Swiss Account Surge? Government Says, ‘Don’t Jump to Conclusions!

Image Source: Ledger Insights

The Indian government has issued a detailed clarification following widespread media reports about a dramatic surge in Indian-linked deposits in Swiss banks, which tripled to nearly ₹37,600 crore (CHF 3.54 billion) in 2024—the highest since 2021.

Key Highlights

Breakdown of Deposits:

The sharp rise is largely attributed to funds routed through Indian banks and financial institutions, not individual account holders. Direct deposits by Indian customers rose only 11% to ₹3,675 crore (CHF 346 million), just one-tenth of the total.
The rest comprises inter-bank transfers (CHF 3.02 billion), fiduciary/trust accounts (CHF 41 million), and other instruments like bonds and securities (CHF 135 million).

Government Clarification:

The Ministry of Finance emphasized that these figures do not automatically indicate illicit or undeclared “black money.” Swiss authorities have also reiterated that not all Indian assets in Switzerland are suspicious.
Such deposits span multiple categories, including individuals, banks, and corporates, and may reflect legitimate business and investment activities.

Transparency and Data Exchange:

Since 2018, India has received annual financial account data from Switzerland and over 100 other jurisdictions under the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) framework.
This data allows Indian tax authorities to match foreign assets and income with taxpayers’ filings and pursue targeted verification and enforcement actions.

Impact on Compliance:

Following government outreach and data-matching, 24,678 taxpayers reviewed their returns, and 5,483 filed belated returns for AY 2024–25, disclosing foreign assets worth ₹29,208 crore and additional foreign income of ₹1,089.88 crore.
The number of taxpayers declaring foreign assets and income rose 45% year-on-year, indicating increased awareness and compliance.

Long-Term Trends:

Despite the 2024 spike, direct Indian customer deposits in Swiss banks have declined 18% over the past decade, reflecting a broader global trend driven by tighter regulations and greater transparency.
"Assets held by Indian residents in Switzerland cannot be considered as black money," Swiss authorities have stated, affirming Switzerland’s cooperation with India in fighting tax evasion.

The Bottom Line

The government’s clarification underscores that the recent surge in Indian-linked Swiss bank deposits is driven by institutional flows, not individual stashing of illicit funds. With robust data-sharing and stricter compliance, authorities are better equipped than ever to detect and act against unreported offshore assets.

Source: Business Today, Economic Times, BusinessWorld, NDTV, SwarajyaMag.

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