What data is required for the report
The list of required information is not contained in a single place but is spread throughout the law and the regulation. This page compiles it: what must be obtained for each person, what is included in the type and scope of the inspection, when the chain of custody comes into play—and which special cases shorten the list.
In a nutshell
- Per person
- Four pieces of information plus a check
- Residence
- City, ZIP Code, State
- Street address
- Not in the registry
- OASI number
- To be clarified
- Without an AHV number
- Copy of the identity document
- Extent
- Three bands instead of a percentage
- Control chain
- Only in three cases
- Fallback rule
- Only person and position
Four blocks, different bases
Article 7 of the TJPG lists the categories; the ordinance provides further details. In practice, it is helpful to divide the catalog into four blocks—they are sourced from different places and used with varying frequency.
For every beneficial owner. Provided by the person themselves.
Three axes that are reported in combination. Determined based on your analysis.
Threshold range or, if verified by other means, a description.
Only in three cases. Derived from the structure, not from the person.
In addition, there is information about the reporting legal entity itself (Art. 19 TJPV) and, for foreign legal entities, additional information pursuant to Art. 23 TJPV.
The link between obtaining and reporting information is Art. 20(1) TJPV: The legal entity reports to the transparency register, for each beneficial owner, the information specified in Art. 10 as well as that specified in Arts. 12–18 TJPV. Thus, the information that must be obtained is, in principle, also reported—the exceptions are listed below.
Block 1: Personal Information
Article 10(1) of the TJPV provides an exhaustive list of the information the legal entity must obtain for each natural person:
| Detail | Note |
|---|---|
| Surnames and first names | Plural—this also includes additional first names. |
| Date of birth | Complete—not just the year. |
| Nationalities | Also plural. Dual citizenship must be listed in full. |
| Municipality, postal code and country of residence | No street, no house number. |
The AHV number and the copy of the ID
Art. 10(2) TJPV requires two things. First, the legal entity must determine whether the person has an AHV number. Second, if not, it must obtain a copy of a Swiss or foreign passport, a Swiss or foreign identity card, or a Swiss foreigner’s identity card.
The reason is set forth in Art. 59 TJPV: The authority maintaining the registry systematically uses the AHV number for identification purposes and cross-checks the reported information against the central database of individuals. If a person does not have an AHV number, they can apply for one at the Central Clearing House. As soon as the information has been verified and the number has been assigned, the copy of the identification document used for this purpose must be destroyed.
With five parties involved, it’s easy to lose track of who still owes which document. Request information in a structured manner, track responses per person, and document the steps taken.
Launch the management toolBlocks 2 and 3: Type and Scope of the Review
Article 12 of the TJPV requires a declaration for each beneficial owner based on three criteria. These are reported in combination, not as alternatives.
Does the person exercise control alone or in concert with third parties?
Do they hold it directly or through intermediaries, legal entities, or trusts?
Is control based on capital or voting rights, or on one of the circumstances set forth in Art. 3 of the TJPV?
A person may exercise control through multiple means simultaneously—for example, directly through a stake and additionally through a contractual veto right. The four categories of control must be examined individually; the TJPG does not provide for a cascading review that ends after the first match.
The scope: three bands instead of a percentage value
| Band | Meaning |
|---|---|
| At least 25% and at most 50% | Controlling minority up to half |
| Over 50% and up to 75% | Simple majority |
| More than 75% | Qualified majority |
The threshold applies to the total jointly held interest, not to the individual interest of each person.
The scope of the direct interest in the reportable legal entity must be determined—that is, the share held by the intermediary company, not the calculated share of the person behind it.
Describe how control is exercised. If it is also based on a determinable ownership interest, the threshold range must also be specified.
You can find worked-out examples under “Who is the beneficial owner?”
Block 4: control chain
This section does not apply in most cases. Art. 15(1) TJPV requires information on the chain of control only if one of three conditions is met:
- At least two intermediate levels: The chain includes at least two intermediate natural persons, legal entities, or trusts. A single holding company is therefore not sufficient.
- Trust or fiduciary relationship: The chain includes a trust or a fiduciary relationship—in which case this requirement always applies, even if there is only one intermediate level.
- Freezing Measures Measures to freeze funds have been imposed against at least one beneficial owner under the Embargo Act or the Act on Frozen Assets of Politically Exposed Persons.
What to Obtain Next
Art. 15(2) TJPV distinguishes based on the type of chain link.
| Link in the chain | To be procured |
|---|---|
| Natural person | The information under Art. 10 TJPV |
| Legal entity | The information required under Art. 11 TJPV: company name or individual name, legal form, municipality, ZIP code, and country of the registered office, as well as the UID or an equivalent foreign identification number |
| Person or legal entity acting in a fiduciary capacity | Additionally, an indication of whether the party in question is the principal or the trustee |
| Trust | Name, the law governing the trust, and the UID or an equivalent foreign identification number; the information required under Art. 10 or 11 of the Trust Act regarding the trustee and other beneficial owners, including their roles; and an indication of whether the trust is discretionary |
The last line illustrates why a trust significantly increases the administrative burden in this structure: The list expands from four items to an entire block.
Collect only what you need
The catalog is manageable once you know which blocks apply to your specific case.
- Collect only the blocks that your structure actually requires
- Collect information from stakeholders in a structured manner
- Document copies of identification documents and AHV verification
- Highlight missing information for each person
- Keep records accessible for ten years in Switzerland
Checklist before registration
Seven things to consider before submitting.
- Beneficial owners identifiedAll four verification categories checked individually, results documented with justification—even if the fallback rule applies.
- Complete personal informationlast name and first name, date of birth, nationalities, municipality, ZIP code, and country of residence for each person.
- AHV Status ClarifiedVerified for each person whether an AHV number exists; if not, a copy of identification was obtained.
- Type and scope determinedThree axes combined, threshold range assigned; if verified by other means, the nature of the activity is described.
- Chain question answeredChecked whether any of the three requirements of Art. 15 TJPV are met; if not, the information was deliberately omitted.
- Company informationcompany name, legal form, registered office, VAT ID, and the name and position of the person submitting the report.
- Documentation FiledInformation and supporting documents must be secured in such a way that they can be accessed at any time in Switzerland, with a ten-year retention period following the termination of the relevant status.
Details of your case
These points pertain to specific scenarios that affect the catalog.
Where the catalog gets shorter: Five scenarios that significantly reduce the workload.
| Constellation | Legal basis | What Is Enough |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting under the fallback rule | Section 20(2) TJPV | The information required under Art. 10 TJPV and the position within the legal entity. The nature and scope of the control are not applicable. Art. 20(3) TJPV determines who is considered the highest-ranking member; if several persons hold the position simultaneously, all must be reported pursuant to paragraph 4. |
| A stake of 25 to 75 percent in a publicly traded company | Art. 7(3) and Art. 9(2) TJPG, Art. 16 TJPV | The information required under Art. 11 TJPV regarding the listed legal entity, as well as the company name or name, registered office, and country of the stock exchange. Only this fact is reported, together with the information obtained. |
| Participation of an occupational pension fund | Art. 17 TJPV | Only the information required under Art. 11 TJPV regarding this institution. |
| Investment through a contractual investment fund | Art. 18 TJPV | Only the information regarding the fund management company as specified in Art. 11 TJPV. |
| Simplified Reporting Procedure | Articles 35 and 36 of the TJPV | A confirmation. No further information regarding the beneficial owner is required. |
Information about the reporting legal entity: What the company reports about itself—and what additional information foreign entities provide.
In addition to information about individuals, the legal entity reports information about itself. Art. 19 TJPV lists three points:
- the information specified in Art. 11 TJPV—company name or name, legal form, municipality, ZIP code, and country of the registered office, as well as the UID;
- the last name and first name, as well as the position, of the person submitting the report;
- if applicable, the fact that the legal entity does not wish to receive electronic communications.
Legal entities governed by foreign law must additionally report, pursuant to Art. 23 TJPV, which characteristics under Art. 2(1)(b) TJPG apply to them—branch office, de facto management, or real property ownership—as well as the last name, first name, and address of the representative or the address of the domicile for service in Switzerland. For more details, see the page on branch offices.
What the owners owe you: The information required under Art. 13 TJPG—including the full address.
Some of the information is not available in your records but must be obtained from the parties involved. Art. 13(1) TJPG requires shareholders and partners who, alone or jointly with third parties, hold a controlling interest to report the beneficial owner to the company.
| Detail | Difference from the registration with the registry |
|---|---|
| Surname and first name | Same |
| Date of birth | Same |
| Nationality | Same |
| Address and country of residence | The full address—only the municipality of residence is entered into the registry |
| Type and extent of control | According to Art. 25 TJPV, the same requirements apply as for the company |
The report must be filed within one month of the control arising; changes must also be reported within one month. Upon request, the owners must also submit the information and supporting documents necessary to verify their identity and status as beneficial owners (Art. 13(4) TJPG). For information already reported under the previous law, a one-month deadline applies pursuant to Article 49(2) of the TJPG.
What Happens to the Data Who has access, what is listed in the registry, and what is missing from the extract.
The registry is not public. Only the entities listed in Articles 25 through 27 of the TJPG—the supervisory authority, certain government agencies, and financial intermediaries and advisors in the course of fulfilling their due diligence obligations—have online access to it.
Pursuant to Art. 43 TJPV, the registered information, the AHV number, and the non-descript personal identification number from the central database of individuals; details regarding discrepancy reports; information transmitted by the Commercial Registry Office; and information entered ex officio, including notes and verification status.
Pursuant to Art. 46(2) TJPV, the AHV number does not appear in the full extract. The copy of the identification document used to apply for an AHV number must be destroyed pursuant to Art. 59(3) TJPV as soon as the reported personal data has been verified and the AHV number has been assigned.
Article 46 of the TJPG permits the processing of particularly sensitive personal data to the extent necessary to fulfill statutory duties. Deleted data is retained for ten years before being destroyed. The Freedom of Information Act does not apply to data from the Transparency Register that relates to natural and legal persons.
Frequently asked questions
What information do we need for each beneficial owner?
According to Article 10 of the TJPV, the last name and first name, date of birth, nationalities, as well as the municipality, ZIP code, and country of residence. In addition, information on the nature and scope of control in accordance with Articles 12 through 18 of the TJPV is required.
Do we have to report the full address?
Not to the registry. Article 10 of the TJPV requires the municipality, ZIP code, and country of residence, but not the street name and house number. The situation is different for the information that shareholders of the company are required to provide: Article 13(1) of the TJPG expressly specifies the address and country of residence.
What is the AHV number used for?
Pursuant to Article 59 of the TJPV, the registry authority systematically uses it for identification purposes and cross-checks the reported information against the central database of individuals. Pursuant to Article 46(2) of the TJPV, the AHV number does not appear in the full extract.
What happens if someone does not have an AHV number?
In that case, pursuant to Article 10(2) of the TJPV, the legal entity must obtain a copy of a Swiss or foreign passport, an identity card, or a Swiss foreigner’s identity card. The authority may apply to the Central Clearing House for an AHV number; once this has been assigned and the information verified, the copy of the identification document used for this purpose must be destroyed.
Do we have to report the exact percentage?
No. Article 13 of the TJPV defines three ranges: at least 25 percent up to a maximum of 50 percent, over 50 percent up to a maximum of 75 percent, and over 75 percent. In the case of joint control, the total jointly held stake counts; in the case of indirect control, the stake in the reportable legal entity counts.
When do we have to disclose the chain of control?
Only in three cases under Article 15 of the TJPV: if the chain includes at least two intermediaries, legal entities, or trusts; if it involves a trust or a fiduciary relationship; or if restrictive measures have been imposed against a beneficial owner. A single intermediary company does not trigger this obligation.
What changes with reporting under the substitute rule?
The list of required information is significantly shortened. In addition to the personal information specified in Article 10, Article 20(2) of the TJPV now requires only the function within the legal entity. Information regarding the nature and extent of control is no longer required because there is no control within the meaning of the threshold values.
What information are our shareholders required to provide us?
According to Article 13(1) of the TJPG, the shareholder’s last name and first name, date of birth, nationality, address, and country of residence, as well as the necessary information regarding the nature and extent of the control exercised. For the latter, Article 25 of the TJPV stipulates the same requirements as for the company itself.
Has your question been answered? Then create the disclosure checklist directly in the management tool.
Launch the management toolLegal Basis and Additional Sources
- Federal Act of September 26, 2025, on the Transparency of Legal Entities and the Identification of Beneficial Owners (TJPG, SR 955.3)
- Ordinance of June 12, 2026, on the Transparency of Legal Entities and the Identification of Beneficial Owners (TJPV, SR 955.31)
- More on this site: TJPG and GwG · Register of Beneficial Owners · Evidence and Documents · Case Studies · New Entities · Deadlines · Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: September 16, 2026.
Collect only what you need
The catalog may seem more extensive than it actually is in most cases. We determine which sections apply to your structure, collect the missing information in an organized manner, and document the fundamentals in a way that stands up to scrutiny.