Living in Switzerland, working in Germany

englishtim · #1 20.04.2008, 10:10

I have a friend who is applying for a job in Germany near the Bodensee. His girlfriend lives in Zurich, and he wants to live with her in Switzerland while commuting into Germany.

Any idea on his permit/tax situation? I presume that as a resident in Switzerland he would pay income tax here, but what kind of permit would he have (if at all)? His girlfriend works on contract and so has a rolling L permit.

Tim

Shorrick Mk2 · #2 20.04.2008, 10:59

I believe Zurich is too far from the border to qualify for a cross-border employment permit.

englishtim · #3 21.04.2008, 08:28

I thought the cross-border permits were just for people working in the opposite sense, e.g. working in Switzerland, living in Germany?

Looking around the web, I read somewhere that following a German-Swiss bilateral agreement it is possible to pay income tax in Switzerland whilst working in Germany but the Germans retain the right to claim tax for up to 5 years from the time of leaving Germany.

It seems we need to engage a specialist for this one.

Lob · #4 21.04.2008, 08:35

what nationality is he?
how many hours a day is he prepared to commute?

Shorrick Mk2 · #5 21.04.2008, 08:51

	Quote:	englishtim
	I thought the cross-border permits were just for people working in the opposite sense, e.g. working in Switzerland, living in Germany?

It works both ways.

englishtim · #6 21.04.2008, 13:25

	Quote:	Lob
	what nationality is he? how many hours a day is he prepared to commute?

He's British. For the commute - I think up to 1.5 hours, although he's thinking of spending some days of the week in Germany to cut down the km a bit.

British · #7 10.08.2008, 15:40

Hi

Did anyone find out about an EU person with Swiss Permit working in Germany or Italy and living in Switzerland regarding the tax situation?

scriptis · #8 11.08.2008, 10:09

The easiest way would be to rent a small apartment/room in Germany so that his official address is there an then spend as much time as he wants in Zurich as a tourist. Much easier in terms of paperwork.

babis · #9 06.08.2010, 10:15

	Quote:	scriptis
	The easiest way would be to rent a small apartment/room in Germany so that his official address is there an then spend as much time as he wants in Zurich as a tourist. Much easier in terms of paperwork.

This way, somebody loses his B-permit, right?

S00ty_0 · #10 06.08.2010, 10:21

	Quote:	babis
	This way, somebody loses his B-permit, right?

It would also mean paying taxes etc. in Germany, if you prefer to waste your own money instead of giving it to the German government to waste it then stay in CH...

#11 06.08.2010, 10:34

Maybe we some sort of autoclose of threads where the last post is 2 years old?

glennsche · #12 06.08.2010, 12:54

so, he wants to work in germany and pay german taxes yet not benefit from the comparatively low cost of living there.

i think the kids today have a phrase for that: "Yer doin' it wrong."

#13 06.08.2010, 15:41

	Quote:	glennsche
	so, he wants to work in germany and pay german taxes yet not benefit from the comparatively low cost of living there. i think the kids today have a phrase for that: "Yer doin' it wrong."

I'm sure he wanted to... 2 years ago