Swiss government not keen on UN tax initiative

Swiss voters will decide on June 18 on a tax reform pushed by the OECD and G20. © Keystone / Ti-press / Alessandro Crinari

Creating new UN structures on tax cooperation would be detrimental to international cooperation in this area, the Swiss government said on Friday.

The government was responding to a parliamentary question raised in relation to a UN resolutionExternal link passed at the end of December. The UN General Assembly resolution, which came at the initiative of developing countries, is aimed at improving the effectiveness and inclusiveness of international cooperation in tax matters. However, Switzerland, like the European Union and US, opposes the establishment of new bodies to govern such cooperation.

The government rejects the view expressed in the resolution that current international cooperation is not inclusive. It notes that the “BEPS” (base erosion and profit sharing) project, under the aegis of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and G20 group of countries, includes 142 member states, the majority of which are developing or emerging countries. In addition, 166 states participate in the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes.

The BEPS project aims to combat tax evasion by ensuring that profits are taxed where they are generated. Switzerland’s minimum tax reform, to be put to a popular vote on June 18, is one of its components.

+ Read more about what is at stake in the June 18 vote

The Swiss government says any expansion of the UN’s work in the area of taxation should not lead to duplication. In its view, the creation of additional bodies or instruments would take up resources that are already stretched, especially in developing countries.