I asked my employer to give me an income statement, which they issued in ADVANCE until the end of July (including the salary I should get next week). I got a closing statement from the bank (including interests gained, which is what the Steueramt wants), a closing statement from my Health Insurance (primes are deductible) and I printed from my bank's online e-banking system my wife's payments to the AHV Kassa (which you can also deduce). I took that along with the 2009 Steuererklärung forms I got at the City Hall and gave it ALL to an accountant, who will do the Erklärung for me. They will send it to the Steueramt for me, and the Steueramt will send the final due payment lump sum payment slips to my "Vertreter", who is a colleague at work who will just mail it to me. Since I'll keep my bank account open I will be able to pay via e-banking in a few weeks, when everything collides into a big boooooom !

I don't suppose anyone knows what happens if you can't pay the tax bill? I know it can get ugly but I am not planning to delay my plans for a bill - basically it's a case of cut and run. As I am not coming back ever, does it really matter?

I really don't, but I seriously doubt they'll EVER track you down to India or even Canada. In any case, and please don't get me wrong, I think just about any situation can be dealt with. It all depends on how well you plan it. Considering you know now, 5 months in advance, that you are relocating, you can de-register in December (give them a moving date within 2009), so the Steueramt will only look at your due taxes for this year, and dismiss any potential taxes they could want to charge you for January (which would be negligible to begin with anyhow). You won't be in trouble, as you can stay in Switzerland as a tourist for your last few days during January while you prepare the move. That makes things a LOT easier.

So...having said that, I think you can have your employer, health insurance, bank, etc send you all the papers to a representative (a friend, a neighbour, a former colleague) who would only need to mail them to your trustee (an accountant who will file the Erklärung for you). Then the Steueramt can send your representative the bill for 2009, which you can pay via e-banking.

I know it sounds like trusting a lot of people and hoping they'll do you the favor, but it worked perfectly well for me. I hope you can find a way to work around this thing that will work for you too.

Good luck with the move !

Do I understand your post correctly that as an EU national I could deregister up to 3 months before I actually leave and save a heap on insurance? Will that work if I'm still working here during those 3 months?

When you deregister, your work-permit terminates.

Thank you Goldtop

reading all of this is making me dizzy.

1. i wrote my landlord company but didn't send it by register mail. i think i will go pay a personal visit this week with another letter?
2. i will deregister from the office in the canton of basel....i have to do this soon?
3. will the landlord company transfer the deposit to a US account?
4. do i really need to tell swiss com (home internet service) and the electric company now (i leave october)? also, does swiss com require the modem back? in the states usually they want the modem back....
5. regarding the retirement stuff. does one have to work for 12 months in order to retain it or is this based on each individual company that handles this?

i'm down with the cleaning. thankfully my flat was mostly there to house my things and it isn't a mess.....i never even put much on the walls save for using tape because i didn't have a drill!

i will organize a party with 'free' beer.....i'll make some trips to wonder why the heck i am leaving......it's been a very fun interesting time....it's not going anywhere....and free schooling back home is well....a good incentive for me to repatriate.

thanks

Is it very naive of me to think that I can make an appointment with the Steueramt and sort out the final bill for 2009 before I leave end of November? My taxes are deducted monthly - I dont do the saving up and paying once per year malarky...

Swiss pension plans are fully vested with the employee's and employer's contributions. Please consult other forum threads that describe the withdrawal criteria and taxes.

In 1999, I decided I needed to leave Switzerland and return back to the UK. Quit my job at UBS and left a month later.
One small problem was I met a girl just after this - who is now my wife.
Went back to the UK, then Luxembourg and eventually married and came back to Switzerland - new job (2 years later)
I joined my wife's Krankenekasse (Health Insurance) and thought I could just start a new life.
However, the old Krankenkasse found out I was back in CH and sent me 2 years worth of premium bills. Plus a new one each month.
Then the Betreibungs started.
Took me a year and my (new) companies lawyer to get them to stop. Still cost over 1500 chf and so much hassle.
You can only cancel this insurance for a limited window per year - I think that it is september/october. Make sure you cancel this one - just in case you ever do come back.
OK - this was 10 years ago and the system may be more flexible now - but think about it.

You are also able to cancel when you send them a copy of your deregistration papers.

Does it make sense to inform health insurance companies in advance - if its also possible to cancel with deregistration papers? Is there any benefit to giving them 3 months notice, such as you dont have to pay a cancellation fee as you would do if you cancel with deregistration papers?

I take it you still have a pension here, can they get there hands on that if you have unpaid bills?? wouldn't you also have to give your pension co. a forwarding address, so they could trace you via that too.

When you leave, your vested benefits are transferred to a special bank account. Pension benefits are protected and cannot be attached. It is in your interest to give them your new address.

For EU citizens, a visit to the Stadthaus (Zürich - Stadthausquai 17) involved filling out the inevitable A4 form then a visit to the Steueramt across the road to make sure everything is above board financially (no doing runners etc.). I have an accountant (Steuerberater/Treuhand), so I signed a form giving him authority to act for me should there be any monies due, Tax 2009 etc. Across the road again to the Stadthaus again to deliver the piece of paper the Steueramt gave me.. The Stadthaus peeple then gave me another piece of paper to take to the Amtshaus in Helvetiaplatz (Tram no. 8 from Paradeplatz). All in all, the whole process took about two hours and cost CHF 60,00 for two people. A whole morning with the swiss civil service, CHF 60,00 is reasonable.


All misspelt words are my own dooing, honestly.



Larry PLover.

I am helping a friend who recently emigrated. The tax process has not cost a single cent. And no hassles from the bureaucrats. They have given 6 months time to file the tax return.

Where do you get the deregistration papers?
thanks,
e

See Laurence PLover's last post on this thread. That's what I plan on doing.

Actually if you tell the companies that you are leaving Switzerland they only need a month's notice. It was the case with Cablecom, Electricity etc.
Maybe Swisscom is different, I don't know. But the letters do have to be sent by recorded delivery.

Don't you also need to send them your deregistration papers?