Is there a capital gains tax regime in Switzerland?
A. Private gains on the disposal of movable assets (i.e. stocks, bonds) are not taxed for income tax purposes. In lieu of this exemption, Switzerland imposes a wealth tax on an individual’s net wealth. It should be noted that there are specific rules that apply to those individuals who frequently trade shares and advice should be obtained as appropriate. Salaried employees exercising certain types of activity in the field of finance (i.e. trader, broker, analyst, economist, etc.) could be considered as acting on a professional basis and could, therefore, be liable for capital gains on their operations. Private gains arising from the disposal of immovable assets (i.e. real estate) in Switzerland are subject to a separate capital gains tax. Private gains realized on the sale of real estate located in Switzerland are subject to a cantonal/communal capital gain tax. All cantons levy this tax at various levels, but there is no federal tax. The tax is based on the amount of gain and on the p
