Switzerland

Individual - Taxes on personal income

Last reviewed - 20 July 2023

All tax-resident individuals are taxed on their worldwide income and wealth. Non-tax-resident individuals are only taxed on Swiss sources of income and wealth.

Income taxes are levied at three different levels: at the federal level (which is the same all over Switzerland), at the cantonal level (which is the same within a certain canton and is based on the canton's own tax law and tax rates), and at the municipal level (municipalities follow the cantonal tax law, but are entitled to set their own communal tax rate within certain parameters). Income tax rates are progressive at the federal level and in most of the cantons. Some cantons have recently introduced flat rate taxation.

All income is taxed on the basis of the same tax return with generally the same tax rate (i.e. all income sources are added together), and from such total income all applicable deductions are subtracted. This results in an applicable tax rate that is levied on all taxable income. Based on applicable DTTs, the actual taxable income in Switzerland may differ from the tax rate determining income. Furthermore, dividend income from substantial participations may be taxed at a lower tax rate based on domestic federal and cantonal law.

Personal income tax rates

Direct federal tax on income (for 2023)

I - Single taxpayers

Taxable income (CHF*) Tax on column 1 (CHF) Percentage on excess (%)
Over Not over
0 14,800 - -
14,800 32,200 - 0.77
32,200 42,200 133.95 0.88
42,200 56,200 221.95 2.64
56,200 73,900 591.55 2.97
73,900 79,600 1,117.20 5.94
79,200 105,500 1,455.75 6.60
105,500 137,200 3,165.15 8.80
137,200 179,400 5,954.75 11.00
179,400 769,600 10,596.75 13.20
769,700   88,515.55 11.50

* Swiss francs

For taxable income above CHF 769,700 the overall tax rate will be 11.5%.

II - Married taxpayers and single taxpayers with minor children

Taxable income (CHF) Tax on column 1
(CHF)
Percentage on excess (%)
Over Not over
0 28,800 - -
28,800 51,800 - 1
51,800 59,400 230 2
59,400 76,700 382 3
76,700 92,000 901 4
92,000 105,400 1,513 5
105,400 116,900 2,183 6
116,900 126,500 2,873 7
126,500 134,200 3,545 8
134,200 139,900 4,161 9
139,900 143,800 4,674 10
143,800 145,800 5,064 11
145,800 147,700 5,284 12
147,700 912,600 5,512 13
912,600   104,949 11.5

For taxable income above CHF 912,600 the overall tax rate will be 11.5%.

Zurich cantonal tax (basic tax)

III - Single taxpayers (income taxes)

Taxable income (CHF) Basic tax on column 1 (CHF) Percentage on excess (%)
Over Not over
0 6,700 - 0
6,700 11,400 - 2
11,400 16,100 94 3
16,100 23,700 235 4
23,700 33,000 539 5
33,000 43,700 1,004 6
43,700 56,100 1,646 7
56,100 73,000 2,514 8
73,000 105,500 3,866 9
105,500 137,700 6,791 10
137,700 188,700 10,011 11
188,700 254,900 15,621 12
254,900   23,565 13

IV - Married taxpayers and single taxpayers with minor children (income taxes)

Taxable income (CHF) Basic tax on column 1 (CHF) Percentage on excess (%)
Over Not over
0 13,500 - 0
13,500 19,600 - 2
19,600 27,300 122 3
27,300 36,700 353 4
36,700 47,400 729 5
47,400 61,300 1,264 6
61,300 92,100 2,098 7
92,100 122,900 4,254 8
122,900 169,300 6,718 9
169,300 224,700 10,894 10
224,700 284,800 16,434 11
284,800 354,100 23,045 12
354,100   31,361 13

V - Calculation of effective taxes

For Zurich cantonal taxes, the above rates can be applied directly. For the additional municipal taxes, the above rate has to be multiplied by the respective municipal tax factor, which varies between 0.72 and 1.30 (City of Zurich: 1.19). For church tax the basic tax above is multiplied by the church tax factor, which is between 0.06 and 0.15.

Geneva cantonal tax (basic tax) 

The Geneva tax table is quite complex as it does not apply a tax bracket system. The tax rates are increasing continuously in small increments with each increase in income. The table below therefore only provides a general overview (for 2022). 

Taxable income (CHF) Tax Rate (%)
From To
0 17,697 0.00
17,698 21,322 8.00
21,323 23,454 9.00
23,455 25,586 10.00
25,587 27,719 11.00
27,720 33,049 12.00
33,050 37,313 13.00
37,314 41,578 14.00
41,579 45,842 14.50
45,843 73,561 15.00
73,562 120,470 15.50
120,471 162,047 16.00
162,048 183,370 16.50
183,371 262,261 17.00
262,262 279,319 17.50
279,320 393,392 18.00
393,393 616,206 18.50
More than 616,206   19.00

The tax rate applicable to a married couple or individuals in a Swiss registered partnership is the rate applicable to 50% of their combined income (so-called 'splitting'). The tax rate applicable to single, widowed, divorced, or separated individuals living with a dependant (child or adult) is the rate applicable to 50% of the income.

The above tax rates are basically applicable to taxpayers filing a tax return. Effective cantonal income and wealth tax is determined by multiplying the basic tax by the multiplier applicable for the tax (calendar) year in question, and then by adding the supplementary tax on wealth.

Local income taxes 

Geneva communal tax 

Each commune of the canton of Geneva determines the multiplier applied on the cantonal tax rate and hence its communal tax rate autonomously depending on its financial needs. As result, the communal taxes can vary significantly. The communal taxes are, as mentioned above, a percentage of the cantonal taxes, and are levied in conjunction with the cantonal taxes. For example, the effective communal tax of the city of Geneva is 45.5% of basic cantonal tax. The highest communal tax rate is 51% of the basic cantonal tax and is levied in the communes of Chancy and Avully. On the contrary, the lowest communal tax rate is applicable in the communes of Genthod (25%), Cologny (27%), and Collonge-Bellerive (29%). 

Withholding requirements for sales of property, dividends, interest and royalties

In general, interest and dividend income derived from Swiss sources is subject to a 35% withholding tax (WHT), which tax has to be withheld from the paying party (e.g. bank or Swiss company) and is directly deducted from the gross amount paid to the recipient. Based on the facts and circumstances, this tax may be credited towards the overall income tax liability in Switzerland or may be refunded. 

On payments received for loans secured by a property located in Switzerland (without repayment amounts, e.g. mainly mortgage interest) a tax at source may be due if the creditor (individual or legal entity) is domiciled abroad. Tax at source has to be withheld by the payer of the interest. Applicable DTTs may cap or abolish the applicable cantonal tax rates.