sales tax in Switzerland?

Tonino · #1 02.08.2012, 04:10

Hey guys,
Just curious - what is the sales tax rate in Switzerland? Specifically Lausanne since that's where I'll be living.

I saw that the national tax is 8.5%? And the cantonal tax varies. Can anyone tell me a little bit more about this topic regarding Lausanne?

Thank you.

miniMia · #2 02.08.2012, 06:18

I've never heard of sales tax changing by canton.

Sales tax in Switzerland is 8.5% on most things. Some things like books are lower but I don't have time to google the list.

kiwiguy08 · #3 02.08.2012, 06:53

	Quote:	Tonino
	Hey guys, Just curious - what is the sales tax rate in Switzerland? Specifically Lausanne since that's where I'll be living. I saw that the national tax is 8.5%? And the cantonal tax varies. Can anyone tell me a little bit more about this topic regarding Lausanne? Thank you.

There is one sales tax (GST; VAT) rate in Switzerland...it is 8% (not 8.5). Up until about 2 years ago it was 7.6%. There is no variance between the cantons. I

FYI: This is AFAIK the lowest one in Europe. The neighboring countries all hover around 20%.

RetiredInNH · #4 02.08.2012, 13:16

From the Federal Tax Administration site, What is Value Added Tax (VAT)?:

	Quote:
	Tax rates Not all services are taxed at the same rate. The standard rate of 8% applies to most goods supplied and to nearly all services. Basic necessities, mainly food and drink (excluding alcoholic drinks), medicines and also certain newspapers, magazines and books, are taxed but only at the reduced rate of 2.5%. Finally overnight stays including breakfast are subject to the special rate of 3.8%.

RetiredInNH · #5 02.08.2012, 15:36

	Quote:	miniMia
	... but I don't have time to google the list.

Thanks for the suggestion. Since I am retired I have the time to do it

miniMia · #6 02.08.2012, 16:54

	Quote:	RetiredInNH
	Thanks for the suggestion. Since I am retired I have the time to do it

It was too early in the AM for me. I had to run out. Not normal!!
Anyway, VAT went up while I was gone. I'm glad it's only 8% and not 8.5%!

Tonino · #7 02.08.2012, 23:12

	Quote:	kiwiguy08
	There is one sales tax (GST; VAT) rate in Switzerland...it is 8% (not 8.5). Up until about 2 years ago it was 7.6%. There is no variance between the cantons. I FYI: This is AFAIK the lowest one in Europe. The neighboring countries all hover around 20%.

say what? you're saying that sales tax in germany would be 20%? That's outrageously high.

	Quote:	RetiredInNH
	From the Federal Tax Administration site, What is Value Added Tax (VAT)?:

Great link! Thank you! Pretty weird that the bed and breakfast joints get their own tax rate though.

jrspet · #8 02.08.2012, 23:15

More about the MwSt in Germany from our sister site in DE:

http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Mehrwertsteuer

	Quote:
	Mehrwertsteuer, usually abbreviated to MwSt, is the German for "VAT" (as known in the UK) or "sales tax" (as known in the USA). The typical tax rate is 19%. This is halved to 8% for "essential" goods such as groceries, newspapers, books, etc. It is an indirect tax which you pay upon purchase in any consumer store. Prices in these stores and online stores are usually given including the tax. Mehrwertsteuer and Umsatzsteuer (also known as USt or "turnover tax") are, for all intents and purposes, the same thing. The word Umsatzsteuer tends to be used in association with business to business transactions whereas Mehrwertsteuer is used more for business to consumer.

kiwiguy08 · #9 03.08.2012, 06:52

	Quote:	Tonino
	say what? you're saying that sales tax in germany would be 20%? That's outrageously high. Great link! Thank you! Pretty weird that the bed and breakfast joints get their own tax rate though.

It's 19% in Germany and 19.6 in France. There are countries in Europe like Croatia and Slovenia (among others) where the tax rate is 25%!