Switzerland Fact-File Part 6:
Individual Business Employment Issues
6.2 Switzerland Employment vs Self-Employment Tax Issues
The Differences Between Employment and Self-Employment
The key differences between employed persons and those who
are self-employed are to do with tax and insurance liabilities
and risk. Employees work for a company (or other individual)
and there is a legal obligation on both sides to make contributions
to social security and insurance funds; these are , however,
deducted at source by the employer and remitted to the appropriate
authorities. Employees have rights in terms of employment
contracts, notice and conditions of employment.
Self-employed individuals are responsible for their own business
strategy, expenses, tax and insurance contributions, and must
submit their tax returns and pay their own tax directly to
the Federal Tax Administration, or cantonal tax authority,
as appropriate. Self-employed individuals are also required
to make certain contributions to the social security fund
but will not be covered in the event of unemployment.
Both employees and the self-employed are entitled to allowances
for family and there is a threshold before tax is due.
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