Hi all,

I'm going to be posted to Switzerland for job roatation lasting about 4 months.
I understand that all foreign nationals are required to contribute to the 2 pillars of social security.
However from what I read it seems that even if I leave Switzerland for good I can't get my contributions back as I would have paid contributions for less than a full year?
Anyone done a short stint in Switzerland and experienced these tax issues?
Many thanks for your info!

Travis, when I originally came to Switzerland, it was meant to be for a short-term assignment. My employer gave me the option of continuing to contribute to the social security/pension funds I was already contributing to (USA) or instead contribute to the Swiss system. I opted for option 1, and switched to option 2 only when I cancelled my assignment contract and moved to a local contract.

From what I was told at the time, I think it also depends on who your employer is at the time of the assignment: since during my assignment I was an employee of the US branch, they gave me the option discussed above, which ceased when I became an employee of the Swiss branch and then I had to start contributing to the Swiss system. So it is possible that, if you do not cease to be an employee of your home country office during your assignment, you might be able to waive your social security contribution to the Swiss system, provided that you are already contributing to the social security of your home country.

Your best bet in my opinion is to ask the HR department of your employer.

well there's no social security contributions back here in Singapore so now it looks like i'm gonna have to pay for it.

Thanks for the info!