Cantonal note · Wealth & non-residents — Geneva Office

Zug — the lump-sum premium for family offices, at CHF 750,000

The canton of Zug stands at the premium end of the Swiss forfait fiscal spectrum. Its cantonal floor of approximately CHF 750,000 on the taxable base is the highest in Switzerland — but it goes hand in hand with the lowest combined corporate income tax rate in the country (~11.8%) and an exceptional concentration of family offices, private equity funds and crypto-asset managers. Zug is a 30-minute train ride from Zurich, English is the daily working language, and the cantonal administration is internationally responsive. The Firm accompanies Geneva-based and Paris-based clients in their German-speaking Switzerland operations from its Geneva office.

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Analysis by Me Jonathan Bensaïd · Tax lawyer · Bensaid Avocats SA · Geneva

At a glance

Cantonal floor: CHF 750,000 taxable base (indicative)
Combined corporate income tax: ~11.8 % — lowest in Switzerland
Working language: English fluent — German official
Target profile: Wealth €500 M+, family offices, private equity
Proximity: 30 min by train from Zurich
Specificity: Crypto-asset / Web3 hub
Administration: Zug tax administration — internationally responsive

— 01 — Conviction

Zug — premium pricing, premium ecosystem.

Zug is a paradox: the highest minimum forfait in Switzerland, but coupled with the lowest combined corporate income tax rate in the country (~11.8%) and a dense ecosystem of family offices, private equity firms and crypto-asset managers. It is the canton of choice for patrimonies of €500 M and above where the lump-sum cost matters less than corporate tax optimisation downstream.

— 02 — Zug in five axes — what to know

Zug in five axes — what to know

The Firm decomposes the Zug file into five operational axes.

01 · Cantonal floor at CHF 750,000

The Zug cantonal floor stands at approximately CHF 750,000 on the taxable base — the highest in Switzerland. The price is steep, but Zug compensates through downstream optimisation: a Swiss corporate holding (holding 28a LIFD) registered in Zug benefits from the lowest combined CIT in the country, around 11.8% — versus 24% in Geneva or 21% in Vaud.

02 · Combined corporate tax rate ~11.8%

The combined federal-cantonal-communal CIT in Zug stands at ~11.8%. For a holding paying out CHF 5 M annual dividends to its lump-sum-taxed shareholder, the savings versus Geneva or Vaud can reach CHF 600,000 per year — more than enough to absorb the higher minimum forfait.

03 · Family office and private equity density

Zug hosts the densest family office concentration in Switzerland. Partners Group, Glencore, dozens of private equity firms and crypto-asset managers have their headquarters there. For taxpayers active in private equity, the Zug ecosystem offers a network rare elsewhere in Switzerland.

04 · English working language

German is the official language but English is the daily working language in the financial and corporate ecosystem. The cantonal tax administration handles English correspondence routinely. The Firm conducts Zug files in French, English or German depending on the client's preference.

05 · Crypto and Web3 specificity

Zug is the historic Swiss hub of crypto-assets and Web3 (Crypto Valley initiative since 2014). The canton has a body of practice on the tax treatment of token holdings, ICOs, DeFi yields, NFT royalties. For lump-sum-taxed taxpayers with crypto wealth, Zug is the most secure canton.

— 03 — Network & approach

Our Zug network

The Firm conducts Zug files from Geneva, with German-speaking correspondents in Zug for the operational phase. The cantonal tax administration of Zug is internationally responsive and works in English. The Firm has practice on holding 28a LIFD structures registered in Zug.

— 04 — FAQ

Zug forfait — frequently asked

Why is the Zug floor so much higher than other cantons?

Zug positions itself as a premium hub. The price is steep, but the canton compensates through the lowest combined corporate tax rate in Switzerland (~11.8%). The target profile is wealth €500 M+ with significant corporate downstream activity — typically a family office or a private equity vehicle registered in Zug.

What is the working language with the cantonal administration?

Officially German. In practice, English is the daily working language in the Zug financial and corporate ecosystem, and the cantonal tax administration handles English correspondence routinely. The Firm corresponds in French, English or German depending on client preference.

Is Zug suitable for a crypto profile?

Yes. Zug is the historic Swiss hub of crypto-assets (Crypto Valley initiative since 2014). The canton has a robust body of practice on token holdings, ICOs, DeFi yields, NFT royalties. For lump-sum-taxed taxpayers with crypto wealth, Zug is the most secure canton.

How does Zug articulate with a Geneva or Lausanne residence?

Some clients combine: lump-sum-taxed primary residence in Zug for tax optimisation, secondary residence in Geneva or Lausanne for daily life. Compatibility with the lump-sum requires careful structuring — the centre of vital interests must remain in Zug for the regime to apply. The Firm conducts the pre-ruling on this question.

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First meeting

Zug — a file to structure with the Firm

First confidential exchange in Geneva to frame your Zug project: eligibility audit, articulation with a holding 28a LIFD registered in Zug, centre-of-vital-interests pre-ruling, optimisation of the corporate-personal tax stack.