In a referendum, Switzerland approved a 15 percent tax for large multinationals

Switzerland will establish a minimum tax rate of 15% for large multinational companies, subject to a favorable result achieved in a referendum proposed by the government enable the country to comply with the rules Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The measure was approved by about 80% of voterswhich will enable Switzerland to apply the reform of taxation of multinational companies adopted by the OECD and the G20 after the financial crisis in 2008 and which foresees a minimum rate of 15% on used by a group whose business figures exceed 750 million euros.

This category includes a hundred Swiss companies and thousands of branches of foreign groups.

This reform was crucial because otherwise unpaid taxes could be claimed by the countries where the companies involved are headquartered, according to the government, which urged citizens to vote in favor to prevent money leaving the country.

It is estimated that the income from the supplementary tax will range between 1,000 and 2,500 million euros in the first year, which will be divided among the Swiss cantons where the tax is lower than what is established today, which will receive 75%; and the central government (25%).

The left, trade unions and some non-governmental organizations believe that this project is unequal because the additional income will go to cantons that are considered rich and to a large number of multinational companies, such as Basel-City and Zug.