My life is already legal, thank you very much.
And you say this because...I asked why the AFC is asking for information on all my foreign bank accounts-which it only does for US citizens- when I already provide FBARs to the US? I'm surprised the AFC doesn't have that information already tbh.

I don't know about others, but I don't manipulate or play games. The Swiss system is fair in the sense that the default is equal inheritance.

Everyone has to declare foreign bank accounts, not only US citizens.

Yes, but that assumes no will.

Also, in theory if she owns all of it, she is free to sell it and spend it all on crack and hookers, there is no guarantee that there will be anything left. She can also go into massive debt, which you would have to accept.

Tom

My main issue is having so many tax returns to file (to 3 countries). I also find it stressful doing Swiss taxes because of the terminology and the getax app has a lot of bugs. The AFC also often make mistakes. Plus they keep sending me these bulletins de versement, as if I can use them outside of Switzerland! They also think I can drop by rue du Stand, and tell me that I can set up an account at the AFC website to pay, when you need an AVS number to do so. I do not have an AVS number, and never did.

Are you certain? From what I remember, the branching logic only displays the bank account info fields when you select US nationality. I'll double check this year...

I have been declaring foreign bank accounts for 15 years as one is meant to report worldwide income and welath in KT Zurich. So maybe it is again one of those Cantonal differences but would be surprised if it is related to Nationality.

Is that from experience? Or are you their spokesperson ?

Then request one from the "AFC" (I assume it means Administration Fiscale Cantonale). The AHV number acts as a Tax Payer Identification number and the AFC should be able to provide you with one (if it is not already printed on the tax forms which you got, and you simply did not spot it. It looks like this: 756.xxxx.xxxx.xx ).

It is not unusual that a person which owns real estate in Switzerland has also a bank account in Switzerland. Nevertheless you can ask the AFC for their IBAN and SWIFT details so you can do a wire transfer. It is not rocket science, but you must ask and it is expected that you act on your own. You have the legal duty to both provide and obtain information, voluntarily and spontaneously, yourself.

__________________
What?

You're right, it's not a lot of money. It's mainly the trouble of filling out the tax forms and dealing with some scary letters from the AFC when they make a mistake and accuse me of something. I don't know why they can't communicate by email, it's 2021 and they're still sending snail mail. Do they know how long that takes to get here, especially during covid?!

The biggest hurdle is to make it initially. Once yo have a template you can just reuse it the following years. And in the end you are not dealing with the IRS. Simple and honest mistakes will not lead to big legal troubles. In the end they are just happy when you pay in time w/o much fuss. However, do not expect any nice treatment if you block and do not cooperate at all. Your mother and sister should be able to help you with the forms and provide additional information.

I was talking about the AVS number, not the AHV number- I do have this. I don't have an AVS number and cannot get one. That's what I was told. I think one has to be a permanent resident at least to get this? I never had one because I only had a carte de legitimation. Without an AVS number one can't pay taxes through the government website, which is unfortunate.

Yes, I do an international bank transfer. When one inherits 'real estate in Switzerland' and lives elsewhere it is likely that one closes it after some years. I probably shouldn't have, in hindsight.

AVS/AHV is the same no, just different languages

Exactly, I just checked my insurance card.

Tom

My mother and sister don't do their own taxes so they can't help. I'm the 'tax savvy' one of the remaining family lol! They also live in Switz and aren't US citizens so that changes things too.

I've been doing it for a few years now but there are many hurdles and communication gaps when one lives so far away. As I've mentioned, postage takes a loooong time. It actually took around 4 months for the 'page de synthese' that I need to print, sign and send to AFC (in addition to submitting electronically) to reach them last year due to covid. Unless one is an expat there are issues/hurdles that one doesn't realize exist. I'm sure it's a much more straightforward process when you live there. This is my frustration with doing the Swiss taxes as they don't seem to have many people in my situation so they don't realize the obstacles specific to us.

Just checked my tax papers, and I don't have an AHV/AVS, what I have is a 'numero de contribuable' and it does not begin with 756. There is also a 'code de declaration'. Which reminds me... it appears that they have not sent me the envelope containing 'Vos identifiants pour votre declaration fiscale 2020 par saisie informatique'! Have they stopped sending them this year? It's the first time I didn't receive it.

Perhaps I’m a bit dense as usual. From my understanding of your OP, you are part of a joint heirship (communauté héréditaire/Erbengemeinschaft) in Switzerland. Until such an heirship is dissolved, each member has to add their fraction of income/capital to their individual (Swiss) tax return. No experience with GE but I suspect they too have a specific form which is attached to the main declaration, listing the heirs and their fractions. As a Swiss resident, your mother certainly submits these figures under her personal declaration.

All you need is a copy of the form in question. Suggestions:
1. Dissolve the joint heirship or
2. Transfer tax formalities/payment to your mother

Just saw you your last post. Sorry, but if you, with practically no connection to Switzerland, are filing returns for mother and sister, I wonder whether they (and you yourself) wouldn’t be better off if this was done by someone else locally.

Thanks for your suggestions, but I wouldn't do that to my mother. She has a lot of health problems. Dissolving joint heirship is not something I would consider either.

I mainly came here seeking confirmation from people here who know others in the same situation as me wrt inheritance and being a never-permanent resident and non-citizen. I was convinced there must be a mistake, and so did my family. Every country has different inheritance and tax laws.

The difficulties wrt Swiss taxes, as I mentioned, are filing them and especially as I have to file taxes for 3 different countries.

How did you jump to that conclusion? I only said they did not do their own taxes. My BIL does it for them. I have enough of my own to complete!! Sorry if it was unclear, I tried to edit that post but can't find the edit button anymore.