Thank you for your participation in the Satisfaction Survey on Membership in the Polish-Swiss Chamber of Commerce.
We would like to encourage you to take a look at the results and comments.
If you wish to share your opinion on the membership, please contact us at swisschamber@swisschamber.pl or 22 322-76-25.
We are happy to tell you that thanks to your responses we could support Omnibus Foundation which helps talented children from families in a difficult financial situation.
On 11th April at PAP in Warsaw took place a conference during which the results of the 13th survey on investment climate in Poland were presented.
The Economic Survey was conducted in February and March 2018 by the German-Polish Chamber of Industry and Commerce in cooperation with thirteen other bilateral chambers in Poland, operating within the International Group of Chambers of Commerce: American, Austrian, Belgian, British, Canadian, Dutch, French, Irish, Italian, Portuguese, Scandinavian, Spanish and Swiss. 300 foreign capital companies operating in Poland and approx. 1400 investors in more than a dozen other European countries participated in the survey, which gives the total number of approx. 1700 respondents.
We encourage you to take a look at the survey results and press release.
Swiss companies operating in Poland do not need to prove that they are reliable and that their services or products are of good quality. Polish business partners or clients take it for granted. This is reflected in the results of the latest research ‘Swissness in Poland’ which we present on below.
The positive image of Switzerland in Poland bears a great potential. What is interesting, Polish managers running Swiss companies in Poland are usually more aware of this fact than managers at their head offices in Switzerland. It is Polish CEOs who often have to convince their superiors that it is worth underlying to a greater extent the Swiss origin of the company, products or services in marketing or corporate communication.
In order to support them with reliable data, in 2011 the Chamber commissioned for the first time a survey on the image of Switzerland in Poland. It is worth mentioning that ‘Swissness’, i.e. the perception of a country as a brand was at that time a new discipline in Switzerland launched by the University of St. Gallen. The first survey was carried out in 2006. Since then the research on the image of Switzerland and Swiss products and services has been conducted every few years. The survey is carried out in 15 countries – neighbouring countries and biggest export markets.
Poland is not (yet) on the list, that is why in Poland the research is commissioned by the Polish-Swiss Chamber of Commerce together with a number of Swiss member companies. In 2014, following a request of the Chamber additional questions concerning the image of Swiss companies in Poland where added to the survey. The reason was that there are many member companies which position themselves on the Polish market by indicating their Swiss origin and not necessarily by selling products ‘Made in Switzerland’.
The image of Switzerland is an asset from which all Swiss companies can benefit. As an example, it affects the attractiveness of companies as employers („employer branding”). Moreover, the research may provide answers to more specific questions:
– Brand recognition of a company in Poland and associations with the brand,
– Does the industry benefit from the so called ‘Swissness effect’? Is it worth underlying the Swiss origin of the company?
– How high is the ‘Swissness Premium’, i.e. how much more are clients willing to pay for a Swiss product compared to a similar product without the indication of origin?
We wish you a pleasant reading.
Switzerland is one of the richest, best developed and in recent years most innovative countries. Meanwhile, Poland in the last three decades has been catching up with developed countries in Western Europe in terms of civilization and its economy.
According to the report “Cooperation, growth, innovations. 20 years of Swiss investments in Poland”, which we commissioned Deloitte on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Polish-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, over the past 20years Polish exports to Switzerland have increased more than nine-fold and Swiss companies have made more than PLN 17,5 billion of foreign direct investments into Poland. At the moment, Swiss companies employ in Poland about 35 000 people. More and more often Polish sectors are responsible for development of the innovative technologies and solutions.
For almost 150 years, Switzerland has been among the global leaders in terms of wealth and economic development. Broad economic freedom, openness to international trade and immigration, stable and predictable laws, low taxes and responsible fiscal policy, as well as excellent dual education system are the most commonly cited sources of the country’s economic success. This Alpine country is perceived by Poles especially for its watches, jewellery, tourism and wealth. However, only few people realize that Switzerland is one of the most innovative countries around the world.
– Switzerland has been among the global leaders in terms of innovation. Also this year remains at the top of the European and global rankings and is ahead of countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, the USA, Great Britain and Germany- said Marek Szymański, President of the Polish-Swiss Chamber of Commerce.
We would like to encourage you to take a look at the attached press release and publication.
Businessinsider- Polska atrakcyjna dla szwajcarskich inwestorów. Nie jesteśmy już montownią
Polskie Radio- Szwajcarskie firmy w Polsce stawiają na innowacyjność, nie na tanią siłę roboczą
Wyborcza.biz- Szwajcarskie firmy chcą przenosić do Polski procesy z wartością dodaną
Puls Biznesu- Szwajcarzy na tropie innowacji
Bankier- Przez 20 lat eksport z Polski do Szwajcarii wzrósł ponad dziewięciokrotnie
As in the previous year, we would like to invite you to participate in a survey on economic situation and investment attractiveness of Poland.
The survey is conducted in cooperation with 12 bilateral Chambers in Poland, operating within the International Group of Chambers of Commerce (IGCC).
It is addressed mainly to foreign investors and entrepreneurs operating on the Polish market. The survey is available online only: http://konjunkturumfrage.ahk.de/umfrage/pl-polen/
You can participate in the survey until 2nd March. There are three language versions available (Polish, English and German).
In the latest copy of Swiss Export Journal you will find an article on a Swiss company Brugg Systemy Rurowe. We invite you to take a look at it (the article is in German).
VAT changes in Switzerland enter into force on 1 January 2018
Amendment will result in the obligation to register many Polish entrepreneurs for VAT purposes
From 1st January 2018, the taxation rules for the services providers on the territory of Switzerland will change. For many Polish entrepreneurs, an obligation to register for VAT purposes on the territory of Switzerland will arise from the first transaction on the territory of Switzerland.
Partial amendment to the Swiss VAT Act will introduce significant changes for the majority of foreign companies, as its aim is to limit unfavorable VAT settlement rules for Swiss entrepreneurs in compare to the foreigners.
A new definition of the tax obligation on the territory of Switzerland
From 1st January 2018, the currently known CHF 100,000 limit will no longer apply to sales generated only in Switzerland, but it will cover all sales achieved by the company. Under the new regulation, the volume of worldwide turnover is binding for the arising of a tax obligations on the territory of Switzerland.
If the company will generate a sales level of over CHF 100,000 worldwide, it will be a subject to the Swiss VAT obligation starting from the first CHF generated on the territory of Switzerland.
New VAT rates
From 1st January 2018 new, lower VAT rates will enter into force in Switzerland. The basic rate will be reduced to 7,7% instead of current 8%. The special rate for accommodation services in the current amount of 3.8% will be reduced to 3.7%. Only the reduced VAT rate of 2.5% will remain at current 2.5% level.
Legal Alert Poland
How TAAC Solutions can support you?
If your services will result in a tax obligation in Switzerland, you must
in advance register as a VAT payer in Switzerland.
TAAC Solutions cooperates with Swiss consulting companies, which provide services of a VAT tax representative in Switzerland.
If you are interested in cooperation, please do not hesitate to contact us:
aleksandra.serafin@taacsolutions.pl
Contact:
Aleksandra Serafin
Tax advisor
+48 696 423 820
aleksandra.serafin@taacsolutions.pl
TAAC Solutions Sp. z o.o. Sp.k.
Tax & Accounting Advisory
ul. Hlonda 10/81
02-972 Warsaw – Poland
T: +48 22 412 85 12
www.taacsolutions.pl
On Monday, 30th October, the Swiss International Air Lines celebrated the opening of the new flight connection Wroclaw –Zurich.
The first plane from Zurich was welcomed by a water salute at the Wroclaw airport. After the landing a press conference was held with i.a. the Ambassador of Switzerland to Poland Mr Andrej Motyl.
The celebration continued in the evening at a gala dinner in Topacz Castle organized together by the Swiss International Air Lines, Wroclaw Airport and the Polish-Swiss Chamber of Commerce.
The direct flight connection between Wroclaw and Zurich responds to the needs of Swiss companies operating in the region. In 2015 the Chamber conducted a survey among companies in order to evaluate the companies’ interest in the Wroclaw-Zurich flights. The results of the survey contributed to a great extent to the opening of the new connection.
Since 30th October the Swiss International Air Lines operates flights between Wroclaw and Zurich three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).
In an effort to prevent tax evasion and protect the integrity of tax systems, governments around the world are introducing a new reporting and information-gathering requirement for financial institutions. The Common Reporting Standard (CRS) has been designed by the OECD for the purpose of establishing the tax residency of financial institutions’ customers. These regulations were implemented in Poland by the Act of 9 March 2017 on Exchange of Tax Information with Other Countries (CRS Act).
Under the CRS Act, Polish financial institutions are required to implement due diligence and reporting procedures to identify reportable accounts and report them to Chief of the National Tax and Customs Administration. The Act also requires them to identify customers who are non-Polish tax residents and report certain information to Polish tax authorities, which may then be shared with the tax authorities where the customers are tax residents.
Additionally, clients are required to declare their countries of tax residency to Polish financial institutions and any data related to tax residency status must be updated by clients within 30 days of a change occurring. For accounts opened in 2016, the deadline for finalizing the identification procedure is 31 July 2017. Required data must be reported by 31 August 2017.
Clients subject to the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) must provide additional information for the CRS as these are different regulations with different requirements.
Next steps:
To comply with the CRS Act and provide the financial institutions with the required data, individuals should undertake the following activities:
• Establish their tax residency status based on internal law and double tax treaties
• Complete the forms and declarations required by the financial institutions
• Where necessary, provide the financial institution with a certificate of tax residency
EY tax advisors are able to provide individuals with assistance related to the CRS Act. If you have any questions or wish to discuss how this legislation may impact your organization, please contact your EY advisor.
Contacts:
Katarzyna Tomalak – Director
Tel.: +48 71 375 10 74
Email: Katarzyna.Tomalak@pl.ey.com
Eliza Skotnicka – Senior Manager
Tel.: +48 22 557 75 03
Email: Eliza.Skotnicka@pl.ey.com
Marta Dominiak-Sporna – Manager
Tel.: +48 61 856 29 28
Email: Marta.Dominiak-Sporna@pl.ey.com
We encourage you to read the summary of the results of the survey “swissstandards.pl”.
The survey was conducted among ca. 1300 clients of Franke, Stämpfli and Zehnder.
The aim of the research was to examine clients’ opinion on the cooperation with beneficiaries of the trademark swissstandards.pl as well as their expectations towards Swiss companies.
The results show that 58% of respondents believe that the Swiss origin significantly contributes to the positive perception of a company. 61% have greater expectations towards Swiss companies than those of different origin. Whereas 75% of respondents claim that Franke, Stämpfli and Zehnder fulfil these expectations. More results are available in the presentation below.
The research was also an opportunity to support the Omnibus Foundation which helps talented children from poor families. For each completed survey we donated 5 PLN to the foundation. In the end, we were able to finance a scholarship for a gifted pupil.