer companies and serve as directors. They are written for trustees and fiduciaries, and for families and companies who want to know what they can expect from a licensed Swiss provider. To the articlesPhilanthropy and Charitable Foundations
Switzerland is home to thousands of charitable foundations, many of them created by international families. The articles collected here explain how a charitable foundation is formed, which authority supervises it, the conditions for exemption from tax and for the deductibility of donations, the governance and investment of the foundation's assets, and the use of foundations for international philanthropy. They also compare the Swiss foundation with the Liechtenstein foundation and the charitable trust, so that families can choose the structure that suits their purpose. To the articlesInternational Families and Family Law
International families often have ties to several countries, and the law of each of them may claim to govern their marriage, their estate or their divorce. The articles collected here explain marriage contracts and matrimonial property regimes, the choice of law for succession under Swiss private international law, forced heirship and how it can be planned for, and the recognition of foreign divorces and judgments in Switzerland. They are written for families from Asia, the Middle East and Africa who live in Switzerland or hold assets there, and for their advisers at home. To the articlesTrust and Estate Disputes
Disputes about trusts and estates are often international, involving assets in Switzerland, trustees in offshore centres and heirs in several countries. The articles collected here explain the claims of beneficiaries against trustees, the information rights of heirs and beneficiaries towards Swiss banks, contested wills and inheritance contracts, forced heirship claims, and the securing of assets in Switzerland while a dispute is pending. They also cover the jurisdiction of Swiss courts, arbitration of trust disputes, and the recognition of foreign judgments concerning estates and trusts. To the articlesCrypto-Assets and Digital Assets
Switzerland was one of the first countries to give crypto assets a clear legal framework, and Zug has become the centre of the industry. The articles collected here explain the DLT Act and ledger-based securities, the tokenisation of rights and commodity positions, the custody of crypto assets in insolvency, supervision by FINMA, the treatment of stablecoins, and the taxation of crypto assets for companies and individuals. They also look at the use of stablecoins in international trade and at the regulation of digital assets in Hong Kong, Singapore, the European Union and the United States. To the articlesBanking and Wealth Management
Switzerland is one of the largest centres for cross-border private wealth, and its banks remain the central institutions of its financial centres. The articles collected here explain the Banking Act and the protection of bank client secrecy under Article 47, the rules of conduct under the Financial Services Act, the licensing of asset managers and trustees under the Financial Institutions Act, due diligence and discretionary mandates, retrocessions and their restitution, and dormant assets. They also trace the history of Swiss private banking and the consolidation of the banks in recent decades. To the articlesInsurance and Pensions
Switzerland is one of the world's leading centres for insurance and reinsurance, and its occupational pension funds are among the largest investors in the country. The articles collected here explain the supervision of insurers and reinsurers by FINMA, the Swiss Solvency Test, captive insurance companies, the three pillars of the Swiss pension system and the investment rules for pension funds. They are written for insurance groups considering a Swiss presence, for companies setting up a captive, and for employers from abroad who need to understand their pension obligations towards staff in Switzerland. To the articlesDouble Taxation Treaties
Switzerland has concluded double taxation treaties with more than one hundred states, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Gulf states and a number of African countries. The articles collected here explain how residence and permanent establishments are determined under these treaties, how the Swiss withholding tax on dividends is reduced and refunded, which states have a treaty with Switzerland and which do not, and how the treaties interact with the investment protection agreements. They help groups and investors choose where to place a holding company and how to route payments between their companies. To the articlesTax Offences and Voluntary Disclosure
Swiss law distinguishes between tax evasion, which is sanctioned by administrative fines, and tax fraud, which is a criminal offence. The articles collected here explain that distinction, the penalty-free voluntary disclosure available once in a lifetime to taxpayers who declare undisclosed income and assets, the procedure and the tax and interest that are recovered, and the rules on administrative and mutual assistance with foreign tax authorities. They are written for individuals and companies who need to regularise their tax position in Switzerland or respond to a foreign request. To the articles