Switzerland has postponed CARF reporting by one year. While the law came into effect on January 1, 2026, Swiss crypto companies won't need to start collecting customer tax data until 2027. This gives the Swiss crypto industry extra time to prepare.
Law Effective: January 1, 2026
Data Collection Starts: January 1, 2027
First Data Exchange: 2028
What Changed?
While Switzerland committed to implementing the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), the Swiss Federal Council has determined that the first automatic exchange of crypto-asset information will occur no earlier than 2027, with actual data transmission to partner jurisdictions in 2028.
This represents a one-year delay compared to EU member states implementing DAC8, which will begin collecting data on January 1, 2026, with first exchanges in 2027.
What This Means for Swiss Crypto Companies
Swiss crypto exchanges, custody providers, and brokers now have an extra year to prepare for CARF reporting. This gives them more time to:
- Update their customer onboarding processes
- Collect tax residency information from users
- Set up reporting systems
- Train their teams
Even though reporting is delayed, the law is already in effect. Swiss crypto companies should start preparing now.
Comparison with Other Jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Data Collection | First Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| EU (DAC8) | January 1, 2026 | 2027 |
| United Kingdom | January 1, 2026 | 2027 |
| Japan | January 1, 2026 | 2027 |
| Switzerland | January 1, 2027 | 2028 |
| Singapore | January 1, 2027 | 2028 |
| Australia | January 1, 2027 | 2028 |
| United States | January 1, 2028 | 2029 |
Next Steps for Swiss Crypto Companies
- Understand the requirements - Learn what information you'll need to collect from customers
- Review your customer data - Check if you already have the required tax information
- Choose a compliance solution - Decide whether to build in-house or use a specialized platform
- Train your team - Make sure compliance and customer service staff understand CARF
- Watch for FINMA updates - The Swiss regulator may publish additional guidance
Sources
- OECD CARF Documentation
- Swiss State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF)
- Swiss Federal Tax Administration (ESTV)
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