Hi all -

I just returned to Ireland from a 2 week contract in Zurich (Glattbrugg) - my nett pay for the 2 weeks was 7889 CHF. I received payment after Quellensteuer/Tax of 4856 CHF. Seems like a lot of tax that I have paid. Does this seem right?

Thanks

Eugene

So taking it up to yearly salary:

205'000 salary, 126'000 tax.

Seems a bit on the high side. I'd have expect ~60K. Depends on your marital status, children and religion. And if you were working through an umbrella company you'll be paying them a few out of the salary, and your own social contributions.

http://www.steueramt.zh.ch/html/quel...beitnehmer.htm

Yes seemed very high to me. I was working directly for a company on a "try and hire" - I am married with two children.

Got my calculations wrong. 205K salary, 80K tax. But according to the credit suisse calculator, you should be paying about half that.

It looks like maybe they've deducted as though you'd been working for a month, but only paid you for the two weeks. You need to get back to your (ex-)payroll office and ask for a breakdown.

NotAllThere - here is the breakdown - what do you think?
Thanks

Eugene

looks like they are taxing you at the 15.28% rate as if you worked the whole month instead of just 2 weeks.

You need to find out what the "Avance Direct Net" and "Ferienguthaben" deductions are.

For the former, did they give you some kind of signing on bonus, or a cash advance? The latter is probably connected to holiday pay. Maybe you took a day's vacation that they're not paying you for?

But it's these deductions that seem to be causing the discrepency. Find out what they are clawing back.

If it's the agency acting as an umbrella, very often they make a "deduction" for holidays - presumably to mitigate tax. The agency I originally worked through when we first came to Basel did this and also deducted "sick" pay. This was returned to me at the end of the contract.

Cheers,
Nick

They have you down as "Ledig"/single , that will make a difference as well.

Added, looks too as though they have deducted the last two sums, which I think should be additions.

Ferienguthaben for sure, that is holiday pay, Avance direct net, I don't actually know what that is, but as it is down with the Ferienguthaben, I feel it should be plus, not minus.

It will be worth your while to make enquiries, everybody makes mistakes from time to time, so it should be no big deal getting things sorted out.

As an EU citizen and on such a short contract you are not liable in Switzerland for tax nor AHV.

You have been severely ripped off by the agency / employer / umbrella.

swissbob - interesting - I dont suppose you would have any documentary details on this fact?

Thanks

Eugann

Ferienguthaben for sure, that is holiday pay, Avance direct net, I don't actually know what that is, but as it is down with the Ferienguthaben, I feel it should be plus, not minus.


Yes - the Advance direct net - was a wages advance. Thanks for the advice- Ill investigate further.