At the turn of 2025, various legal changes came into force that affect both companies and private individuals. Particularly noteworthy are the stricter regulations against abusive bankruptcies, changes to VAT law and adjustments to the taxation of imputed rental value in the canton of Zurich. There are also new options for back payments into pillar 3a.

New regulations to prevent abusive bankruptcies

The amendment of various areas of law – including the Code of Obligations (CO), the Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Act (DEBA) and the Criminal Code (CC) – is intended to make unauthorized company liquidations more difficult and strengthen fair competition. Important changes include

• The sale of over-indebted, no longer active companies without realizable assets is null and void.
• In future, opting out of the audit obligation will only be possible for future financial years.
• The Swiss Federal Commercial Register Office (EHRA) now checks whether a prohibition of activity is incompatible with a person entered in the commercial register.
• The public people search via zefix.ch is expanded.
• As of January 1, 2025, all provisions of the Articles of Association that contradict the new company law will automatically cease to apply.

Partial revision of value added tax (VAT)

The partial revision of the VAT Act will also come into force on January 1, 2025. Some key changes:

• Platform taxation: Online platforms are treated as taxable service providers, even if they are not sellers themselves.
• Annual invoicing: Companies with a turnover of up to approx. CHF 5 million can now invoice VAT annually, but must pay invoices on account.
• Balance and flat-rate tax rates: Various adjustments have been made, which can be viewed directly at the tax administration.

Higher imputed rental values in the canton of Zurich

Due to increased market prices and new court rulings, the tax valuations of properties are being adjusted. The imputed rental value may not be less than 60 % of the market rent, while property tax takes into account at least 70 % of the market value. This leads to higher tax burdens for homeowners.

Subsequent purchase into pillar 3a

From 2025, missed contributions to pillar 3a can be paid in retrospectively. The prerequisite for this is that income subject to AHV contributions was earned in both years concerned and the regular contributions have already been paid in full.

Sustainability obligations for SMEs

New legal requirements oblige larger companies to report on sustainability, similar to the regulations in the EU. Companies with at least two of the following criteria are directly affected:

• CHF 25 million Balance sheet total
• CHF 50 million turnover
• 250 employees

Further changes from 2025

• Duty-free allowance: reduction from CHF 300 to CHF 150.
• Increase in child and education allowances: Child allowances rise to CHF 215 per month, education allowances to CHF 268.
• AHV/IV adjustment: pensions will be increased by 2.9 %.
• Maximum pillar 3a contributions: increase to CHF 7,258 (for self-employed persons up to CHF 36,288).
• Taxation of life annuities: introduction of a more flexible taxation system.

These changes affect numerous companies and private individuals and require early adaptation to the new framework conditions.