Hello to all the beautiful people on this forum, each and everyone of you inspire me!

I've received my first paycheque and to my horror I found that the source tax I incurred has at a rate of 17.76%. This can't be right, can it?

I live in Zurich and earn circa 100k+, so I expected a rate of around 10%.

Any responses would be appreciated, many thanks in advance.

sounds about right to me. try these:

http://www.steueramt.zh.ch/cgi-stcalc/StTarifNP99.cgi

http://www.steueramt.zh.ch/cgi-stcal...fNP_dBSt99.cgi

Hi Phil, can you clarify what sounds right? i.e. 17% ot 10%?
Sorry but my Deutsch is very poor, so is my understanding of the Swiss tax system

10% roughly is correct. Go and see your HR department. Did you receive more salary this month i.e. bonus, double pay, relocation etc? if so you would have paid more tax

Two possible causes.

Did you get a relocation payment from your employer too in your first wage?

18% sounds a reasonable number if it includes not only tax, but also your social security payments.

Hi, easiest way to check it if you're an English speaker only, is to go on www.comparis.ch The page might load in German first, but you can change it to English. You go then into Finances / Witholding tax, and just fill in the questions.

Here is another source tax shock :

Since end of April, I am helping at the Muezezentrum of my community. I "work" 3 hours every Friday ( outside of school holidays ) for peanuts... My paycheck for the last quartal has been 330CHF gross ( april - June). No need to say I am not doing this for money! Yesterday, my husband got his paycheck and because of me "working" , his source tax is more by 210chf... it looks like the Quellersteuer office is taking into account the fact that his wife is now working without really knowing the amount... Also, from August I will also work in a language institute 4 hours a week again for little money but I assume his source tax will then increase even more..So my question is: will the source tax be reviewed by the Quellersteuer office at the end of the year when they realise how little I've earned , or shall I just give up these 2 small jobs and forget about ever working again while living in Switzerland? unless i find a dream job with a huge salary?

I got taxed on the first months free accommodation...

Hey eyebeebe. I am expecting a relocation payment in my first wage and so will be taxed as a though I am a very lucky boy indeed in the first month, will this additional tax be recovered automatically when after one or more future salary payments? i.e. does my tax liability average out over the year or will I have to do the potentially risky tax return?

No, it generally does not automatically level out over the year. If you earn > 120K you will have to file anyway (ZH). If you earn less than that, it depends on how many deductions you can make etc etc whether it is worth the bother to file a return.

A message for all taxed at source

You should do a tax return every year (especially if your company pays for it) as the tax offices here tax month on month, irrespective of what you earned in the previous month or what you are projected to earn in the next month.

Swiss tax authorities will also tax at-source-Auslanders more rather than less, as they have no guarantee that you are not going to do a runner.

That all said, they are honest when it comes to tax reclaims and if they owe you money, you will get it back with interest (albeit at around 0.0000001% ).

I don't know where your husband works, but generally it is the HR department of the employer company that makes the Qst calculation. Did his paycheck really show your income too? Sounds strange because how would they even know your income?

It can sometimes be that, even when the monthly salary is the same, the Qst changes per month.

If you and your husband file a return at the end of the year, both your income is taken into consideration and depending on the gemeinde where you live and so on it depends whether you get a refund or have to pay additionally.

BUT, do a pre-calculation first, if you live in a high tax (> 100% steuer fuss) gemeinde it may lead to additional tax to be paid. (of course, you guys already figured that one out)

Absolutely - but keep in mind that you have to sign your declaration before it is submitted to the authorities, so if you get an agent or company to do it for you, you can get them to "leave that with me" as it were and decide whether to do the honest thing or not

I was contracting for the last year and was generally taxed every month somewhere between 7 and 14%. My last paycheck took 18.5% and I asked HR to look into it. I'll report back when I hear....

yes, this is exactly how it works, different tax rates apply for single, married with only one earner and married double earner. My favourite part is that as a woman, you will pay more quellensteuer than a man with a same salary (according to comparis, a married woman in Basel-land earning 10 000 per month would pay about 18 000 per year, but a married man only 16 000). I understand it is all supposed to be joint income anyway, but still..

Absolutely.. women only chat and drink tea/cofee majority of time.. they must be taxed more to compansate---- Bring on the groans

You could also try this:

www.estv2.admin.ch/e/dienstleistungen/steuerrechner/steuerrechner.htm

17.8 odd (vs 10) looks about right unfortunately!

Did you originally calculate you tax as if you were married? (Are you?) That could explain your difference in expectation. If you are married best get onto HR.

Couple of things that I can share based on first hand experience:

1. If you have any additional money (Relocation payment, bonus, reimbursement of Language courses which are taxable) which is added to your regular salary you WILL get taxed more. CH has a progressive Tax system which usually applies an X % based on the amount of the month that you rake in. For example if you regular salary was 6K after taxes which usually applied only 10% tax and the next month you got your relocation amount of 10K (that you had to fork out earlier) as part on top of your 6K then you will be taxed may be somewhere between 12 to 15% if not more.

It does not distinguish that you got so money which was owed to you for instance but they just tax you on the amount. Any amount that the authorities THINK that they owe you they will send back it to you after your taxes are filed and accepted - To get your refund it usually takes anywhere from 6 months to 1 year based on your canton.

2. The Tax Authorities also are not concerned about how much your Spouse makes. As a principal money maker who files taxes you get taxed an X% based on your pay check and as soon you declare that your spouse works they will increase it to Y% irrespective of what she was making. So unless both spouses have STUPENDOUS jobs only the better pay check earner should work. Or don't get married, just have children and file your taxes as independents. Someone told that that this works better.

Again, any amount that the authorities THINK that they owe you they will send back it to you after your taxes are filed and accepted - To get your refund it usually takes anywhere from 6 months to 1 year based on your canton.

3. From an expat perspective if you are looking for loop holes (read as investment schemes, special conditions etc.) to help save you money. You won't be able to figure out anything other than the 3rd pillar (Self Pension) unless you are a BRAIN SURGEON. So best is to hire a Tax Consultant who you give you the low down. Not to mention that he will charge you a fortune too so this is not recommend for the faint hearted or unless your Daily ride to work costs more than 200K.

Cheers,

Stiggy

Quoting your pictured friend....

"The dark side I sense in you"

Into exile (you) must go."