The FTA procures the majority of the federal revenue and makes an important contribution to the financing of public tasks. It ensures equal and efficient collection of value added tax, direct federal tax, withholding tax and other levies.
The FTA develops the legal orders in the field of tax law and, together with the cantons, implements the formal harmonization of direct taxes of the Confederation, cantons and municipalities.
It informs about national tax issues and contributes to a good tax climate and to the development of taxation. The FTA is also responsible for executing the international treaties for the avoidance of double taxation as well as the international administrative assistance procedure in tax matters, levies withholding tax for other states agreed by state treaties and draws up the Swiss tax statistics.