The Council of States wants to keep flat taxes for rich foreigners in Switzerland, but MPs also want those residents to pay more.  

Voting 35 to zero, MPs gave their approval of a proposal from the Federal Council.  

The base measurement for direct federal and cantonal taxes would be seven times housing costs, instead of the current five times. That could increase the bill for wealthy foreigners paying lump-sum taxes by up to 40 percent in some cases.

The current “lump sum” policy allows wealthy foreigners living but not working here to save money by basing their tax bill on the value of their property and the amount of money they spend.

In addition, there would be a minimum tax for taxpayers earning a salary of at least 400,000 francs. 

A maximum would be set by individual cantons.

Zurich and Schaffhausen voters have already put and end to lump sum taxation, and it’s on the ballot this weekend in Lucerne and Appenzell Outer-Rhodes.

At the federal level, the issue now goes to MPs in the National Council.