Hi,
I read somewhere that you can offset school fees against taxes. have looked at various websites ( official estv.admin.ch site and cantonal tax site) but can`t find anymore info. anyone send their kids to private scool or have info on this.
regards
Jo

I don't think so, I've tried but have very little faith in the PWC tax advisor who helped prepare my first tax return, so could be wrong. If you find out otherwise, please let me know!

In Baselland, the Canton will pay CHF 2,000 (I think) towards private education as you are not taking a place in a local school.

Hi ,
thanks termite. I read about this on the expat mums or schools forum. will try find out more.
Jo

Wow does this apply only to the German side then. Where do you find out more info on this.

Hi,

As far as I am aware you at the moment do this, but they are talking about being able to do this in canton Geneva and Vaud (I think).

The same will apply to creche and child care in general... about bloody time too!

It costs us 1860 CHF per month to send our little girly to kindergarten!

Hi,
i phoned the education dept in lausanne today, they do not pay anything towards private schooling here. she did not mention if it was being considered. have e-mailed tax authorities but heard nothing back yet about offsetting fees against taxes.
jo

In Kanton Zurich we can offset our private Kinderkrippe (nursery) fees against tax.

Hi,
lou how did you do that. do you do it when you fill in your tax return?
Jo

Thanks for clarifying that JoJo. Suppose it would be alot to expect things to be uniform from Canton to Canton.

Yes it's done on the tax return. We get a statement from the nursery which says how much we have paid, this gets included in the return. I have to say that we didn't know we could do this until last years tax return when our accountant mentioned it.

I do not believe this varies from canton to canton..

I have claimed (and been allowed) a deduction of the entire school fees for two kids attending international school for the last two years in Zurich, and I understand the legal basis for this is defined in the federal tax code, under something called 'allowances for expatriates'. From what I can tell, the tricky part is to have your local tax office "recognize" you as an expatriate.

Get a decent tax accountant ...

Hi,
I just got an e-mail today from local tax office telling me I couldnot offest my school fees as they regarded this it would be my choice to send kids to private school. we would be lookiing to move permanently to switzerland so not sure how tax situation will be. will they still recognise us as expats if we have our permanent residence & ? business there
JO

I'm afraid you ruled out any possibility of qualifying for the tax break as soon as you uttered the words ..."move permanently".

I had to produce documents showing that I continue to own a house back home... the law does specify that the taxpayer has to be here for a limited duration, and to have the intention to leave within a max of 5 years.

Now I do intend to change my intention soon, but that's another story

There's a lesson in there. Whenever dealing with the authorities, always be as vague as possible about your intended situation until you understand the rules (they will soon explain them to you when the can't pigeon-hole you). Never ever commit anything to writing until you understand the implications. Use lots of "may" and "considering" in your correspondence.

dave

Ok, so we are still in the UK, moving soon to switzerland. we will still have house in uk, at least for a while) - I haven`t said anything to the authorities yet about moving permanently. so with the swiss be a bit vague you say, not lie, just vague!!-will this affect taxation on my salary/business not declaring one way or other in switzerland
what is my poisition re Uk authorities still having house in Uk but resident ie living & working in switzerland?
by the way found a good website answering lots of tax questions all in french tho
http://www.impots.ch
Jo

Hi,
I am br

here's some information straight "from the horse's mouth" ...

Zurich Steueramt, Regulation for 'Expatriaites'

Does any have any further experience in this? Does anyone know what it is for Geneva/Vaud?

It looks like they only allow a deduction of 1,500 / month which seems low considering the cost of real estate rentals and international schools.

I was thinking of selling my house when I come to Switzerland but with if I could write off my full house rental it would probably be worth keeping it. I wonder if I rented something cheap at home if that would count as proof that I have a permanent residence at home.

http://www.taxation.ch/File/PDF/Expat_allowances.pdf

Specific working expenses of resident expatriates are:

c. The ordinary costs of a private international school for minor children if public schools do not offer comparable education.
School costs are always subject to evidence.

I have direct experience of this - as a resident here and on a local contract these expenses were not allowed even though the local school could not offer my 15 old a place . I was told you must be on an expat contract to get this. I appealed and lost.