Income tax in Switzerland for foreigners

Swiss is known all over the world not only for its international neutrality but also for its stable developed economy. Its mechanisms are complex at first glance, but if you understand local taxation well, you will see many advantages. The main thing is to follow the rules of the national regulator and you will be able to work profitably in this country. Let’s look at the basic principles of surcharge in Helvetica.

Tax Swisses rates

The entire Helvetica Confederation is divided into 26 regions-cantons. Taxation can come from the local administration, as well as from the whole country. According to local tax harmonization legislation, each canton may establish separate rates or new taxation items in addition to those fixed at the national level.

All taxes are deducted at source. This means that the employee does not have to worry about paying taxes, it is the employers’ diocese. Accordingly, they pay federal and local taxes. They are calculated founded on the gross income that employees earn.

Every year, residents and foreign employees with living permits are required to file tax returns. For foreign residents without permits, tax is withheld when the monthly salary is issued. In case you are married to a Swiss citizen, you will not be subject to withholding surcharge.

Categories of surcharge

It can be seen that Helvetica doesn`t have a centralized taxation-system that applies equally to all citizens. Therefore, each canton has its taxes that can be applied depending on various factors.

Tax accelerations are almost identical on average across the country. However, some factors may influence its reduction. In some cantons, marital status or the presence of children can reduce the rate. Almost every change in your life can bring you individual-tax rates. This makes it difficult for many people to understand how not to miss paying taxes because, in addition to regional deductions, there are also nationwide and utility payments. Let’s break down the payments using Zurich as an example, as one of the most populated cantons.

Here, income taxes for single locals and families can be very various. For example, for residents of Basel-Stadt, citizens with incomes below 201,500 francs gross per year are not taxed. However, the more you earn, the higher the tax rate will apply to you.

For wedded pair, the surcharge rates will be calculated and established on the total income of the spouses and divided by 50%. Roughly speaking, the husband pays half of the income and the wife the same portion. For those who are divorced or otherwise single but have dependents, taxes are approximated at 50% of their revenue.

Utility surcharges can also vary swinging on where citizens live. In Geneva, they amount to almost 45% of the basic tax in the canton. The lowest tax is in Zug (22%). For convenience, an online tax calculator can be found on the cantons webpages.

Comparison of surcharges in Swiss and the USA

The principle of surcharge in both countries is similar because in the USA there are also diverse rates trusting on the states. In the USA, the federal income-tax can be 10% or 40% depending on the region where you live. In this case, an additional surcharge may not apply at all. But most often it is levied at small rates (the highest rate of just over 13% is levied in California). As you can see, the countries work on similar systems and if you have worked in the USA, you can easily understand the surcharge in Swiss.

Whether you can dodge dual surcharge

To dodge doubled surcharge or receive income in other countries in Swiss there is a corresponding agreement. Such documents are concluded with more than a hundred countrysides, including the largest economic centers of Europe, Great Britain, the USA, and Canada. For non-residents, the presence of such a document means that they can count on receiving a partial or full tax refund. If taxes were withheld at source, non-residents can claim a refund from the Swiss authorities for the difference in taxes paid.

Surcharge of research

There are many innovations for those who work on research and development in Swiss. Private corporations can make good assumptions for scientific activities. But the share of deductions will depend on the country of origin of the legal entity. Research costs can be deducted from the Swiss tax base.

Those working in this field can provide various benefits. The most common is compensation for travel to the workplace or payment for consumables when using personal transportation. Similarly, there is work on compensation for food, uniforms for work, purchase of necessary literature, etc.

For those who work on a stipend, Swiss law indicates that such earnings are not taxable. Therefore, taxes can be avoided altogether. But such employees should check how the employer calculates their salary because sometimes they are transferred from a stipend to a salary and it will already be taxed.

For citizens working in a particular canton but living outside Switzerlands, withholding tax will apply. Therefore, it is best to carefully re-read the terms of the employment contract and ask all questions before starting your employment.