As far as I’m concerned, this is just theft - pure and simple.

I got married on November 28th 2009 in Lausanne where I live. My wife and I worked at this time in Geneve.

We have just received a tax bill of over CHF7’000 from canton Geneve for the period January 1st to November 28th, recalculated using the married persons tax percentage they applied for the entire fiscal period of 2009.

Now I’m sorry, but there is no way on this earth I am paying this tax on the principle (and the fact) that we were not married during this recalculated period! This I have told them and they state that their decision stands and that I have to now go to a tribunal.

This is an unfair taxation on honest people designed for no other justifiable reason than to solely bleed more money from them. As far as I’m concerned, it must contravene an untold number of basic human rights, amongst them the right to decide when you marry (i.e. not based on a cantons tax period) and the right to live in peace and not in a place governed by thieves.

I’d rather go to jail on principle or be forced to leave the country I call home rather than pay this tax or watch them modify our tax codes to steal their unjust gains.

So go to the tribunal. Probably best to start saving up for that 7,000 as they are usually correct. My first 3 bills came to a total of SFr 19,000 so yours seems reasonable to me.

Out of interest, what percentage of gross salary is the CHF 7,000 ?

Why did you receive a tax bill from Geneva if you live in Vaud?

Works the same way in the States. Me and my (now X) were married end of October (many moons ago) and I could use her as a deduction for that entire fiscal year dispite the fact we were only 2 months married at that point.

Get thee to a tax consultant.
Although, they'll will charge too...

Yes, it counts for the year if done before 31 December. However, the same is true for children, so get to work and make sure the birth happens before 31 December and you will get a nice tax present next time.

Like the US, if you are married for part of the year, you pay married tax rates for the entire year.

Works the same for Swiss citizens as well.

Tom

These are the rules in Switzerland so don't even bother going to a tribunal. I have paid 20k too much in the last couple of years because I didn't know the rules about what I can claim etc. I had to pay it and move on, I suggest you do the same.

Exactly, you pay tax where you live not where you work. As said above, they rarely get it wrong, so I'd get professional advice before you take them on in the courts, as it could end up costing you an awful lot more in costs.
Find a 'Fiduciaire' and go and check. Perhaps someone here can recommend one in your area.

I would consult your tax consultant on this one.
I specifically directed this question to my tax consultant
and I was told that if you move cantons in any tax year,
you will be taxed in the canton where you were residing
on the 31st December for the whole year.

look on the bright side, its only a fraction of the cost of getting rid of a wife

well, assuming this is in fact a human right signed up to by switzerland, i would be interested in seeing you take it to the ECHR and seeing what happens, but i'm guessing it would be potentially cheaper and less hassle to pay.

on this basis, surely tax discrimination based on marriage and children should also be illegal?

You might even get a refund at some point then, as I did.
It came right 'out of the blue' and was very welcome.

So you are saying that you did not inform yourself about the tax implications of your marriage and now complain about them?

Swiss law is intentionally kept simple: Whatever you are, wherever you live on DEC 31 of any year counts for the entire year. End of story.

That's for example why the hottest time of the rental market in ZG and SZ is actually Nov and Dec: People want to move befor the 31st to be able to get a tax benefit for the entire year... You can go to court, but you have IMHO zero chance. Absolutely zero.

And most importantly: If you had known about the tax system, would it have changed your marriage decision?

I thought your tax % was less if you were married rather than single, so if they are taxing you as being married all year long means you pay less, how come it is more in your case? I might not understand everything what you say...

it's clearly written on the tax forms: important is your status by 31 Dec. of the year (residence, civil/marital status, etc...). All in all Geneva administration is a mess but here in this case they are right (according to my analysis).

In Switzerland, the combined income is taxed as if from a single person.

In Germany, you have "Ehegattensplitting".
http://dict.leo.org/forum/viewUnsolv...p=ende&lang=de
In Switzerland, you've got the "Heiratsstrafe":
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heiratsstrafe

Hopefully, you didn't spend all the money on the party and the honey-moon ;-)

Welcome to Switzerland

You could ask your wife to pay as her income is taxed at the higher rate. The Swiss assume that a wife will stay at home & have kids, so with 1 income you would pay less tax.

maybe they are double earners.