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ARTICLE 23

U.S. Income Tax Treaty — Switzerland Income Tax Treaty - 1996 · 2026-10-03 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · United States

Relief from Double Taxation

  1. In the case of Switzerland, double taxation shall be avoided as follows:

a) Where a resident of Switzerland derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in the United States, Switzerland shall; subject to the provisions of subparagraphs b), c) and d) and paragraph 3, exempt such income from tax; provided, however, that such exemption shall apply to gains referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 13 (Gains) only if actual taxation of such gains in the United

States is demonstrated. Switzerland may, in calculating tax on the remaining income of that resident, apply the rate of tax which would have been applicable if the exempted income had not been so exempted.

b) Where a resident of Switzerland derives dividends which, in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 (Dividends), may be taxed in the United States, Switzerland shall allow, upon request, and subject to the provisions of subparagraph c), a relief to such resident. The relief may consist of

i) a deduction from the Swiss tax on the income of that resident of an amount equal to the tax levied in the United States in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 (Dividends); such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the Swiss tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is appropriate to the income which may be taxed in the United States; or

ii) a lump sum reduction of the Swiss tax; or iii) a partial exemption of such dividends from Swiss tax, in any case consisting at least of the deduction of the tax levied in the United States from the gross amount of the dividends. Switzerland shall determine the applicable relief and regulate the procedure in accordance with the Swiss provisions relating to the carrying out of international conventions of the Swiss Confederation for the avoidance of double taxation.

c) Where a resident of Switzerland derives income

i) described in paragraph 2 of Article 10 (Dividends) or paragraph 6 of Article 11 (Interest) which is not entitled to any reduction in U.S. withholding tax pursuant to those provisions; or

ii) which may be taxed in the United States in accordance with the provisions of Article 22 (Limitation on Benefits) Switzerland shall allow the deduction of the tax levied in the United States from the gross amount of such income.

d) Where a resident of Switzerland derives payments that may be taxed by the United States pursuant to paragraph 4 of Article 19 (Government Service and Social Security), Switzerland shall provide a relief to such resident consisting of a deduction equal to the tax levied in the United States, plus an exemption equal to one-third (1/3) of the net amount of such payment from Swiss tax.

  1. In the case of the United States, double taxation shall be avoided as follows: In accordance with the provisions and subject to the limitations of the law of the United States (as it may be amended from time to time without changing the general principle hereof), the United States shall allow to a resident or citizen of the United States as a credit against the United States tax on income the appropriate amount of tax paid to Switzerland; and, in the case of a United States company owning at least 10 percent of the voting stock of a company which is a resident of Switzerland from which it receives dividends in any taxable year, the United States shall allow as a credit against the United States tax on income the appropriate amount of tax paid to Switzerland by that company with respect to the profits out of which such dividends are paid. Such appropriate amount shall be based upon the amount of tax paid to Switzerland. For purposes of applying the United States credit in relation to tax paid to Switzerland the taxes

referred to in subparagraph 2 a) and paragraph 3 of Article 2 (Taxes Covered) shall be considered to be income taxes.

  1. Where a resident of Switzerland is also a citizen of the United States and is subject to United States income tax in respect of profits, income or gains which arise in the United States, the following rules apply:

a) Switzerland will apply paragraph 1 as if the amount of tax paid to the United States in respect of such profits, income or gains were the amount that would have been paid if the resident were not a citizen of the United States; and

b) for the purpose of computing the United States tax on such profits, income or gains, the United States shall allow as a credit against United States tax the income tax paid or accrued to Switzerland after the application of subparagraph a), provided that the credit so allowed shall not reduce the amount of the United States tax below the amount that is taken into account in applying subparagraph a); and

c) for the purpose of subparagraph b), profits, income or gains described in this paragraph shall be deemed to arise in Switzerland to the extent necessary to avoid double taxation of such income; however, the rules of this subparagraph shall not apply in determining credits against United States tax for foreign taxes other than the taxes referred to in subparagraph 2 a) and paragraph 3 of Article 2 (Taxes Covered).

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▸Contents — U.S. Income Tax Treaty — Switzerland Income Tax Treaty - 1996

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