Australian Tax Treaties

Swiss Convention  

CONVENTION BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND THE SWISS CONFEDERATION FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME, WITH PROTOCOL  

CHAPTER I - SCOPE OF THE CONVENTION  

ARTICLE 2   Taxes covered  

1    
This Convention shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting State and, in the case of Switzerland, on behalf of its political subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.

2    
There shall be regarded as taxes on income all taxes imposed on total income or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property, taxes on the total amounts of wages or salaries paid by enterprises, as well as taxes on capital appreciation.

3    
The existing taxes to which this Convention shall apply are in particular:

a) in Australia:
the income tax, the fringe benefits tax and resource rent taxes imposed under the federal law of Australia;
(hereinafter referred to as " Australian tax " );

b) in Switzerland:
the federal, cantonal and communal taxes on income (total income, earned income, income from capital, industrial and commercial profits, capital gains, and other items of income)
(hereinafter referred to as " Swiss tax " ).

4    
The Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed under the federal laws of Australia or the laws of Switzerland after the date of signature of the Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any substantial changes which have been made in their respective taxation laws.

5    
The Convention shall not apply to taxes withheld at source on prizes in a lottery.