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AUDIT INDUSTRY, SERVICES, INSTITUTIONS Start-ups: The flexible way to success

The number of start-ups continues to rise. When it comes to innovation, Switzerland is a world leader thanks to its renowned universities. The entire innovation process, from the initial idea through to the launch of a marketable product or service, is often a rocky road on which hurdles from the most diverse subject areas have to be overcome. With Grant Thornton as your start-up partner, you benefit from our valuable experience and expertise from day one.

22 Dec 2021

TAX Transfer pricing – comprehensive policy paper of the tax administration

Transfer prices must comply with the arm’s length principle, according to which transactions between affiliated companies should follow the same conditions that would be agreed between third parties. The Swiss legislator has not enacted any specific laws on transfer pricing. However, the arm’s length principle is implemented on the basis of various provisions in tax laws.

| 1 min read | 03 Oct 2024

Regulatory & Compliance FINMA brings new FinSA circular into force - Overview of the most important changes

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has finalised and published the circular on rules of conduct under the Financial Services Act (FinSA). This will enter into force on 1 January 2025 and aims to create uniform standards for the provision of information and support to clients in the financial services sector. There is a transitional period until 30 June 2025 for the implementation of certain requirements. The circular was discussed intensively during the consultation and criticised by industry representatives. FINMA has taken up various points from the consultation and amended them in the final version but has retained all the essential core content of the draft.

Dr. Fabian Schmid

| 7 min read | 03 Dec 2024

Press release Grant Thornton multinational platform to expand to include Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Channel Islands

Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (Grant Thornton Advisors) today announced agreements to expand the multinational platform it formed in January with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform will now include Grant Thornton Switzerland/Liechtenstein and Grant Thornton in the Channel Islands (known as Grant Thornton Limited, Channel Islands).

Less than a minute | 17 Jun 2025

Advisory IT & Digitalisation SAP Consulting & Project Management

SAP transformations can be complex, risky and often present unexpected challenges for organisations. A lack of strategy, limited resources, dependence on implementation partners and unclear architecture decisions often lead to delays and risks.

Christopher Oehri

| 3 min read | 13 Jun 2025

Regulatory & Compliance Financial Services Sanctions and Embargoes – FINMA Specifies Requirements for Swiss Financial Intermediaries

Sanction and embargo regulations have gained massive relevance in recent years – both from a regulatory and operational perspective. Global crises, secondary sanction risks and geopolitically motivated restrictions are increasingly affecting Swiss financial intermediaries. While the legal situation is continuously evolving, regulatory authorities are raising their expectations for active management of sanction-related risks.

Mathias Müller

| 4 min read | 28 May 2025

Regulatory & Compliance Financial Services New FinSA circular - an overview of the most important challenges

The FINMA circular on conduct obligations under the Financial Services Act (FinSA) came into force on 1 January 2025, in some cases with a transitional period until 30 June 2025. There is room for interpretation and uncertainty regarding the implementation of many of the provisions of the new circular. We summarise the most important challenges.

Anael Rosalen

| 7 min read | 03 Apr 2025

Mergers & Acquisitions Financial Due Diligence: An essential step in the M&A process

Have you ever considered what lies beneath the surface of a company’s financial performance and what is the real story behind the figures?

| 7 min read | 26 Mar 2025

Regulatory & Compliance The Federal Council wants to ratify the Council of Europe's AI Convention What challenges will the financial sector face?

The Federal Council wants to ratify the Council of Europe's AI Convention What challenges will the financial sector face?

Dr. Fabian Schmid

| 6 min read | 24 Mar 2025

Regulatory & Compliance Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation - Need for action for Swiss financial intermediaries

he EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) has been fully applicable since 30 December 2024. The new legal framework standardises the EU market rules in the area of crypto assets and thus strengthens market and financial stability as well as investor protection.

Philippe Weyermann

| 5 min read | 13 Mar 2025

Regulatory & Compliance Private markets: regulatory requirements and opportunities following the in-troduction of the L-QIF

Investitionen in Private Markets haben in den letzten Jahren auch in der Schweiz stark an Bedeutung gewonnen. Der regulatorische Rahmen sollte mit dieser Entwicklung Schritt halten.

Dr. Fabian Schmid

| 7 min read | 07 Mar 2025

Risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence in the financial market - and how these can be identified, limited and controlled

Regulatory & Compliance Risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence in the financial market - and how these can be identified, limited and controlled

After the AI Act came into force in the EU in August last year, AI regulation in Switzerland is now also becoming more concrete.

| 5 min read | 17 Feb 2025

Tax Waivers of claims by shareholders: The accounting treatment is decisive for the exemption from Swiss corporate income tax.

The accounting treatment of waiver income is crucial for determining its exemption from Swiss corporate income tax. Recently, the Swiss federal tax authorities issued a new circular letter (number 32a) addressing the financial restructuring of corporations and cooperatives. According to this guidance, waiver income from shareholders that is directly recorded in the company’s equity should always be exempt from Swiss corporate income tax.

Michael Tobler

| 1 min read | 05 Feb 2025

Tax Tax-recognized interest rates for advances or loans 2025

Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) annually publishes recognized interest rates applicable for tax assessments of advances and loans in Swiss francs and in foreign currencies.

| 2 min read | 30 Jan 2025

TAX VAT Health Check - Ensuring Compliance and Optimizing Processes

A VAT Health Check ensures that a company’s value-added tax obligations are correctly fulfilled and associated compliance risks are minimized. The analysis identifies potential weaknesses in VAT processes and classifications, offering opportunities to optimize and reduce risks while achieving more efficient tax management.

Dr. Matthias Hofer

| 1 min read | 14 Jan 2025

Tax Double taxation agreement between Switzerland and India: Suspension of the most-favoured-nation clause

Switzerland suspends the application of the most-favoured-nation clause based on a protocol to the tax treaty between Switzerland and India. Dividend distributions from Switzerland to India until December 31, 2024, will still benefit from this clause.

Michael Tobler

| 1 min read | 16 Dec 2024

Regulatory & Compliance FINMA brings new FinSA circular into force - Overview of the most important changes

Dr. Fabian Schmid

| 7 min read | 03 Dec 2024

Regulatory & Compliance Sanctions/embargoes on FINMA’s risk monitor – a compliance challenge for financial institutions

Sanctions and embargoes pose major challenges for financial institutions. National and international regulations require complex review processes, while violations harbour legal, financial and reputational risks.

Mathias Müller

| 5 min read | 27 Nov 2024

Tax Geneva Citizens approved the reform of personal income taxation in Geneva

Geneva Citizens approved the reform of personal income taxation in Geneva.

| Less than a minute | 25 Nov 2024

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