2013

2013

Staff
STIFA’s staff at the end of 2013 consisted of the Head of Division, two part-time Legal Officers (50% each), and one Administrator/Secretary (80%).

Activity
At the beginning of 2013, 1,169 common-benefit foundations and ten private-benefit foundations were subject to STIFA supervision. By the end of 2013, the figures had risen to 1,199 common-benefit and ten private-benefit foundations. On application, STIFA may exempt common-benefit foundations from the obligation to appoint an audit authority and then as a rule itself exercises the right of inspection. As of 31 December 2013, 187 of the 1,199 common-benefit foundations were exempt from the obligation to appoint an audit authority.

The focus was on carrying out STIFA audits of the exempt foundations (Art. 552 § 29(3) PGR), processing of reports by audit authorities with objections concerning the management and/or appropriation of foundation assets as well as the verification of the accuracy of the deposited notifications of formation and amendment in the case of private-benefit foundations (Art. 552 § 21 PGR). The STIFA applied to the court in 17 cases for supervisory measures.

With short lectures and presentations e.g. at lunch meetings STIFA seeked dialogue with the market participants. STIFA actively aimed for the exchange of experience with the Association of Auditors, the Chair of Company, Foundation and Trust Law at the University of Liechtenstein, the Tax Authority as well as the Liechtenstein Association of non-profit foundations and the European Foundation Center. The Liechtenstein supervision regime on common-benefit foundations was presented to the Swiss kantonal foundation supervising authorities on occasion of their annual general meeting. STIFA has a newly designed internet homepage: www.stifa.li which is now available in english, too. There is a special place on the STIFA site for philanthropie. The data base of the STIFA has been renewed.