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335 instead of 365 francs: Radio and television taxes for households will be cheaper from 2021. 93 percent of companies will also pay less. In addition, the SRG, regional radio stations and the SDA news agency should receive more money. The Federal Council decided that.
Voters had approved a new voting system in 2015 at the polls. The Federal Council announced an analysis of the rate model for the current year. This has already been done. The government is responding with a comprehensive package of measures. Changes to the Radio and Television Ordinance will take effect in early 2021.
The Federal Council keeps Leuthard’s word
It establishes that the radio and television tariff for households will be reduced starting next year, from today CHF 365 to CHF 335 per year. Former media minister Doris Leuthard had already announced this after the yes to radio and television law. Specifically, the Federal Council decided at that time that excess money would lead to a reduction in the levy.
That is the case now. The fee will be reduced by CHF 30 for all Swiss private households, as announced on Thursday by the Federal Council. The levy for nursing homes and nursing homes and student residences is now CHF 670 instead of CHF 730. People who receive AHV or IV supplemental benefits are still exempt from the tax.
Companies are also relieved
Media collection for companies, which brings CHF 170 million a year in the set of rates, has also been a matter of controversy since the regulation came into force in early 2019. The trade complains that it is particularly burdened by the lien, which is based on sales. Many would have high sales, but only low margins.
In addition, the applicable tariff system for companies contradicts the constitution, according to the Federal Administrative Court. The court advised the Federal Council late last year to differentiate the six-tier system.
Fewer tariff levels
He has already done that. The fee structure for the corporate lien is being refined. Instead of the previous 6, the Federal Council has defined 18 tariff levels. All companies with an annual turnover of less than CHF 500,000 remain exempt from the fee.
For about 93 percent of companies, the tax bill will decrease starting in 2021. In total, the companies will be released from CHF 53.3 million. Only large companies with sales of over 1 billion Swiss francs will be charged more.
More money for the SRG
The Federal Council also decided to increase SRG’s tax share by CHF 50 million. This allows you to partially absorb the decline in advertising revenue. The future participation of the SRG will therefore be CHF 1.25 billion. Politicians in the middle and left parties have long been calling for an increase in the tax cap.
SRG closed fiscal year 2019 with a loss of 22.2 million. The drop in advertising revenue, restructuring costs and the ceiling of the CHF 1.2 billion fee share have affected the result. The savings program was expanded in the fall.
The national Keystone-SDA news agency should also receive more support. The federal contribution will now be a maximum of CHF 4 instead of CHF 2 million per year, combined with a clearly defined performance mandate. According to the Federal Council, this should allow reaction to serious market events.
Finally, local and regional radio and television stations will also receive slightly more support starting next year. The sales share remains at 6 percent. Due to slightly higher earnings, the bottom line is that more funds are available. (SDA)
