Tax - All you need to know about Swiss taxation

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Tax return in the canton of Geneva

Tax return in the canton of Vaud

Tax return in the canton of Valais

Some info about taxes?

Swiss taxes: A 3-part system.

Did you know that? The Swiss like things in threes: the three national languages, the three pillars of the pension system, and to go with it, the three taxations’ levels!

Let's focus here on those last three. So, there are 3 levels of taxation: the commune, the canton and the Confederation. This means three different calculation rules and finally three different bills. (Like it’s not complicated enough...)

We all want to pay less tax, and it is possible! But to be able to achieve these optimisations, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the Swiss tax system...

Taxes on investments

Perhaps you want to invest your money, but don't want to lose all your returns in the tax bill? In this section, we'll look at how different types of investment are taxed.

In this section, we'll look at investments in :

In shares, how will your dividends be taxed?
In investment funds or ETFs
Or in property, between the rents received, the value of the property or the gain on resale, are you aware of the tax peculiarities?

Taxes in the Canton of Vaud

Let's look at our beloved canton of Vaud and analyse how taxes are calculated in this wonderful part of Switzerland!

In this section, we will take the time to go through several interrogations. In particular:

Are there any notable differences between the 301 communes that populate it? What deductions are available and how can they be maximised? What about donations and inheritances? What will happen to pension assets when I retire?

Taxation in Geneva

Do you live in Vully? No? Then, in Versoix perhaps?

In any case, you will have to submit to the particularities of the tax laws in force in your Geneva commune! Each commune has its own... and must obey its canton.

The canton of Geneva, like all the others, wanted to make its own unique recipe and has constructed its own method of calculation. It is composed of a cascade of increasingly crazy steps, which of course (otherwise it's not funny enough), change according to your financial and family situation!

And all this for what?

In my opinion, to keep you away from fiscal wisdom.

Wisdom means savings! Basic... (or simple I never know)

Let's not joke, because taxes, let's be honest, suck.

Apart from the slightly painful calculation procedure, depending on your family situation (do you have children? are you married? etc.), the canton of Geneva can still be quite generous with authorised deductions, and allow you to ease your tax burden.

For example, Geneva allows you to have more than CHF 80,000 in assets per person without completely free of taxes. This amount increases according to the number of people living in the household.

On the other hand, for the wealthiest taxpayers who have chosen the wrong commune of residence, watch out! This canton can simply be a money pit.

Taxes in the canton of Valais

The population of the Valais has been expanding for many years. The reasons underlying this increasing interest are diverse, topping in the list: the landscape, the cost of living and certainly the tax system.

If this last point is actually your incentive for settling in Valais, then we recommend you to dedicate a couple of minutes to deep dive, and read the various articles we propose on the topic. These are meant to help you familiarizing with cantonal and communal taxes, as well as wealth taxation in the canton of Valais.

Here is your opportunity to learn more about the impact of a marriage, the birth of a child or a move on your tax return.

Taxation for Switzerland’s non-inhabitant

You live in another country than Switzerland, but you have decided to pursue your career there? Then this section is dedicated for you. You have to understand how your income in Switzerland is taxed, so that you can optimise it!

Are they subject to withholding tax? Do you have to apply for quasi-resident status and go through a subsequent ordinary taxation (TOU)? How should you declare a withdrawal from your 2nd or 3rd pillar for tax purposes? Are there any deductions that are allowed without having to file an ordinary tax return (3rd pillar, BVG purchase, transport)?

If you have decided to work for us, there must be good reasons. But why not make your situation even better by reducing your taxes as much as possible?

Direct federal tax

After the municipalities and the cantons, we can imagine now it's the Confederation’s turn! Yes, the bad news is that this is the third layer we were missing. We could have done without it, but this is the 3-in-1 effect of the tax administration. It too is entitled to its share.

But the good news is that it's the smallest of the three, the easiest to calculate and, above all, the same for all of Switzerland! Do you live in Zurich? (Be brave with the traffic!) Do you live in the bottom of the Val d'Anniviers? (How's the snow?). We don't care this time! Only your income and your family situation are decisive.

So, would you like to know how the direct federal tax is calculated? Let’s have a look!

Tax returns and instalments (acomptes)

In this section, you'll find the 5 steps to completing your tax return, starting with the change to tax at source for those concerned. And for those who are not taxed at source, you'll also find everything you need to know about paying tax by instalments. What are instalments? Well, it's a sort of advance on the tax you have to pay each month, and at the end of the year, depending on your tax decision, a review will be carried out and a rebalancing made if necessary. The aim is that the sum of your advance payments over the year should correspond to the amount of your tax assessment.