Jurisdictions · Compare
Switzerland vs UK Family Office: Rules and Tax (2026)
Our view
Neither country has a family office licence or a wealth minimum. Switzerland's Financial Institutions Act does not cover managing only the assets of people with family or business ties. In the UK, the FCA says activities wholly within a group of companies need no authorisation; services to individual family members need their own check. The UK charges 25% corporation tax above GBP 250,000, a top income tax rate of 45% and 40% inheritance tax above GBP 325,000. Switzerland's federal top income tax rate is 11.5%, plus cantonal and communal income and wealth taxes; inheritance tax is cantonal only. The UK fits families arriving after 10 consecutive tax years abroad, with 4 years of relief on foreign income and gains; Switzerland, families who accept cantonal taxes and cantonal residence decisions.
Key differences
- Licence: none in Switzerland for an office managing only the assets of people with family or business ties, against none in the UK, where FCA authorisation is needed only for regulated activities without an exclusion such as the group exclusion.
- Corporate tax: 8.5% federal profit tax plus cantonal and communal profit tax averaging just under 9% in 2026 in Switzerland, against 25% above GBP 250,000 in the UK, on all profits for a close investment-holding company.
- Personal tax: a federal top rate of 11.5% plus cantonal and communal income and wealth taxes in Switzerland, against a 45% top rate and up to 39.35% on dividends in the UK.
- Newcomers: lump-sum taxation for foreign nationals who do not work in Switzerland, on a federal minimum base of CHF 435,000 in 2026 and not in Zurich, against 4 years of relief on foreign income and gains after 10 consecutive tax years abroad in the UK.
- Inheritance tax: cantonal only in Switzerland, with none in Obwalden and Schwyz and spouses and descendants exempt in most cantons, against 40% above GBP 325,000 in the UK, on worldwide assets for residents of 10 of the last 20 tax years.
- Residence: no investor visa found in Switzerland, where the canton decides and Zurich expects about CHF 1 million in tax a year, against no investor visa in the UK since February 2022.
Side by side
| Topic | Switzerland | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | No licence: FinIA excludes managing solely assets of people with family or business ties | No licence; FCA authorisation only for regulated activities without an exclusion |
| Minimum wealth | No wealth minimum in the FinIA exemption; it turns only on family or business ties | No wealth minimum in the FCA group exclusion or company rules; no family office regime |
| Who counts as family | Relatives in the direct line and to the 4th collateral degree, spouses, partners, co-heirs | No legal definition; FCA group exclusion covers companies in the same group |
| Serving several families | FINMA portfolio manager licence plus supervision by a supervisory organisation | FCA authorisation to manage, advise or arrange deals for other families, unless excluded |
| Law and courts | Swiss federal law and FINMA; taxes at federal, cantonal and communal level | Separate succession law in England and Wales and in Scotland; FSMA and FCA UK-wide |
| Substance | No rule found for single family offices; licensed managers need Swiss domicile | No family office rule; a company needs a director, a shareholder and an official address |
| Holding vehicles | AG, GmbH, foundations; no Swiss trust, foreign trusts recognised (Hague) | Private company, LLP, limited partnership; trusts, with HMRC registration rules |
| Corporate tax | Federal 8.5% of net profit plus cantonal and communal tax (average just under 9%, 2026) | 25% above GBP 250,000, 19% up to GBP 50,000 (FY 2026); close investment-holding: 25% |
| Family office tax | No family office tax regime found; participation deduction for stakes of at least 10% | No family office regime found |
| Personal income tax | Federal top rate 11.5% (2026) plus cantonal and communal tax; lump-sum option, not Zurich | 45% top rate; dividends up to 39.35%; 4-year foreign income relief after 10 years abroad |
| Inheritance tax | Cantonal only, none in Obwalden and Schwyz; spouses and descendants exempt in most cantons | 40% above GBP 325,000; worldwide assets for residents of 10 of the last 20 years |
| Wills and succession | Spouse or partner and descendants get half their intestate share as a protected portion | England and Wales: 1975 Act claims by family and dependants; Scotland: legal rights |
| Residence | No investor visa found; cantonal tax route (Zurich: about CHF 1 million tax a year) | No investor visa since February 2022; Innovator Founder has no minimum investment |
| Time to set up | No official figure found | Company usually registered online within 24 hours |
| Official fees | CHF 420 to register an AG or GmbH, CHF 210 a foundation; no family office licence fee | GBP 100 online incorporation; GBP 50 confirmation statement every 12 months |
