Regulation Switzerland
Swiss transparency register: reporting beneficial owners
Updated: · Leutrim Miftaraj, FLIORE · Editorial standards · Other languages: Deutsch · Français · Español
Short answer
Since 1 October 2026 the Federal Act on the Transparency of Legal Entities (TJPG/LTPM) has been in force and the Swiss transparency register has been in operation. Reporting entities – in particular companies limited by shares, limited liability companies and cooperatives – register once and report every change in their beneficial owners. The register is not public. Transitional periods for existing entities have been running since entry into force.
What it is about
Until now, beneficial owners in Switzerland were mainly recorded in a decentralised way – by the company itself and by financial intermediaries such as banks. The TJPG brings this information together in a central register kept by the Federal Office of Justice. A control body checks completeness and accuracy on a risk-based basis. With this step Switzerland aligns its system with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
For families with Swiss holding companies, the register does not replace any existing obligation. It adds one: the same beneficial owners that banks already ask for in their forms must now also be reported to a federal register, and kept current there.
Who must report
The exact scope, exemptions and simplifications are set out in the TJPG and its implementing ordinance.
- Companies limited by shares (AG/SA), limited liability companies (GmbH/Sàrl) and cooperatives under Swiss law.
- Foreign legal entities with a branch entered in the commercial register, effective management in Switzerland or real estate in Switzerland.
- If no beneficial owner can be identified, the most senior member of the managing body is deemed to be the beneficial owner.
Reporting and deadlines
- Identify the beneficial owners and verify their identity.
- Document the information and the supporting evidence.
- Register the entity via EasyGov and report the beneficial owners – registration is free of charge.
- Observe the transitional periods for existing entities (Art. 51 and 53 TJPG); they have been running since 1 October 2026.
- Report every later change, such as transfers of shares, new controlling persons or changes of address.
What this means for family offices
Family holding companies and family office companies take on an additional, ongoing reporting duty. Anyone who already keeps the information per entity in a structured form – persons, role, share, period of validity, evidence – can serve the register, the banks (Forms A and K) and their own reviews from the same source. A dated history is essential: who was a beneficial owner, and when?
In practice the main risk is not the first registration but drift over time. A share transfer within the family, a new board member or a change of residence is easily recorded at the bank and forgotten at the register. A single list of events that trigger a review – applied to every entity – keeps both in step.
What FLIORE provides
In FLIORE every relationship between a person and a structure is a dated entry with role and share; earlier states remain available as history. Addresses, nationality and identity documents are kept once per person and apply across all mandates. This creates the basis for every filing without capturing the same information several times.
At a glance
| Legal basis | Federal Act on the Transparency of Legal Entities and the Identification of Beneficial Owners (TJPG/LTPM) |
|---|---|
| In force | 1 October 2026; register in operation since that day |
| Nature | Central register, not public, kept by the Federal Office of Justice |
| Filing channel | EasyGov, free of charge |
Terms on this page
- Beneficial owner
- The natural person who ultimately owns or controls a company, foundation or trust, or on whose behalf a transaction is carried out.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Swiss transparency register public?
No. Access is limited to the control body, certain authorities and financial intermediaries for the performance of their statutory duties.
Does the register replace the banks' own checks?
No. Financial intermediaries remain responsible for their own due diligence; the register is an additional source.
By when must an existing company report?
The transitional periods for existing entities follow Art. 51 and 53 TJPG and have been running since 1 October 2026. The act, the ordinance and the guidance on EasyGov are authoritative.
How does it differ from the German transparency register?
Both record beneficial owners centrally. The German register has existed since 2017 and has been a full register since 2021; public access was restricted after a judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2022. The Swiss register has been non-public from the start.
Does a family foundation have to register?
The TJPG defines which legal entities are covered. Regardless of the register, Swiss banks require the information on foundations through Form S, so the beneficial owners must be documented either way.
Sources
- Federal Office of Justice – press release of 1 October 2026: transparency register starts operation
- EasyGov – Swiss transparency register
- Fedlex – Classified Compilation of Federal Legislation (TJPG)
This page provides orientation and does not replace legal or tax advice. The cited legal sources in their applicable version are authoritative.
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