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In 2018, the revenues from the direct federal tax in Switzerland rose to 22.58 billion CHF, an increase of 7.2% compared to the previous year. More than half of this came from natural persons.

Switzerland promotes through the three-pillar system with subsidized private saving measure (Pillar 3a) an income-adjusted tax reduction. Self-employed individuals can deduct up to 20% of their income, max CHF 34,128, to minimize tax burden.

The STAF introduces a special rate solution for companies that allows a special tax rate on profits from hidden reserves for five years. This rate is determined at the cantonal level and does not require deferred taxes on the balance sheet.

From 2020, the tax privileges for holding, domicile, and mixed companies will end, with transitional provisions such as the step-up to avoid over-taxation. The step-up allows the tax recognition of hidden reserves without commercial legal recording.

The AHV tax proposal eliminates the special tax status for holding and other companies from 2020 onwards. Due to this elimination, the treatment of hidden reserves and their tax-optimized depreciation until 2024 is a central point.

The Federal Court has ruled that the right to information of the board of directors according to Art. 715a OR is judicially enforceable. This decision supports boards of directors in effectively exercising their supervisory and management functions.

Basel-Stadt reduced the profit tax to 13% and with patent box deductions to up to 11%. The tax reduction applies retroactively from January 1, 2019.

The management of larger corporations is legally assigned to the board of directors, which, however, may delegate it with statutory authorization. A valid delegation requires an organizational regulation or a board of directors' resolution.

In larger corporations, the board of directors can delegate management tasks if the statutes allow this. However, non-transferable tasks remain with the board of directors.