Hi, we have recently moved to Switzerland and are a bit confused about the treatment of our tax. My husband is working, I am not. He is being taxed at source according to his first pay slip. We are currently in Basel Stadt but are moving to our permanent accommodation in Aargau in October.

We have read that the particular district we are moving to has quite low cantonal/community taxes but we are not sure if we will "benefit" from this as my husband is being taxed at source.

My question is: if my husband's tax payments (at source) are more than we would pay in cantonal/community taxes, are these figures reconciled at the end of the tax year and a refund/demand applicable for depending on the amounts?

I have searched other posts for this specific point but I can't find anything, apologies if it's already here.

No, there is no reconciliation at year-end.
Quellensteuer/tax at source, is an average rate (by earnings level and by status - i.e. single/married with kids) calculated by each canton. You pay the same rate regardless of where you live in that canton.

Sometimes you win (if you live in an area of the canton with high community taxes) and sometimes you lose.

I have had changes to my tax in the first year, and your employer should calculate this for him.

My husband joined the same company as me to help out on a short term contract. My tax went up 100chf for this duration.

Although my tax is paid at source I still received a huge book to fill in at the end of the tax year from my Gemeinde, and I think if your earnings are over a certain level ou still fill out the form - like UK self assessment, so there must be some sort of reconciliation occuring (obviously they are looking for more tax too - savings, investments, property etc) as you should pay tax on these too.

If in doubt, tell him to speak to his HR dept on the matter, they also sort out the Kindergelt payment through his salary, but be warned, this takes a while, the British end tends to hold up the delay here!

I only mention that because I think I recognise your login - Mumsnet????

Well the bad news is until you have been here 5 years you cannot do much to avoid taxation. If you earn over 120'000 per year you must complete the tax return in February 2012 for the previous year 2011.

You are taxed by your employer in the canton where the company has the office your husband is working from. So even after your move to Aargau your tax will probably remain the same, unless your husband works in a different cantonal office.