the swiss times

the swiss times

National Council Debates Tonnage Tax

National Council Debates Tonnage Tax

Tue, May 28th 2024

The National Council will revisit the tonnage tax proposal, potentially shifting taxation for Swiss shipping companies based on ship capacity.

KEYSTONE/Christian Beutler

The National Council will discuss the flat-rate taxation of shipping companies for the second time on Tuesday. The tonnage tax allows Swiss ocean shipping companies to choose taxation based on ship capacity instead of profit or loss.

In 2016, Parliament directed the Federal Council to propose a taxation method based on loading capacity. The National Council supported the federal law in winter 2022, but the Council of States rejected it in the spring session of 2023.

The National Council must now decide. If it agrees with the Council of States, the project ends. If it maintains its stance, the Council of States will revisit the bill and could potentially end the debate.

In March, the Council of States expressed concerns about potential tax losses amid strained federal finances and questioned the proposal’s constitutionality. Based on these concerns, the National Council’s preliminary consultation committee recommended by 15 votes to 9 that the upper chamber follow the Council of States. However, a minority of the committee supports the tonnage tax, noting its use in many other countries.

Left-wing parties have consistently opposed the flat-rate tax, viewing it as an unfair advantage for a single industry. The red-green party has announced a referendum if the bill passes.

©Keystone/SDA

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