k-flash post

Thomas Krause

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas Krause is employed at eOperations Switzerland Ltd, serving as Product Manager NEST - a leading provider of business solutions for tax administrations in German-speaking Switzerland - while also heading the office of the Digital Tax Association (VDS). He studied business with a focus on taxation and auditing in Germany. After graduation he gained hands-on experience in Switzerland—working, among others, for Ringler Informatik Ltd (e-Tax complete solutions), the Zurich Cantonal Tax Office and Kendris Ltd.
Do US authorities have access to Swiss tax data?

by Thomas Krause | Nov 26, 2025 | Information Technology/AI

k-flash audio commentDo US authorities have access to Swiss tax data?
k-flash audio commentDo US authorities have access to Swiss tax data?

The case

According to privatim, the conference of Swiss data protection officers, outsourcing particularly sensitive or confidential personal data, such as tax details or medical information, to cloud services operated by international providers is generally not permitted.

Source: Datenschutz Schweiz aktuell 

The commentary

Swiss authorities have virtually no way of verifying whether global cloud providers actually comply with contractually agreed data protection and security requirements, which leads to a significant loss of control.

Furthermore, under the US CLOUD Act, American providers can be compelled to hand over customer data to US authorities, even if the data is stored in Switzerland and even without international mutual legal assistance procedures.

For this reason, privatim states that authorities may use such Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions only if they encrypt sensitive data themselves and ensure that the cloud provider has no access to the encryption keys.

This publication has been prepared solely for information purposes and is does not constitute a recommendation, a solicitation, or an offer. The information on which this publication is based has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable and in good faith, but we have not independently verified such information and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to its accuracy. All expressions of opinion are made as of the date of publication and may be subject to change without notice. k-flash and all related affiliates accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for any consequential loss of any kind arising out of the use of this publication or any part of its contents. The use of this publication should not be regarded as a substitute for the exercise by the recipient of his or her own judgment. This publication is not directed to any person in any jurisdictions that prohibit such publication.
Click to rate this post!
[Total: 0 Average: 0]

RECENT POSTS

The Rise of Small Watch Brands

Sep 12, 2026 |

The Case: Small watch brands have been attracting attention by means of creativity and originality. For large luxury brands the challenge is to attract younger customers while still maintaining their exclusive image. The Commentary: While the Swiss watch industry has been selling fewer watches overall, small independent brands are becoming…

Autumn Session 2026

Sep 11, 2026 |

The Case: The focus is on EU relations, defence, and financial regulation — three major political projects. The Commentary: The Bilaterals III package with the EU, Mercosur, defence spending, and banking reform are set to fuel political debate.

Committee Backs Tighter Lex Koller Rules

Sep 11, 2026 |

The Case: The Committee (WAK-N) has considered Motion 24.3961, “Strengthening the Lex Koller,” submitted by National Councilor Thomas Aeschi. With 14 votes to 8, with 1 abstention, it recommends that the Federal Council approve the motion’s main proposal (point 1). The Commentary: The proposal seeks to reverse previous relaxations of…

Search

TRANSLATE

Newsletter

Register Now

Related Posts

The Quantum Threat to Modern Encryption

Jul 15, 2026 |

The Case: Future quantum computers may be able to crack the encryption that currently protects passwords, bank accounts and private communications. The Commentary: Data encrypted today could be stored by hackers and decrypted in the future once quantum technology becomes powerful enough.

The AI Elite vs. Magnifica Humanitas

Jul 13, 2026 |

The Case: This thought-provoking book brings together the people shaping the future of artificial intelligence. The pioneering scientists who laid its foundations, the researchers and engineers driving today’s breakthroughs, the leaders behind OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Microsoft, Nvidia, Meta, Anthropic, SpaceXAI, Amazon and Oracle, the investors pouring billions into the AI…

Apology for Duplicate K-Flash Publications

Jul 6, 2026 |

The Case: What will we remember about 2024? The Commentary: Through a selection of photos from the Swiss media, the exhibition “Swiss Press Photo 25” reveals the prizewinning images from the competition of the same name that celebrates the best of Swiss photojournalism every year.

Categories