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  • in reply to: Dividend ETFs #17022
    Jerome
    Keymaster

      Voilà ci-dessous la réponse de Postfinance par rapport à ma question sur le règlement de dépôt relatif aux valeurs étrangères… ça fait réfléchir, même si j’ai des doutes que le scénario exposé ci-dessous s’applique un jour à des valeurs américaines. Par contre cela signifierait quand même que les titres US sont traités selon la loi américaine en cas de faillite, et il ne me semble pas que dans ce pays les titres sont la propriété de déposant, comme en Suisse. Je vais me faire confirmer cela par Postfinance et leur demander du coup avec quel(s) intermédiaire(s) américains ils traitent. C’est quand même incroyable, on croit placer notre argent en Suisse et en fait il est à l’étranger, soumis à des lois différentes, et on ne sait même pas chez qui… je trouve cela lamentable et cela prouve bien que le milieu financier malgré tout ce qui s’est passé se fout toujours éperdument de ses clients… A noter que cette règle n’est pas propre à Postfinance. La BCV avec qui ils collaborent mais aussi la Banque Migros et Strateo appliquent cette règle. Je pense que s’il l’on fouille un peu, toutes les banques du pays font de même…

      « En cas de faillite d’un sous-dépositaire (« un intermédiaire »), la banque va faire valoir son droit à la restitution des titres pour le client auprès de l’administration de liquidation de la banque en faillite. Pour expliquer la signification de l’art. 1.4, il me paraît judicieux de faire une démonstration à l’aide d’un cas illustratif : Cette disposition vise par exemple le cas où le client a acheté des actions d’une société brésilienne (à titre d’exemple) et les détient dans son dépôt. Soudainement, les autorités brésiliennes décident (changement réglementaire) de ne plus autoriser la sortie des actions de ses sociétés nationales (ce qui est hors du pouvoir de la BCV et de son sous-dépositaire auquel elle a dû recourir pour le dépôt des titres brésiliens puisque la BCV ne peut les garder elle-même ). Dans ce cas, le client s’il veut vendre ses titres brésiliens, avec l’aide de sa banque, la BCV attire, moyennant cet article 1.4., l’attention du client sur le fait, que les titres, respectivement même le produit de vente des titres, peuvent être difficilement (limite maximale mensuelle par exemple) voire pour le moment pas du tout (en fonction des exigences réglementaires du marché brésilien) être vendues en dehors du Brésil et que dès lors la BCV ne peut donner ou que partiellement donner suite à l’ordre de vente du client. Dans tous les cas, les droits du client demeurent (droit à la remise des titres ou le paiement correspond, si ce droit existe et qu’il est transmissible), mais sont momentanément suspendus.. La banque dépositaire (donc la BCV) ne peut céder plus de droits qu’elle en a et elle n’assume pas une responsabilité ni pour les émetteurs ni pour les autorités étatiques où un investisseur souhaite investir.
      Ce qu’il faut retenir, c’est que l’investissement dans des valeurs reste un risque, puisque l’émetteur (la société des titres achetés par un investisseur) peut faire faillite (perte de la valeur), les autorités du pays de la société émettrice peuvent décider de nationaliser une société (perte probable de la valeur) ou décider de ne plus accepter des sorties de fonds de leur pays (intégrale/partielle) pendant une certaine durée (crise économique, guerre, etc). »

      in reply to: Dividend taxation #17021
      Jerome
      Keymaster

        Very interesting example, but this problem only arises for non-US securities, since the reimbursement of the additional US withholding tax is made directly to the tax administration during taxation. Once again, US dividends are more interesting...
        And you're right, this type of banking services are overpriced... I asked several banks for tax statements and it amounts to several hundred francs. Nonsense.

        in reply to: Brokerage fees #17020
        Jerome
        Keymaster

          curious to hear their answer ;-)

          in reply to: Dividend taxation #17016
          Jerome
          Keymaster

            I never really thought too much about these differences between countries, but I always understood it more or less like this:
            – one part, generally about half, concerns the Swiss tax share that must be declared if the amount is to be recovered (which will be deducted from the next tax bill). In return, this amount will be considered as income, as for a Swiss security.
            – another part concerns the tax that goes to the country of the title in question and which is not recoverable. On the other hand, this amount must be declared to the Swiss tax authorities in order not to be taxed on this part.
            This is how I understand it, I have never tried to dig into more detail because I consider that the fundamentals of dividends are more important than the tax aspects. If experts in the field have information on this subject, they are welcome.

            in reply to: Brokerage fees #17014
            Jerome
            Keymaster

              I understand the problem because I have also been confronted with it. At first we fixate on these brokerage fees, with good reasons. Then the portfolio grows and one day we find ourselves with few transactions (if we are buy&hold) and deposit fees that eat up part of the dividend income. Which is unbearable. So we are stuck, with this unfair levy, even without doing anything, and low brokerage fees but which are a pain in the neck. So, when you think about transferring your securities to another provider, you realize that it is a real organized theft for each position you hold. And of course the lower the brokerage fees, the more positions you have...
              The team are not stupid. They know that with cheap brokerage fees they will attract you like rats with cheese at the bottom of a cage.

              in reply to: Dividend ETFs #17012
              Jerome
              Keymaster

                J’ai contacté Postfinance pour avoir plus de renseignements par rapport au point du règlement de dépôt relatif aux valeurs étrangères, que toutes les banques semblent appliquer maintenant. Je vous redis dès que j’ai du neuf.

                Concernant Interactive Brokers, j’ai regardé un peu leur offre et je remarque des frais cachés : s’il n’y a pas de transaction pendant un mois ils facturent USD 10 par mois… de plus ils facturent encore une taxe par marché auquel on est inscrit. Rien que pour les US c’est USD 10 par mois si les transactions sont inférieures à 30 USD. A chaque autre marché, c’est une autre taxe et pour certains c’est pas donné.
                Bref, vraiment pas très cool pour des investisseurs buy&hold… Cela me refroidit passablement je dois dire.
                Encore une fois, et je me répète, il ne faut pas se focaliser sur les frais de transaction, surtout si on investit à long terme. Il y a plein de frais cachés, comme les frais de dépôt, les taxes punitives pour les traders peu actifs et le paiement à la carte d’accès aux marchés, même de base.

                in reply to: Dividend taxation #17011
                Jerome
                Keymaster

                  Yes, that's exactly what I've been doing for many years and it works very well. No need for a tax statement, the portfolio status as of 12/31 and the supporting documents for coupons/dividends are enough. Never had a problem with the tax authorities. And then it takes time the first year to put the securities in the software provided by the tax authorities, but since we can reuse the data for the following year, there are only the portfolio changes to enter (and they are few in number as far as I'm concerned). Note that on VStax for example the dividends received and the value as of 12/31 of each security are updated automatically for a large majority of securities which is very appreciable.

                  in reply to: Brokerage fees #17008
                  Jerome
                  Keymaster

                    I had also seen this article at the time. I repeat, you should not focus on transaction fees. When you invest in buy & hold you must also and above all see the hidden fees such as deposit fees or cash transfer fees. I was not able to find these indications on Corner Trader… that is already a bad sign.

                    in reply to: Dividend taxation #17005
                    Jerome
                    Keymaster

                      All banks and brokers provide a tax statement. You just have to ask them, but it is usually quite expensive.
                      I just realized that for Valais I provided the 2011 reference. Here is the link for 2013:
                      http://www.vs.ch/Data/formule/DS_10/fml_0000001963.pdf
                      You will find the gross yield, the non-recoverable foreign tax portion and the additional US withholding tax indicated there.
                      Gross returns not subject to withholding tax must be included in the tax return, in the Statement of Securities. If you want to declare them of course…
                      As I said, for all this crap the easiest thing is to use the software provided by the tax authorities. Otherwise it's a gas factory...

                      in reply to: Dividend taxation #17002
                      Jerome
                      Keymaster

                        So: everything is played out during the annual taxation. There are one or two forms to fill out to request a refund of the flat-rate imputation (other countries) or the additional USA withholding.
                        For Valais: http://www.vs.ch/Data/formule/DS_10/fml_0000001963.pdf (US+other countries)
                        For the canton of Vaud:
                        http://www.vd.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/organisation/dfin/aci/fichiers_pdf/DA-1_2013.pdf (other countries)
                        http://www.vd.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/organisation/dfin/aci/fichiers_pdf/R-US_164_2013.pdf (USA)
                        I haven't found any for Geneva.

                        All this is heavy and complex. To avoid racking your brains, it is best to use the software provided by the cantonal administrations; the forms for refunding withholding tax, additional USA withholding tax and flat-rate imputation are done automatically.

                        For Geneva: http://www.getax.ch/support/telecharger
                        For Vaud: http://www.vd.ch/themes/etat-droit-finances/impots/vaudtax/vaudtax-2013/telecharger-vaudtax-2013/
                        For Valais: http://www.vs.ch/Public/public_fml/fml_list.asp?Language=fr&MenuID=31859&Code=VSTAX13&ServiceID=10&Color=10

                        An interesting link from the tax administration of the canton of Bern:

                        http://www.taxinfo.sv.fin.be.ch/taxinfo/display/taxinfofr/Prise+en+compte+des+imp%F4ts+retenus+%E0+l’%E9tranger+sur+des+dividendes,+int%E9r%EAts+ou+redevances+de+licences

                        in reply to: Valorization #16998
                        Jerome
                        Keymaster

                          yes, this could be the subject of a future article by you. ;-)

                          in reply to: Dividend ETFs #16997
                          Jerome
                          Keymaster

                            In any case, I tried to buy NSH and KMP on Postfinance and Migros Bank, but it was impossible. Apparently it's the same for KMP on Swissquote.
                            For point 3, yes, it's scary if it's confirmed. If no one can tell us, I'll write to the bank to find out more. In this case, it would mean that it's no better to deal in foreign shares through a Swiss bank than through a foreign one... and the answer is obvious from IB, apart from the hidden costs.

                            in reply to: Dividend ETFs #16994
                            Jerome
                            Keymaster

                              Interesting, I'll think about it.
                              1) If I've understood correctly, there are still hidden costs to be taken into account, especially when you're looking at a long-term, dividend-oriented investment with a view to drawing a pension. I'm thinking in particular of a tax of CHF 11 per money transfer, which is necessary if you want to live off your dividends. It's worth noting that Postfinance (I'm always advertising them, I know, and yet I have no commercial connection with them) offers EVERYTHING free of charge. But then, you can't buy MLPs.
                              2) And of course I'm wary of taking my money out of Switzerland, not only out of a patriotic reflex but also out of concern that shares domiciled in Switzerland are the property of the depositor, which is less obvious outside the country.
                              => So hidden fees and security of deposited securities, I still wonder.

                              3) All this leads me to another question. Digging through the regulations of my various Swiss custody accounts, I always come across a sentence along the following lines: "Securities that are exclusively or mainly traded in countries other than Switzerland are in principle deposited outside Switzerland, or transferred there at the customer's expense and risk if they have been deposited elsewhere. If deposited abroad, the Securities are subject to the laws and customs of the place where they are held. If the foreign law applicable to them makes it difficult
                              or impossible the return of Securities deposited abroad or the transfer of their proceeds of realization, the Bank is only obliged to provide the Customer with the right to the return of the Securities or the corresponding payment, if this right exists and is transferable".
                              => So even with a deposit in Switzerland, believing to benefit from the protection of securities which are the property of the depositor according to the legislation in force, it could well be that according to this regulation our US securities are in fact deposited in the United States, or elsewhere, without being able to benefit from the protection of the depositor... Any idea or experience in this regard?

                              If not, does anyone know of a bank in Switzerland that allows MLPs to be traded?

                              in reply to: Dividend ETFs #16992
                              Jerome
                              Keymaster

                                This makes me think that IB may be the solution for acquiring MLPs. You can't buy them via Postfinance, Migros Bank or Swisquote. But the account opening procedure seems a bit complicated, doesn't it?

                                in reply to: GCL #16989
                                Jerome
                                Keymaster
                                Viewing 15 posts - 421 through 435 (of 586 total)