INDIVIDUAL TAXATION

Nonresidents are taxed on Swiss-sourced income. Taxation occurs at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels. Spouses are taxed together. Investment income of a minor child is included in his parents´ income but his earned income is taxed separately.

Income Tax

Income from different sources are aggregated and taxed at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels. Different rates apply for married taxpayers (including those widowed, divorced, or single and supporting children or destitute persons) and unmarried taxpayers. Nonresidents are not entitled to any personal deductions and allowances.

Federal Income Tax

Taxable income is generally computed as the aggregate of all kinds of income, less allowable deductions.

FEDERAL INCOME TAX FOR MARRIED TAXPAYERS
TAXABLE INCOME, CHF (€)	TAX RATE
Up to 28,300 (€23,583)	0%
28,300 - 50,900 (€42,417)	1% on band over €23,583
50,900 - 58,400 (€48,667)	2% on band over €42,417
58,400 - 75,300 (€62,750)	3% on band over €48,667
75,300 - 90,300 (€75,250)	4% on band over €62,750
90,300 - 103,400 (€86,167)	5% on band over €75,250
103,400 - 114,700 (€95,583)	6% on band over €86,167
114,700 - 124,200 (€103,500)	7% on band over €95,583
124,200 - 131,700 (€109,750)	8% on band over €103,500
131,700 - 137,300 (€114,417)	9% on band over €109,750
136,300 - 141,200 (€117,667)	10% on band over €114,417
141,200 - 143,100 (€119,250)	11% on band over €117,667
143,100 - 145,000 (€120,833)	12% on band over €119,250
145,000 - 895,800 (€746,500)	13% on band over €120,833
Over 895,800 (€746,500)	11.5% on all income over €746,583
Source: Global Property Guide

If taxable income exceeds CHF895,800 (€746,500), then the whole taxable income is taxed at a flat rate of 11.5%.

FEDERAL INCOME TAX FOR ALL OTHER TAXPAYERS
TAXABLE INCOME, CHF (€)	TAX RATE
Up to 14,500 (€12,083)	0%
14,500 - 31,600 (€26,333)	1% on band over €12,083
31,600 - 41,400 (€34,500)	2% on band over €26,333
41,400 - 55,200 (€46,000)	3% on band over €34,500
55,200 - 72,500 (€60,417)	4% on band over €46,000
72,500 - 78,100 (€65,083)	5% on band over €60,417
78,100 - 103,600 (€86,333)	6% on band over €65,083
103,600 - 134,600 (€112,167)	7% on band over €86,333
134,600 - 176,000 (€146,667)	8% on band over €112,167
176,000 - 755,200 (€629,333)	9% on band over €146,667
Over 755,200 (€629,333)	11.5% on all income
Source: Global Property Guide

If taxable income exceeds CHF755,200 (€629,333), then the whole taxable income is taxed at a flat rate of 11.5%.

Cantonal Income Tax

Cantons levy their own tax on income, and the tax rates vary from canton to canton. Just like the federal income tax, the cantonal income tax has progressive rates and is different for married couples and unmarried individuals.

CANTON OF BERN - INCOME TAX RATE
TAXABLE INCOME, CHF (€)	TAX RATE
	MARRIED TAXPAYER	SINGLE TAXPAYER
Up to 2,900 (€2,416)	1.55%	1.95%
2,900 - 5,800 (€4,833)	1.65%	2.90%
5,800 - 14,600 (€12,167)	2.90%	3.65%
14,600 - 29,200 (€24,333)	3.75%	4.25%
29,200 - 53,500 (€44,583)	4.10%	4.65%
53,500 - 77,800 (€64,833)	4.65%	5.25%
77,800 - 102,100 (€85,083)	5.10%	5.65%
102,100 - 126,400 (€105,333)	5.35%	5.85%
126,400 - 150,700 (€125,583)	5.50%	6.00%
150,700 - 175,000 (€145,833)	5.65%	6.10%
175,000 - 209,000 (€174,167)	5.80%	6.20%
209,000 - 291,600 (€243,000)	6.10%	6.30%
291,600 - 437,400 (€364,500)	6.40%	6.40%
Over 437,400 (€364,500)	6.50%	6.50%

The cantonal tax rates of Geneva are calculated based on a complex formula. The following is a simplified summary containing only selected tax brackets to give an indication of the basic cantonal tax rates in Geneva.

CANTON OF GENEVA -INCOME TAX
TAXABLE INCOME, CHF (€)	TAX RATE
0–17,663 (€14,719)	0%
17,664– 21,281 (€17,734)	8%
21,282 – 23,409 (€19,508)	9%
23,410 – 25,537 (€21,281)	10%
25,538– 27,665 (€23,054)	11%
27,666– 32,985 (€27,488)	12%
32,986– 37,241 (€31,034)	13%
37,242– 41,498 (€34,582)	14%
41,499– 45,754 (€38,128)	14.50%
45,755– 73,420 (€61,183)	15%
73,421– 120,238 (€100,198)	15.50%
120,239– 161,736 (€134,780)	16%
161,737– 183,017 (€152,514)	16.50%
183,018– 261,757 (€218,131)	17%
261,758– 278,782 (€232,318)	17.50%
278,783– 392,636 (€327,197)	18%
392,637– 615,022 (€512,518)	18.50%
Over 615,022 (€512,518)	19%
Source: Global Property Guide

CANTON OF ZURICH - INCOME TAX
TAXABLE INCOME, CHF (€)		TAX RATE
MARRIED TAXPAYER	SINGLE TAXPAYER
Up to 13,500 (€11,250)	Up to 6,700 (€5,583)	0%
13,500 – 19,600 (€16,333)	6,700 – 11,400 (€9,500	2%
19,600 – 27,300 (€22,750)	11,400 – 16,100 (€13,417)	3%
27,300 – 36,700 (€30,583)	16,100 – 23,700 (€19,750)	4%
36,700 – 47,400 (€39,500)	23,700 – 33,000 (€27,500)	5%
47,400 – 61,300 (€51,083)	33,000 – 43,700 (€36,417)	6%
61,300 – 92,100 (€76,750)	43,700 – 56,100 (€46,750)	7%
92,100 – 122,900 (€102,417)	56,100 – 73,000 (€60,833)	8%
122,900 – 169,300 (€141,083)	73,000 – 105,500 (€87,917)	9%
169,300 – 224,700 (€187,250)	105,500 – 137,700 (€114,750)	10%
224,700 – 284,800 (€237,333)	137,700 – 188,700 (€157,250)	11%
284,800 – 354,100 (€295,083)	188,700 – 254,900 (€212,417)	12%
Over 354,100 (€295,083)	Over 254,900 (€212,417)	13%

Municipal Income Tax

Municipalities also levy their own taxes on income. The municipal income taxes are generally similar to the cantonal income tax laws. The local authorities also determine their own coefficient, and they are levied in accordance with the cantonal income taxes.

RENTAL INCOME
Rental income in Switzerland is taxable at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels. Administration costs invoiced by third persons, necessary maintenance and improvement costs, as well as interest payments in respect of loans used to acquire income, are deductible from the taxable amount. The rates of the federal, cantonal and municipal income taxes are then applied. Since the cantonal and municipal income taxes are imposed on rental income, the total tax liability varies according to the location of the property.

CAPITAL GAINS
At the federal level, gains from the sale of private property are not taxable, and gains from the sale of business property are taxed as income. At the cantonal and municipal level, a real estate gains tax is imposed on the sale of both private and business property.

The rates for capital gains are usually progressive and the longer the property is owned, the lower the taxes. A shorter owning period would require a surcharge and both cantonal and municipal levels are applicable. The following are the cantonal rules for the disposal of immovable property:

• The standard rate is applicable after the holding period of four to five years. The top burden usually ranges from 25% to 50%.
• Tax is gradually reduced after exceeding the four to five years of ownership. The maximum relief allowed is 50% to 70% of the payable tax.
• A surcharge of up to 50% of the normal tax may be imposed on short term gains i.e. properties sold within the first four or five years.

Two systems are used to compute for taxable capital gains, the Zurich system and the St. Gallen System. The two systems are highly similar, since the computation for the taxable gains is selling price less acquisition costs and improvement costs for both systems. Their main difference lies in the computation for capital gains on business property. The Zurich system basically applies the same formula to business property as private property, and subjects recaptured depreciation to income tax, while the St. Gallen System subjects all capital gains from business and private property fully to income tax.

PROPERTY TAXATION

Wealth Taxes

Annual wealth taxes are levied at the cantonal level. Individuals pay taxes on enterprise assets and real estate situated in Switzerland. The tax payable varies from canton to canton. The assets are valued at their market value. Personal debts, mortgages, bank loans and overdrafts are deductible, as well as certain personal deductions and allowances from the taxable base, depending on the canton.

Property Taxes

Many municipalities and some cantons impose real property taxes on real estate located in Switzerland. The rates usually range from 0.05% to 0.3%, levied on the value of the property. The rates and the coefficient vary from canton to canton.

       

Switzerland - More data and information

• Guide to buying houses and registering property sales in Switzerland