On October 1, 2026, the new Federal Act on the Transparency of Legal Entities and the Identification of Beneficial Owners (TJPG) will take effect. At the heart of the new legislation is a transparency register maintained by the Federal Office of Justice, which is not open to the public.

This applies to the majority of Swiss legal entities, in particular stock corporations, limited liability companies, and cooperatives. They must identify their beneficial owners, verify and document the relevant information with due diligence, and report it to the transparency register.

As a general rule, beneficial owners are natural persons who, directly or indirectly, control at least 25 percent of the capital or voting rights, or who otherwise exercise control over the company. The information to be reported includes, in particular, the name, date of birth, nationality, address, and country of residence, as well as details regarding the nature and extent of the control exercised. Reports are generally submitted electronically, specifically via EasyGov (www.easygov.swiss).

For existing companies, phased transition periods apply depending on their legal form and the type of audit:

• Corporations subject to a statutory audit: through December 31, 2026
• Other companies subject to a regular audit: by January 31, 2027
• Public limited companies subject to limited auditing: through February 28, 2027
• Other companies subject to limited audits or no audits: through March 31, 2027

The responsibility for timely reporting lies with the highest-ranking member of the governing body. Furthermore, a willful violation of the statutory reporting requirements may result in substantial fines.

A voluntary pilot project by the Federal Office of Justice has been underway since June 16, 2026. This allows companies to test the new reporting system even before it takes effect. Information entered during the pilot project can subsequently be transferred to the final transparency register.

Our tip: Determine early on who in your company qualifies as a beneficial owner and whether all the necessary information and supporting documents are complete. This will allow you to file the report once the registry opens without undue time pressure.

For more information on the Swiss Transparency Register, the legal requirements, and the pilot program, please visit the federal government’s official information page at: www.transpareg.admin.ch

We are happy to assist you with any questions regarding the new regulations, as well as with identifying beneficial owners or preparing and submitting the report.