Swiss tax glossary
Easily understand the main terms of Swiss taxation, updated in March 2025.
59 terms found
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2nd pillar
Mandatory occupational pension scheme.
A
AC
Unemployment insurance.
Anticipatory tax
Federal withholding of 35 % on certain income.
APG
Loss of earnings compensation.
AVS
Old-age and survivors' insurance (1st pillar).
AVS contribution
Contribution to the financing of the AVS.
B
Bank details (IBAN)
Bank details for a possible tax refund.
Bonds
Debt securities issued by a company or an institution.
C
Capital gain
Capital gain realised on the sale of an asset.
Childcare invoices
Receipts for childcare costs.
D
Dividend
Distribution of profits to shareholders.
Dividend statement
Document stating dividends received and anticipatory tax deducted.
Donation receipts
Receipts for donations that may be deductible.
Double taxation
Taxation of the same income by several tax authorities.
E
Effective rate
Actual percentage of tax paid on income.
ETF
Index fund listed on a stock exchange.
F
Family quotient
Calculation mechanism accounting for family composition (depending on the canton).
Form 108
Form used to claim a refund of the anticipatory tax in certain cases.
FTA
Swiss Federal Tax Administration.
I
ICC
Cantonal and communal tax.
IFD
Direct federal tax.
Imputed rental value
Notional income from a home occupied by its owner.
L
LAA
Mandatory accident insurance.
LAMal
Mandatory health insurance.
LPP
Occupational pension provision (2nd pillar).
LPP buy-in
Voluntary payment into the pension fund to improve benefits and, subject to the applicable rules, reduce taxable income.
LPP contribution
Contribution to the pension fund.
M
Marginal rate
Rate applied to the last franc of taxable income.
Market value
Estimated market value of an asset.
Mortgage
Loan secured by a property.
Mortgage interest
Interest paid on a mortgage loan.
Mortgage interest statement
Annual statement of interest paid on a mortgage.
N
Net wealth
Value of assets after deduction of debts.
P
Pillar 3a
Tied individual pension provision offering a tax advantage.
Pillar 3a certificate
Proof of payments made into pillar 3a.
Pillar 3b
Free private pension provision without a specific tax framework.
Portfolio statement
Statement of securities held on 31 December.
Previous tax assessment
Previous year's tax decision used as a reference.
Proof of alimony payments
Proof of alimony payments made.
Proof of professional expenses
Documents proving expenses related to professional activity.
Property
House, apartment or plot of land.
Q
Qualifying shareholding
Holding of at least 10 % giving right to partial taxation of dividends.
S
Salary certificate
Annual summary of salary and deductions.
Securities
All shares, bonds, ETFs and other securities.
Shares
Securities representing a stake in a company.
Social deduction
Deduction granted according to personal circumstances.
Splitting
Calculation method applicable to married couples.
T
Tariff A
Tariff for single people.
Tariff B
Tariff for married people with a single income.
Tariff C
Tariff for married couples with two incomes.
Tariff H
Tariff for single-parent families.
Tax assessment
Official tax decision sent by the administration.
Tax bill
Official decision stating the amount of tax due.
Tax credit
Direct reduction of the tax due.
Tax deduction
Deductible amount that reduces taxable income.
Tax return
Annual declaration of income and wealth.
Taxable income
Income used to calculate the tax.
W
Withholding tax
Tax deducted directly from salary.
Withholding tax salary certificate
Annual certificate issued by the employer.