My wife and I are relocating to Basel next month, both EU citizens on B-permits. We are trying to understand our approximate tax liability after we move, both in terms of budgeting but also in terms of choosing a canton in which to live (BS vs. BL).
Two questions:
1. I assume that I should be using the withholding tax calculator as we will both be taxed at source given our B-permit status?
2. How accurate are the estimates at comparis.ch? The calculator suggests that I would be paying approximately 22% tax in BS or 17% in BL (and 23% and 15% for my wife), but having spoken to friends who live in BS, they suggest that this figure seems very low, with the actual number being closer to 30%.
If I understand correctly, the withholding tax should comprise of all of the taxes I need to pay?
Incidentally, when I calculate my tax liability using the 'tax' calculator rather than the 'withholding' calculator, I get a figure that is closer to 22% for BL (or approx 5% higher).
Which do I believe? The 17% number? The 22% number? The 30% number?
Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help demystify these different calculations!
Okay, I have run the same salary numbers through the website you have suggested. The results are:
This seems to make a little more sense -- according to this calculation, the income tax (which I presume includes Federation, Cantonal and Communal taxes) is 18.52%, with an overall deduction from pay of around 27% (which fits with the estimates my friends mentioned).
Still, 17% is not the same as 18.5%, and I'm not sure which of these two sites is more accurate. Is there a more definitive source (now that the "official" one seems to be offline)?
UK Tax does not equal CH tax. Expect to pay about 35% of your income before it hits your bank account. (On things like those listed above.)
What you don't pay in rent in the more expensive areas, you end up paying in bus, train or petrol.
Choose your residence to suit your lifestyle - garden for dogs & kids, central city for party-all-nighters etc.
You will probably be on withholding tax unless you earn packets! (The cutoff used to be 120,000 per year, don't know what it is now)
There are lots of cool people in Basel, and lots to see.
Enjoy! Don't worry about the small things.
And just to put another spanner in the works, your wifes tax rate will be higher even if shes earning the same
(Depends on residing village, age, marital status, hair & teeth colour, don't know what else..)
Has this rule changed, guys?
Years ago, I was on 75k, and paying 16% tax. Had I had 4 kids, I would have paid 16% tax. Had I been male and had 4 kids, I would have paid 2% tax
i have always believed the reference I gave for VD and ZRH at least. If you want the federally official rate then follow this:
http://www.estv.admin.ch/bundessteue...x.html?lang=fr
to spice things up a bit if on you are on 18% tax rate you will have to make a tax return at some next year too.
nope the woman's place is still in the home as far as the tax authorities are concerned. it really hits you if you are not making a tax return, but if you manage to earn enough to trigger the tax return process it balances out a bit better, but she should still know her place ! (c;
Yes, it looks like both my wife and I will need to file a tax return each year, if I understand the regulations correctly. From what I can tell, my wife's tax rate is lower than mine (although I'm not sure whether that's based on her being a woman or our level of incomes -- I earn more than she does).
My understanding is that tax is withheld at a standard rate, then is offset against the actual tax due based on the tax filing.
yes, you have to file a joint return. play with the software at the relevant site below. there is a lot of useful info in this
forum too.
http://www.baselland.ch/Steuern.273545.0.html
http://www.steuer.bs.ch/baltax.htm