Frequently asked questions about the transparency register

A central, non-public register in which Swiss companies report which natural persons ultimately control them (beneficial owners). It is maintained by the Federal Office of Justice (FDJP).

The TJPG is the Federal Act on the Transparency of Legal Entities and the Identification of Beneficial Owners. The TJPV is the related ordinance that governs the details. You can find more in our summary of the TJPV.

The TJPG and TJPV entered into force on 1 October 2026. The transition periods for the initial report have also been running since that date.

To make money laundering, terrorist financing and the circumvention of sanctions more difficult. Switzerland is thereby aligning itself with international standards (FATF, Global Forum).

Legal entities under Swiss private law (AG, GmbH, cooperatives, investment companies), certain foreign entities with a connection to Switzerland, as well as trustees based in Switzerland. Not affected: sole proprietorships, partnerships, associations, foundations and listed companies.

Sole proprietorships and partnerships (general and limited partnerships) are not legal entities within the meaning of the TJPG and do not have to register. Associations and foundations also do not have to report themselves.

Among others: listed companies, their subsidiaries held to more than 75 per cent, occupational pension institutions and legal entities in which public bodies hold at least 75 per cent.

Yes, if there is a connection to Switzerland – such as effective management in Switzerland, real estate or a branch entered in the commercial register. Such constellations are often complex; a professional assessment is advisable.

Trustees with their registered office or residence in Switzerland – or those who administer a trust from Switzerland – must report the trust's beneficial owners (including settlor, trustee, protector, beneficiaries). Special rules apply to trusts.

The natural persons who ultimately control a company – generally from 25 per cent of the shares or votes. If no such person can be identified, the highest-ranking member of the managing body is deemed to be the beneficial owner.

For a direct holding, from at least 25 per cent of the capital or voting rights.

Control through intermediary companies: it exists when someone holds more than 50 per cent in one or more intermediary companies which in turn hold at least 25 per cent in your company.

A controlling influence without a sufficient holding – for example the right to appoint or remove the majority of the board of directors, veto rights on key decisions, or voting and shareholder agreements.

If no beneficial owner can be identified, the highest-ranking member of the managing body (in an AG usually the chair of the board of directors, in a GmbH the chair of the management) is deemed, on a subsidiary basis, to be the beneficial owner and must be reported.

If several persons coordinate their conduct in order to exercise control, their holdings are added together. For the thresholds, the jointly held interest is then decisive, not the individual share.

Since 1 October 2026, the following applies: newly incorporated companies: 1 month. Existing companies: 2 years (if all beneficial owners are listed in the commercial register) or 3–6 months (if they are not). Changes: 1 month in each case.

Companies newly incorporated from 1 October 2026 report within one month of their entry in the commercial register.

If all beneficial owners are already listed in the commercial register as shareholders or members of a body, the longer transition period of two years applies. Otherwise a shorter, staggered deadline of three to six months applies – depending on legal form and type of audit. The exact number of months is set out in Art. 51 para. 3 TJPG.

Changes to the reported information must each be updated within one month. A change in the size of a holding only has to be reported if it causes a threshold to be exceeded or fallen below.

The first change to your commercial register entry after 1 October 2026 can shorten the deadline: a one-month deadline then applies from that entry, even if you would otherwise have the two-year period. The commercial register office will point this out to you – but the responsibility remains yours.

Via the electronic platform of the Confederation (standard) or, if a commercial register transaction is pending anyway and all beneficial owners are entered there, via the commercial register office (Art. 11 TJPG). The report is free of charge. A simplified procedure is available for GmbHs and single-shareholder AGs. Voluntary and private: the detailed TJPG check · CHF 49 incl. VAT guides you through the reporting obligation, deadlines and the required information.

Yes. A GmbH with exclusively natural persons as shareholders and an AG with a single shareholder can confirm their beneficial owners in a simplified way, provided the respective conditions are met (in particular, not in liquidation).

For each beneficial owner: surname and first name, date of birth, nationality(ies) and residence, as well as the nature and extent of control (ranges 25–50 %, over 50–75 %, over 75 %). In addition, the OASI number must be clarified; if it is missing, a copy of an ID document is required.

The supporting documents for identifying the beneficial owners must be kept for ten years after the person concerned has ceased to be a beneficial owner (Art. 8 TJPG).

For electronic reporting, the company must authorise at least one person who registers and authenticates on the platform. A UID is required in order to use the platform.

No. Only authorised authorities as well as financial intermediaries and advisers have access within the scope of their due diligence obligations – not the general public.

Yes. Every query and transmission is logged and kept for two years. In the event of use that does not comply with the purpose, access can be blocked.

The OASI number is used for identification purposes and recorded in the register, but does not appear in the full extract.

The reporting obligation arises automatically under the law. An intentional violation can be punished with a fine of up to CHF 500,000. Responsibility lies with the highest-ranking member of the managing body (Art. 12 TJPG).

Responsibility lies with the highest-ranking member of the managing body (Art. 12 TJPG) – in an AG, usually the chair of the board of directors; in a GmbH, the chair of the management.

A control office at the Federal Department of Finance checks accuracy, completeness and up-to-dateness on a risk basis and by random sampling. Each legal entity is assigned to a risk category (high, medium, low).

The report is free of charge – entry, amendment, deletion and confirmation cost nothing. A register extract costs CHF 40.

Fees only apply to special services: a register extract costs 40 francs; reminders, requests and decisions are charged by time spent at 100–150 francs per hour.

No. transparenzregister.ch is an independent, private information service. You can find the official register and official information at transpareg.admin.ch.

The Express Check answers free of charge whether you are affected and which deadline roughly applies. The detailed check · CHF 49 incl. VAT goes deeper: identifying the beneficial owners, the reporting procedure and a checklist of the required details.

The Express Check is free of charge. The detailed check costs CHF 49 incl. VAT; payment is made before the questionnaire, regardless of the result.

No. All content is intended for initial guidance and does not replace legal advice. For a binding assessment, please consult a qualified professional.