Since we live in Switzerland so far we haven't received tax return from Gemeinde, neither for 2016 nor for 2017. If we leave Switzerland by end of this years shall we go to Gemeinde and ask if we should pay any taxes for these years or whether they should return us money (probably the latter because we payed in max for 3a pension pillar)?

You did file for taxes and haven´t had an answer? Just call the Steueramt in your town.

We left Switzerland over a year ago, when trying to chase the tax office for our final tax bill, the only answer we get is that they have a backlog and will get round to it eventually, so I will let them catch up and find us because we are travelling.

did you leave a postal address in CH? I have been told you need that to get post by the tax Office as they don't accept a foreign post address

The process that worked for us was this:

a) pop in to the Gemeinde to get deregistered and get directed to the local taxation office (it was part of the deregistration procedure)
b) leave a Swiss contact address with the Gemeinde taxation office. For us it was our last tax agent's, with their consent
c) get your final tax return form from the Gemeinde taxation office
d) leave Switzerland
e) work with your tax agent on your final tax return
f) keep touch with your last Swiss tax agent (or whoever your contact is) so they forward mail from Swiss tax authorities to you
g) pay any tax due

f) and g) can go on for several years; as of now, we've just got our 2016 tax bill.

Regarding "g) pay any tax due", what if one simply does not pay the tax due after leaving CH?
What kind of available means of debt collection may have the tax authority?
With someone who is not resident any more...

Zurich made me pay about 1500 extra in cash before issuing the leaving cert, I got a refund in excess of 1500 a few months later.

I'm afraid I can't comment on this aspect, sorry. I won't be playing Mr. Honest and pretending the idea of not paying taxes has never crossed my mind, but in the end I've decided for myself it isn't worth it.

And in our case, we weren't required to pay a tax deposit when leaving. It would've been too large a sum anyway since our tax bills for full years were going to be north of 10k each due to a double-earner situation.

I had already paid north of 10k on account......... They would not care demanding 100k in cash.

Could you elaborate how this happened?

They want you to prepay taxes, do the final calculation and pay back what is owed to you

What is this leaving certificate? Is it just the piece of paper from the city that you are deregistered?

I have deregistered from the city. After they issued me the paper, they sent me to the tax office, where they looked at my taxes, and said in the next few weeks they would review my 2017 and 2018 taxes and issue me a bill. I don't see where the leaving certificate comes into play.

When I left Zurich City, I had to get confirmation from the tax dept, in the same building that all 'possible' liabilities were settled. Only after the extra 1500 was paid did they issue the leaving cert.

Were you Zurich city or a superb?

Yes, that's what it is. It would not surprise me if there's a cantonal or even municipal difference in how the authorities handle taxes and the de-registration certificate.

It was city of Zurich. Either way, I really doubt that at the airport they would be checking that you have such a certificate before they let you board the airplane. I guess it's just one of those piece of mind certificates.

They would to know you were leaving, as legally you would still be living in ZH. If you want to stop being liable for health insurance & taxes you need to get your paperwork in order. You may have to pay an extra 3 months health insurance unless you can show your covered in your new country if leaving for the EU.

Wouldn't it be nice if there was just one simple process across the country for anyone leaving Switzerland, instead of all these variations, leaving certificates, paying tax in advance without knowing what your final bill will be. It almost makes those that travel light, close any bank accounts and just up and move on. Then I suppose half the paper shufflers would be out of work.

Power in Switzerland is at the cantonal level - such harmonisation is unlikely to ever happen.

It helps if you think of Switzerland as a federation of 26 independent countries.

No, the border control guys don't check the de-registration certificate. In fact, the federal authorities have no idea you are leaving for good until you tell them at the outbound passport control booth. And your L or B permit remains valid until its expiration date. It's all so Swiss.

But there are a few things of importance a de-registration certificate is required for. First, it unlocks your Pillar 1,2,3 moneys. Second, it lets you stop your mandatory health insurance policy and get a refund for the remaining time. Third, it lets you stop any fixed-term contracts such as annual internet subscription or liability insurance with no penalties and a full refund for the remaining time. Fourth, it may be required to stop Bilag (the radio and TV tax) and get a refund.