OK. This year I have a more complex tax return due to Eigenmietwert and also rental income. Does anyone have an example tax return I can refer to (or with just the house related section or made with up numbers)? Thanks.

Why not take a look at the Migros and Coop notice boards, there are often offers from tax officials to complete your tax return form, for SFr 100 to SFr 200.

If you are claiming tax for a house you really need help the first time, there are many tips and tricks which you need to know about.

And the forms vary between Cantons, you list your home as Switzerland, which isn't very helpful when asking for help.

Someone with a bit of experience can also give you tips as to how to get the most out of 'allowances for upkeep/house improvements' and the like for the future. It isn't a case of trying to cheat the system but I bet there are pitfalls for the unwary. Nice to be able to avoid them.

exactly and i'm hoping some EFers can share those tips and tricks.

Sorry I can't help you out there - hope you find your answers! I have a question regarding the Eigenmeitwert - we never got anything about our house we purchased in November and I am wondering if I need to contact someone as we too are working on the taxes. Is this something that was just sent to you?

Thanks!

no. i was wondering about that too. i did see a brochure on the zurich website on valuing your property. will need to look at it.

I usually go to Gemeindehause Steueramt, pick up friendly agent and converse with her until I get it all clear black on white. Even then I endup gaining some returns and later another bill comes in the letterbox with extra payments incurred by me. At the end of the day I receive peanuts after painstaking efforts of inquiries, filling up the forms, providing the proof and etc... If you think it is worth to hire tax accountant as suggested above go for it. If you get tips & tricks online, then the tax accountants will run out of their business

The amount of the Eigenmietwert is relative to the size of the property, you need to measure all the rooms, then find out which local factors to use.

It isn't very easy getting it right, and for the first tax year you really ought to get at least semi professional help.

The amount of tax is not small, you could be thousands out of pocket.

This was the webpage I was referring to:

http://www.steueramt.zh.ch/internet/...rklaerung.html

anyone know what this means?

Wird der Verkehrswert aufgrund einer individuellen Schätzung ermittelt, ist der Vermögenssteuerwert auf 70% des ermittelten Verkehrswerts festzusetzen, wenn der Formelwert weniger als 70% des Verkehrswerts beträgt.

You need a professional tax person!

Translation by Mr Google,
If the market value estimate based on an individual determines the property tax value is fixed at 70% of the determined market value, when the formula value is less than 70% of market value.

If you have the property valued (ie an appraisal as to its actual value as opposed to its value obtained through the application of the "tax value formula" used by your canton), the value of the property for tax purposes cannot be less than 70% of the appraisal value, even if applying the "tax value formula" would result in a lower value.

Your local Gemeinde will supply a valuation for Eigenmietwert. This should be automatic and usually will turn up in the post about now.

I have owned property in two different areas and this happened in both. It's added to the income side of the tax form (page 2) and the Pauschal for maintenance should be deducted...

cheers. i'll check the post again. nothing there yesterday if they don't supply something, i'll just make up a low-ish value and wait for them to adjust it.

An update on our situation. I contacted the Gemeinde and got back an e-mail yesterday saying our Eigenmietwert will be done in April or May and they are giving us until the end of June for our tax return.

Hmm, I bought my flat about 1.5 years ago and still have not had an official letter of what my Eigenmietwert is.

There is a formula and it is calculable though, should be something like (e.g. for a 1Mchf new build in Kt ZH)...

70% of Total price of Property (Purchase price + Improvements) = 700,000

4.25% of the above figure = 29,750chf

From this figure, you are able to make deductions up to 20% for the Factoring, upkeep etc = 5,950chf

Total taxable sum = 29,750 - 5,950 = 23,800chf which is probably going to add 4-5k chf to your tax bill.

This is of course assuming you are living in the flat, which it sounds like you aren't. I'm not sure what the difference in calculation for that is, but maybe you start with 100% of the value of the flat, rather than 70%

In the eyes of the tax office, your house depreciates at 1% a year also, up to a max depreciation of 30%, so you get a little relief every year.

About 6 months after we purchased our flat, we were sent forms to estimate its cash value and rentable value. It was quite a lengthy form, including details of the flat itself (living area, no. rooms etc), proximity to public transport and amenities, potential for noise pollution (proximity to footpaths, motorway, railway etc) and various other things.
Since we'd only moved there in the September, I thought we could take the yearly values and divide by 4. Oh no, it was adjusted for the whole year. Since then, we've just used the same yearly amount.

It's a PITA, but on the flipside, you can claim against mortgage interest repayments, amortisation and 3a contributions, maintenance costs, and any home improvement projects.

No idea - tax speak is a language in itself.

City of Zürich has a tax software: http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/fd/de/in..._software.html. Don't know if it guides you through the forms or whether it is only a compilation of those.