Geneva proposed cutting its corporate tax rate as the Swiss canton that’s home to almost 1,000 multinationals bids to increase its allure in the face of European Union pressure to scrap preferential fiscal deals for foreign companies, Bloomberg reported. Geneva plans to cut its tax rate to 13.49% from 24.2%, the cantonal government said in statement on Tuesday. For an interim period of five years, the rate would be a slightly higher 13.79%, it said. While that’s above the average 11.6% preferential rate currently offered to many foreign firms, the new regime will improve the Swiss city’s competitive position, according to a Credit Suisse Group AG study published in February. The Swiss canton wants to boost its appeal amid headwinds from the strong franc, concern over immigration quotas and the demise of banking secrecy. Multinationals from Procter & Gamble Co. to commodity trader Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. account for 76,000 jobs and 40% of Geneva’s economy.
