Taxation of successions: the chestnut tree of Swiss tax policy

Concretely. Similarly. However, the initiative wants to tax in the federal level the successions and donations up to 50% of everything that exceeds 50 million francs. Consequently, If creativity is certainly authorized at the fiscal level, this initiative pushes all the limits far. Meanwhile,

First of all, the successions tax already exists, it is a prerogative of the cantons. Furthermore, As such, Switzerland has revenue above average compared to other OECD countries. Nevertheless, Then, our tax system taxes income and consumption, but also fortune. For example, In comparison with the OECD countries which still know the wealth tax, the Swiss rates are high. However. For example. the accumulated fortune is what is transmitted during the succession, which is why the cantons have set zero or moderate rates on direct line successions, so as not to exaggerately taxation successions: chestnut tree swiss new impose a third time which has already taxation successions: chestnut tree swiss been taxed previously twice. Similarly, Finally, the tax level proposed by the initiative is completely disproportionate.

With regard to principles, the initiative is also a UFO, since it breaks with the usual rules. Therefore, On the one hand, each taxpayer is supposed to be imposed according to its economic capacity (and moreover gradually). In addition, the tax must be universal: everyone contributes, to the extent of their possibilities. Similarly, “Franchises” are of course possible, but they can only benefit people with modest financial capacities. For example, A franchise cannot exempt 99.9% of taxpayers!

This is what the initiative does, which would only strike 2,500 taxpayers (out of 5.5 million). It would reach, beyond the franchise, a confiscatory level of 50%, trampling on the principle of financial capacity. And it would make no exceptions for people whose fortune taxation successions: chestnut tree swiss new is essentially made up of a “work tool”. namely shares of a taxation successions: chestnut tree swiss family business. On the contrary, it claims completeness and excludes any exception.
This text has sowed concern among the taxpayers concerned, and especially within medium or large family societies. Peter Spuhler, and other entrepreneurs with him, reacted. The boss of Stadler Rail said that the initiative would force him to settle abroad to avoid an invoice of 1.5 to 2 billion francs to his heirs. Pique to the heart, the president of young socialists called her as “tax criminal”. She apologized later, but she had shown her true face.

We will notice by passing the inconsistency of the subject. If we stay on the case of Stadler Rail. the objective of financed the fight against climate change goes badly with the desire to take 50% of the. company in the form of tax. taxation successions: chestnut tree swiss new To pay this charge, the company should be sold partially or completely. We would therefore put in danger. taxation successions: chestnut tree swiss for ideological reasons. in the name of the climate, the future of a firm that produces trains!

Too much tax kills the tax! This assertion is completely adequate to interpret the potential consequences of the initiative. The Federal Council. such as Professor Marius Brülhart of the University of Lausanne. however rather favorable to a development of taxation, say it: such a level of taxation would have a large part, even all of the taxpayers concerned. Hopes of new tax revenue would be showered. And. in a just as disastrous way. communities would lose the sums which these people pay each year on their income and their fortune. The estimated amount of the shortfall could amount to 3.7 billion francs. In view of these effects. the initiative taxation successions: chestnut tree swiss new can therefore bring nothing tangible in terms of climate protection. not to mention that it is a threat to the economy and taxation successions: chestnut tree swiss public finances.

This initiative uses the climate as a pretext. The real intention of its authors is only to tackle capitalism. Additionally, The attack is strong. She worried large circles, both the taxpayers, the economic associations, the cantonal tax administrations and the financial circles. To the point that even some parliamentarians of the PS. the Greens have given up supporting it or opposed it during parliamentary debates. For all these reasons, a clear rejection of this initiative in the polls is essential.

This article was published on July 14 in a special notebook devoted to the question of inheritance.