Entrust your 2025 Vaud tax return to FBKConseils

Each canton has its specifics. In the canton of Vaud, the general deadline to file individual tax returns is set at 15 March 2026.

In practice, if you are subject to unlimited tax liability in the canton of Vaud, you benefit from a tolerance period until 30 June 2026, with no formal request and no additional fees.

If you still need more time, you can request a free extension before 30 June via the Vaud online service; under the applicable guidelines, an extension may be granted up to 30 September 2026.

Finally, if this third deadline still does not fit your situation and you have valid reasons (illness, missing certificates, ongoing procedure, etc.), you can write to the tax authorities to request an additional deadline adapted to your needs. Whenever possible, make this request in advance to avoid reminder fees.

It is not possible to provide a “perfect” list here, because everything depends on your situation. That is why we created a platform: you select what applies to your household, and you receive by email the exact list of documents needed for the relevant tax year.

In general, you should plan for: your income (salary certificate(s), pension/annuity statements, accounting records if self-employed), your assets (bank account statements in Switzerland and abroad, tax statements for your investments, information on your real estate), and supporting documents for the deductions you want to claim (Pillar 3a, loan interest, health insurance, medical expenses, pension fund buy-backs, childcare costs, professional expenses, real estate expenses, etc.).

In most cases, these documents are primarily used to substantiate the amounts and are not requested by the Vaud tax authorities; however, they should be kept in order to respond quickly if questions arise. That said, certain documents are requested more often, in particular salary certificates, self-employed accounts, confirmations of payments into the 2nd and 3rd pillars, childcare expenses, and real estate-related expenses.

The timeframe mainly depends on how quickly you provide the required documents.

Thanks to VaudTax, the Vaud cantonal tool, we work quickly and efficiently. For a standard situation with all supporting documents available, expect between 1 and 7 business days, from the first draft to final submission.

Complex files (real estate income, self-employment, multiple cantons) require additional time to guarantee tax accuracy.

Ah, the famous question. Unfortunately, it’s a bit of a lottery… The timelines vary widely depending on the cantonal administration’s workload.

What we see in practice:

• Fastest: 3 to 6 weeks after submission
• Most common: 2 to 4 months (the most frequent)
• Longest: 12 months or more in some cases

The canton of Vaud processes tens of thousands of returns every year. Simple files usually move faster, but complex situations or peak periods can significantly increase waiting times.

Once we have submitted your return, there is nothing more we can do the timing depends 100% on the tax authorities. We would love to speed things up, but unfortunately it is not in our hands.

You are completing your 2025 return and wondering what you can deduct?

Option 1: Read the official Vaud tax guide (long, technical, sleep-inducing… but complete).

Option 2: Consult our Vaud deductions guide, which is clear, useful, and fairly comprehensive.

Option 3: Follow our golden rule: deduct anything you can justify.

The principle is simple: if you have proof of payment, claim the deduction. The tax authorities will never fault you for requesting a deduction supported by documents at worst, it will be rejected. No penalty, no risk.

In practice: enter the deduction, add a clear description, and attach your documents. You will see on your assessment decision whether it is accepted or not. It is the best way to learn what works (or not) in your specific situation.

In summary, the main deductions include: professional expenses (travel, meals, training), Pillar 3a contributions, health insurance premiums (mandatory LAMal), childcare costs, alimony paid, donations to recognised charities, and many others.

The solution depends on when you identify the mistake:

• Before submission: correct your return directly this is the easiest moment.
• Less than 7 days after submission: you can resubmit a corrected version directly online via VaudTax. Quick and straightforward.
• More than 7 days after submission (but no assessment decision yet): you will need to send a corrected paper version to the cantonal tax authorities.
• After receiving your assessment decision: you have 30 days to challenge it and make corrections. This deadline is strict after that, it becomes much more complicated.

Special case: forgotten income or assets
If you forgot to declare income or assets, you should file a voluntary disclosure as quickly as possible, even after the usual deadlines. It is always better to regularise the situation yourself before the tax authorities discover the omission—the consequences will be far lighter, and in most cases none at all.

As a general rule, anyone domiciled in the canton of Vaud who holds Swiss nationality or a Permit C must file a tax return every year.

This obligation also applies to certain Vaud residents holding a Permit B (subject to withholding tax), if certain thresholds are exceeded. This is notably the case when:

• annual gross salary exceeds CHF 120,000, or
• taxable wealth exceeds CHF 60,000 for a single person (CHF 120,000 for a married couple), or
• you receive income not subject to withholding tax (for example dividends, pensions, or other forms of remuneration).

Finally, other specific situations may create a limited tax liability, regardless of where you live. This is the case, for example, if you own real estate in the canton of Vaud or carry out a self-employed activity there.

In all of these situations, filing a Vaud tax return is mandatory.

In general, it’s not a good sign. Two scenarios are possible.

1) The tax authorities were not aware that you were required to file a return.
This can happen, for example, when taxpayers subject to withholding tax have not submitted the TOU form to request subsequent ordinary taxation (TOU). In that case, it is advisable to regularise the situation as quickly as possible. As a rule, if you come forward on your own initiative, the tax authorities should not impose a penalty, since you are voluntarily correcting the situation.

2) The tax authorities are expecting your return, but do not receive it despite reminders.
In that case, the situation becomes more sensitive. After reminders and formal notices, you may receive an assessment decision based on the information available to the authorities. In most cases, this estimated assessment (“assessment by default”) overstates your situation and is almost never in your favour.

It is generally possible to challenge an assessment by default within a strict deadline by providing the correct information and submitting your complete tax return. After that deadline, and without a valid reason, the assessment becomes final and the tax claimed remains payable.