https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed In Switzerland, each canton sets its own tax rates. But how much or little you pay will also depend on the local municipality in which you live. So which towns and cities are the most (and least) tax-friendly to their residents? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250416/in-which-swiss-municipalities-do-individuals-pay-the-most-taxes Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:41:03 +0200 in-which-swiss-municipalities-do-individuals-pay-the-most-taxes Opponents of the ‘No to 10 million initiative’ are sounding yet another alarm about the potential consequences for Switzerland’s residents if the far-right bid to curb immigration passes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260513/swiss-households-to-pay-635-francs-more-a-year-if-anti-immigration-proposal-wins Wed, 13 May 2026 16:24:16 +0200 swiss-households-to-pay-635-francs-more-a-year-if-anti-immigration-proposal-wins The cost of living in Switzerland is higher - sometimes by much - than in many other European countries. But what is the situation with taxes? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260428/do-residents-of-switzerland-pay-more-or-less-taxes-than-their-neighbours Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:11:32 +0200 do-residents-of-switzerland-pay-more-or-less-taxes-than-their-neighbours If you missed your tax deadline in Switzerland, can you ask for an extension. However, each canton has a different one. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210322/when-to-lodge-your-tax-in-switzerland-and-how-to-get-an-extension Mon, 22 Mar 2021 15:06:29 +0100 when-to-lodge-your-tax-in-switzerland-and-how-to-get-an-extension March is probably not the most favourite month for Switzerland’s residents because this is when the taxman cometh. But like it or not, you should not miss the deadline for your 2025 tax declaration.. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260323/calendar-the-2026-swiss-tax-declaration-deadlines-in-each-canton Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:06:55 +0100 calendar-the-2026-swiss-tax-declaration-deadlines-in-each-canton Despite a widespread belief to the contrary, not everyone in Switzerland is rich. So why does almost everyone have to pay the wealth tax? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240208/explained-does-everyone-have-to-pay-switzerlands-wealth-tax Thu, 08 Feb 2024 16:05:20 +0100 explained-does-everyone-have-to-pay-switzerlands-wealth-tax Nobody likes talking about taxes – and much less paying them. But if you live in certain Swiss communities you are likely to get some relief. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260205/where-in-switzerland-will-you-pay-the-lowest-taxes-in-2026 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:29:58 +0100 where-in-switzerland-will-you-pay-the-lowest-taxes-in-2026 On March 8th, Swiss voters will have their say about whether married couples should continue to be taxed jointly, or declare their income and assets separately. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260128/explained-how-would-switzerlands-planned-individual-tax-law-affect-you Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:19:43 +0100 explained-how-would-switzerlands-planned-individual-tax-law-affect-you Swiss cantons and municipalities have lots of rules pertaining to their residents, both human and canine. They include paying taxes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251112/swiss-dog-tax-how-switzerland-treats-your-dog-like-a-person Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:08:53 +0100 swiss-dog-tax-how-switzerland-treats-your-dog-like-a-person People who live in Zurich, Switzerland’s most expensive city, can look forward to some financial relief in 2026 – lower tax rates. But is this really good news? https://www.thelocal.ch/20251218/zurich-announces-biggest-tax-cut-for-residents-in-20-years Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:15:38 +0100 zurich-announces-biggest-tax-cut-for-residents-in-20-years In September, voters in Switzerland approved the abolition of the imputed rental value. This means that this particular tax deduction for property owners will no longer be available, which experts believe could spark a ‘renovation boom.’ https://www.thelocal.ch/20251029/why-will-swiss-buildings-undergo-a-renovation-boom Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:20:16 +0100 why-will-swiss-buildings-undergo-a-renovation-boom Knowledge of one of Switzerland's national languages is a requirement for obtaining a work permit and, even more so, citizenship. But can you write these lessons off your Swiss taxes? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250829/can-i-deduct-the-cost-of-language-lessons-from-my-swiss-tax-bill Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:11:16 +0200 can-i-deduct-the-cost-of-language-lessons-from-my-swiss-tax-bill Like other countries, Switzerland too is a bureaucracy, where various government agencies oversee different functions of public and private life. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240125/taxes-to-work-permits-who-deals-with-what-in-switzerland Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:56:04 +0100 taxes-to-work-permits-who-deals-with-what-in-switzerland Many people, both Swiss and foreigners, pay an accounting firm to prepare their tax declaration on their behalf. But this doesn't always work out for the best as one reader testified. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250709/they-filed-my-tax-return-late-do-you-really-need-an-accountant-in-switzerland Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:40:59 +0200 they-filed-my-tax-return-late-do-you-really-need-an-accountant-in-switzerland Say you want to make a financial contribution to an organisation in Switzerland you particularly like. Can you claim this donation as a tax write-off? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250612/what-kind-of-donations-can-you-deduct-from-your-swiss-taxes Thu, 12 Jun 2025 18:49:16 +0200 what-kind-of-donations-can-you-deduct-from-your-swiss-taxes Swiss MPs finally approved a reform of the longstanding legislation by allowing separate, rather than joint, taxation of spouses. It will be voted on in a referendum on March 8th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240917/is-switzerland-moving-closer-to-new-tax-system-for-married-couples Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:53:48 +0200 is-switzerland-moving-closer-to-new-tax-system-for-married-couples From January 1st, 2025, Switzerland has cut the tax-free allowance for cross-border shoppers by half – from 300 to 150 francs. This means that shopping abroad is now less lucrative for the Swiss, but German retailers found a way around this problem. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250508/how-german-retailers-help-swiss-shoppers-circumvent-tax-rules Thu, 08 May 2025 13:19:13 +0200 how-german-retailers-help-swiss-shoppers-circumvent-tax-rules Swiss residency permits are notoriously hard to obtain for people from some countries. But there is a way to do this — here’s how. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210916/key-points-what-you-need-to-know-about-golden-visas-in-switzerland Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:45:07 +0200 key-points-what-you-need-to-know-about-golden-visas-in-switzerland If you are a new arrival in Switzerland, or are about to move here, you may be wondering whether foreign nationals are taxed at a higher rate than the Swiss. This is what you should know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250424/do-foreigners-pay-more-taxes-in-switzerland Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:21:42 +0200 do-foreigners-pay-more-taxes-in-switzerland Residents of Zug may well be the luckiest people in Switzerland: their health insurance will not only NOT increase, but it will actually fall. How is this possible? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250331/why-are-swiss-health-insurance-premiums-in-zug-set-to-drop-sharply Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:53:37 +0200 why-are-swiss-health-insurance-premiums-in-zug-set-to-drop-sharply