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Liechtenstein
Overview
Last reviewed - 01 April 2024Liechtenstein is a doubly-landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. The small, alpine country of approximately 40,000 people is divided into 11 communes. Its capital is Vaduz, and the official language is German. Liechtenstein has a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The country uses the Swiss franc (CHF) as its national currency.
Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since 1995, Liechtenstein is also a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and therefore closely associated to the European Union (EU) single market.
Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's attractive financial, legal, and talent environment has spurred outstanding economic growth. Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialised, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and the highest per capita income in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small businesses.
PwC has a permanent office in Liechtenstein providing tax services. In addition, PwC Liechtenstein provides assurance and consulting services.
Quick rates and dates
| Corporate income tax (CIT) rates | |
|---|---|
| Headline CIT rate (%) |
12.5 |
| Corporate income tax (CIT) due dates | |
|---|---|
| CIT return due date |
1 July (extension is possible) |
| CIT final payment due date |
Within 30 days of receipt of the assessment. |
| CIT estimated payment due dates |
Normally, no CIT estimated payments are due. Exception: if the filing date is extended beyond 30 June, a provisional invoice based on the last assessment will be delivered. |
| Personal income tax (PIT) rates | |
|---|---|
| Headline PIT rate (%) |
22.4 |
| Personal income tax (PIT) due dates | |
|---|---|
| PIT return due date |
Mid to end of April |
| PIT final payment due date |
Final tax payments are due within 30 days after having received the final tax assessment by the tax authorities. |
| PIT estimated payment due dates |
NP |
| Value-added tax (VAT) rates | |
|---|---|
| Standard VAT rate (%) |
8.1 |
| Withholding tax (WHT) rates | |
|---|---|
| WHT rates (%) (Dividends/Interest/Royalties) |
NA |
| Capital gains tax (CGT) rates | |
|---|---|
| Headline corporate capital gains tax rate (%) |
Capital gains derived from the sale of shares are tax-exempt. Capital gains from the sale of real estate are subject to a separately assessed real estate profit tax of up to 24%. |
| Headline individual capital gains tax rate (%) |
Capital gains derived from the sale of shares are tax-exempt. Capital gains from the sale of real estate are subject to a separately assessed real estate profit tax of up to 24%. |
| Net wealth/worth tax rates | |
|---|---|
| Headline net wealth/worth tax rate (%) |
The wealth tax is included in the income tax by including a deemed interest on the net wealth which is added to the taxable basis. |
| Inheritance and gift tax rates | |
|---|---|
| Headline inheritance tax rate (%) |
NA |
| Headline gift tax rate (%) |
NA |
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