- returning to UK after 6 months working here... have been warned that I may have to pay UK tax on my earnings here ( which are already taxed at source here ) .. can that be correct ?.... it seems unfair that you work and pay Swiss living costs, only to be taxed by the UK-tax-gestapo on return to the UK ?... I guess that is only if they find out ? - do the authorities here inform the authorities in the UK ? Seems very unfair.

There should be a double taxation agreement in place between the UK and Switzerland. See paragraph 9 of this document. Which means either: a) you won't be taxed a second time in the UK as I assume you already had Quellensteuer deducted here in Switzerland, or b) the UK tax authorities will want to tax you the difference of what you would have paid in the UK and what you have already paid in Switzerland.

I think the system is as fair as possible given that you are not outside the UK for the full tax year.

You're best bet is to speak to your local inland revenue office in the UK.

Thanks, the thought of speaking to the Inland Revenue is daunting though..
from previous dealings they have got to be the most inefficient, bumbling and incompetant buerocratic organisation I have ever had the misfortune to deal with... impossible to contact directly half the time, and catatonically slow to process anything ( that's when they don't claim to have either lost the paperwork or never received it ... )... bunch of f-ckwits, at least the Swiss get things done when they say they will...

IIRC the rules are that tax paid is deductable but not living expenses, so they will work out how much UK tax and NI is payable and then deduct the Swiss tax paid.

Also IIRC the medical insurance you pay here is not deductable.

Remeber there are lots of people on the public purse to pay for over there

I will talk to a good accountant who will be able to help you. my experience with tax is best to let a competent professional to deal with it. PM if you would like one in UK.