AEOI – automatic exchange of information

All information on AEOI at a glance

The automatic exchange of information (AEOI) is a standard process developed by the OECD in order to prevent tax evasion. Find out which information is exchanged, who is affected and which partner states Switzerland has drawn up an AEOI agreement with here.

Key elements of AEOI

The automatic exchange of information (AEOI) is a standard process developed by the OECD in order to prevent tax evasion. Participating countries share data with one another about taxpayers’ bank accounts and securities custody accounts. Switzerland has undertaken to take part. Consequently, PostFinance is obliged to report details of the accounts of customers whose residence for tax purposes is located abroad to the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) each year, provided that Switzerland has signed an AEOI agreement with the relevant partner state. 

    • The automatic exchange of information concerns natural persons and legal entities whose residence for tax purposes is in a country with which Switzerland has signed an agreement on the automatic exchange of information. 

    • If a customer’s tax residency is abroad, PostFinance transfers the following information to the partner states:

      • Personal data
      • Name
      • Address
      • Country of tax residency
      • Tax identification number
      • Date of birth 
      • Account information
      • Account number
      • Total gross income from dividends, interest and other revenue
      • Total gross proceeds from the disposal of assets
      • Total balance of value of the account at the end of the relevant calendar year

    • From 1 January 2017, all customers must declare their tax residency to PostFinance by means of self-certification when entering into a new business relationship or if their situation changes (e.g. change of domicile address) so that PostFinance can document this information accordingly.

    • The list of partner states with which Switzerland has signed an agreement on the automatic exchange of information is continually updated by the The link will open in a new window State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF).The link will open in a new window

  • 1. Entry of personal data

    Your personal data is pre-entered on the self-declaration form. If the data is no longer valid, please provide us with the correct data.

    2. Entry of tax residency

    Tax residency is determined based on country-specific regulations on unlimited liability for taxation. The criteria for determining unlimited liability for taxation differ from country to country. The following residency criteria are common:

    • Permanent place of residence under civil law
    • Place where vital interests are centered
    • Usual place of residence
    • Citizenship

    If a person is deemed to have unlimited liability for taxation in more than one state,  the double taxation agreement (DTA) between the two states may be applied to determine tax residency. In such cases, the so-called tie-breaker rules determine the state where a person is resident for taxation purposes. If no double taxation agreement exists between the two states to assign tax residency to one of them, a person is deemed resident in both states for the purposes of the automatic exchange of information about financial accounts.

    Please attach a copy of ID or confirmation of residence to validate the plausibility of your tax residency.

    3. Entry of tax identification number (TIN)

    The tax identification number (TIN) is a combination of numbers and letters and is used to identify the taxpayer. You will generally find your tax identification number on your tax return.

    Information about TIN:

    4. Authorized signatory

    The self-declaration must be signed by the account holder. The account holder is the contractual partner of an account and/or custody account relationship. If a collective relationship (partner relationship) exists, each partner is an account holder and must sign a separate self-declaration. In the case of minors or persons subject to a deputy, the legal representative or deputy signs the self-declaration.

  • In accordance with the AEOI Act and the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), persons obliged to provide information have the following rights:

    With regard to PostFinance

    Persons obliged to provide information can claim full legal protection in accordance with the FADP with regard to PostFinance. In other words, they can request details about the information about themselves that has been reported to the FTA as collected by PostFinance.

    If so requested, PostFinance must issue persons obliged to provide information with a copy of the report sent to the FTA. Fiscally-relevant information that has been reported to the FTA may differ from the data that has been collected. Furthermore, persons obliged to provide information may ask for incorrect data to be rectified in PostFinance’s systems. 

    With regard to the FTA

    The only right that a person obliged to provide information can assert with regard to the FTA is the right to information, under which they may request the rectification of incorrect data due to transmission errors.

    If the transmission of data results in disadvantages that the person obliged to provide information cannot reasonably be expected to accept due to insufficient constitutional guarantees, such persons shall be granted the rights set out in article 25a of the Administrative Procedure Act.

    Persons obliged to provide information are not entitled to exercise the right of access to files with regard to the FTA. Consequently, they have no right to prevent the disclosure of personal data to the FTA. In addition, the person obliged to provide information cannot verify the legality of the disclosure of information abroad or demand the prevention of unlawful disclosure or the destruction of data which has been processed without sufficient legal grounds.

    Validity in Switzerland and effects on other regulations

    The AEOI will come into effect on 1 January 2017. It replaces the international withholding tax agreements between Switzerland and Austria and Switzerland and the United Kingdom respectively, as well as the EU agreement on the taxation of savings income.