Stamp duty

Swiss stamp duties are federal transaction taxes rather than cantonal taxes. They cover, in broad terms, issuance duty on certain equity contributions, securities transfer duty on transactions involving taxable securities and qualifying securities dealers, and duty on specified insurance premiums. The detailed scope depends on the type of instrument, party status and statutory exemptions. In practice, stamp duty is important for company formations, capital increases, securities trading, restructurings and insurance arrangements. It is separate from VAT, withholding tax and income or profit taxes.