I received a letter in the post titled 'Mahnung zur Einreichnung der Steuerklärung 2006'

I called the Steueramt to confirm that I understood the letter correctly. The letter says that I have to declare taxes for 2006 within 10 days of receipt of this registered letter.

I did receive a tax declaration package for 2006. I never completed it as I was being taxed at the source (quellensteuer), I was not earning over the threshold 120K per annum and I only got a B Permit in November/December 2006 still paying source tax (quellensteuer).

When I called them they told me that I ALSO had to declare for 2005. I only started work on 1 December 2005, on an L Permit paying source tax (quellensteuer).

I can get more time, but the letter tells me that I stand to get fined if I don't submit a tax declaration - after they have made their own estimation of how much I have paid/should pay.

I was not able to extract meaningful answers from the Steueramt, as my German is sketchy.

My questions are:

1. in 2005 I worked for 1 month on an L Permit paying quellensteuer (source tax) - Do I need to declare taxes for this 1 month as stipulated by the Steueramt?
2. in 2006 I worked for the last 1-2 months on an B Permit paying quellensteuer (source tax) - Do I need to declare taxes for this 1-2 months as stipulated by the Steueramt?

Anyone with experience on this, please share it with us. If anyone knows a tax guy in Zurich who can help please post their details.

Hi Gooner, I got hit for this in my first year, which was incomplete; i.e. I started work on a B in April, paying Quellensteur ... they just wanted to check on my overall payments. I actually received a 1,500 chuff return, as I had overpaid via my company payroll.
Your best bet is to take the letters & any supporting info to an accountant / treuhandler, they will sort it out for you.
Hope that helps.

Are you lunching on Friday?

Hi

You will find a lot of information by searching this forum including advisors in Zurich. However, you will almost certainly get an extension to the deadline when requested when you explain your situation. Call the tax office and request it pending you getting sorted out.

Daniel

My question related to the original thread:

I started working in Switzerland on B permit in 2007 (tax deduction at source). In early 2008 I contacted a fiduciary for filing my 2007 tax returns. They told me:

- First they have to ask the tax department to open my tax file (since I did not get any notification to file my taxes for 2007)

- After few weeks they filed my tax returns for 2007 and gave me a copy of that. They also told me that I’ll get some money back since I overpaid.

After this till now (almost 5 months) I did not get any info from either the Tax dept or from this fiduciary. I contacted the fiduciary last month and they told me that tax papers / refund could take unto a year so I have to wait.

My questions are:

1) Is it normal to get the receipt of tax filing / tax return after a year??
2) How long should I wait before taking any action like contacting the tax department personally?

I've just switched from a B to a C permit this year.

I've never filed a tax return before.

I assumed that my first filing will be for 2008.

If I interpret the above correctly, I should be filing for all the years that I had a B permit and payed Quellensteuer. That sounds pretty daunting as I'm not even sure I still have all the documentation. I first came to Switzerland in 1991.

Give Denise Collin a shout... she does taxes for me and Lob at least...
www.colfina.ch

1. The tax office does not routinely acknowledge a filing. If you need a receipt:
   a) send it registered post, or
   b) go there with a copy and request the office to stamp the copy as acknowledgment.
2. Unless you are leaving Switzerland, you may not want to annoy them with nagging. At least wait 1 year. You get 2% interest on delayed refunds. So why hurry?