Media information
2013 budget with deficit of 400 million
27.06.2012 - Today, the Federal Council materially approved the 2013 budget and the 2014-2016 financial plan. With receipts of 64.5 billion and expenditure of 64.9 billion, the budget shows a deficit of approximately 400 million. The debt brake would permit a higher deficit, resulting in a structural surplus of just over 100 million. The financial plan is more or less balanced from a structural perspective. This improved outlook is due primarily to the Federal Council's resolution not to raise the expenditure ceiling of the armed forces until 2015 (instead of 2014) and to raise it to 4.7 billion rather than 5 billion. Nevertheless, the financial situation from 2014 onwards remains strained. The Federal Council thus wishes to adopt a collective dispatch with abandonment and reform measures that should structurally ease the burden on the budget. More...
New publication on national fiscal equalization
08.05.2012 - The new publication entitled "National fiscal equalization ? strengthening federalism" has been published today. The brochure issued by the Federal Finance Administration (FFA) shows how national fiscal equalization works, explains the various components and analyses the effectiveness of the system during its first few years of existence. More...
Publication of state financial statements for 2011
03.04.2012 - As of today, the state financial statements for 2011 have been posted in electronic format on the website of the Federal Finance Administration (FFA). The hard copy will be released on 23 April 2012. More...
Swiss public finances 2010-2013: Short-term trend marked by impending economic downturn
29.02.2012 - The financial and economic crisis once more left its mark on the accounting results of the public budgets in 2010. However, the general government sector again avoided posting a deficit thanks to the high surpluses of the pre-crisis years. The general government results improved once more in 2011, although this trend will change in 2012 as the economy loses steam. Consequently, the steady decline seen in the gross debt ratio up to 2011 will be halted. More...
Federal Council takes note of the legal opinion to clarify supervision of the SNB
22.02.2012 - At its meeting today, the Federal Council took note of the legal opinion of Professor Paul Richli to clarify supervision of the Swiss National Bank (SNB). The legal opinion contains a comprehensive picture of the current supervisory regime of the SNB and the constitutional room for manoeuvre in terms of possible amendments. More...
Only slight increase in Swiss tax burden in 2010
29.11.2011 - The tax-to-GDP ratio of the Swiss government units will probably amount to 29.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2010. With an uptick of 0.1 percentage points relative to 2009, it thus remained relatively stable. The slight increase was due to the growth in tax receipts seen by the cantons and communes. By international standards, Switzerland's tax-to-GDP ratio remains significantly lower than the OECD average of 33.7%. More...
New agreement on the distribution of the SNB profit
21.11.2011 - The Swiss Federal Department of Finance (FDF) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) have concluded a new agreement on the distribution of the SNB?s profit. The agreement will cover the financial years 2011 to 2015. Henceforth, and on condition that the distribution reserve is positive, the SNB will make an annual distribution payment of CHF 1 billion to the Confederation and the cantons. It remains unclear when the next distribution payment will take place, since this will depend on future developments in the financial markets. More...
Publication of "Public finances 2011" (last modification, the 10.10.2011)
03.10.2011 - Publication of "Public finances 2011" More...
Swiss public finances 2009-2013: varying trends after the crisis
30.08.2011 - After falls in the 2009 and 2010 accounting results, varying developments lie ahead for public budget finances. The Confederation sector (including separate accounts) will show deficits from 2012; in contrast the financial statements of the cantons and the communes will remain stable. From 2011, even social insurance will fare considerably better. The gross debt ratio will continue to decline in all sectors. More...
Auctions of Swiss Confederation bonds to end at 11 a.m.
05.07.2011 - Auctions will now take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The subscription period will thus end one hour earlier. The new rule will be introduced with the issue scheduled for 13 July 2011. As previously, the auctions will be conducted via the Eurex Zurich Ltd electronic trading platform. More...
