Just think of it as the premiums for afterlife insurance...
In defence of the OP, if one is coming from a country where there is no such thing as a church tax - indeed a culture where a church tax would be unthinkable - one likely would not know what checking the religion box could mean.
And I have heard plenty of stories where a bureaucrat assigned the dominant cantonal religion when the question is left blank.
It's easy for a newbie coming from a non-European country to get blindsided by the whole church tax concept.
As many of us have experienced in one way or another, with varying consequences, when moving to a new country and culture we often don't know what we don't know and so don't know to ask.
So to the OP: Sorry you went through the hassle; this is one of likely many 'newbie mistakes' you may run into as you settle in. Glad it's been corrected. For your files, did you get a copy of the corrected registration?
For those interested:
In Kt ZH, here's how to de-register from the Catholic church:
https://www.zhkath.ch/ueber-uns/mitg...irchenaustritt
And here from the Reformed church:
Then no matter what you put in the tax declaration, they will take the religion as described when you registered.
Which is a little misleading as Zurich tax has the drop-down field that looks like a "choice".
If the Churches need money, perhaps they could sell off their gilted ceilings and palaces. God doesn’t need those, does s/he?
So on top of everything else you allowed someone you don't know to fill out a form on your behalf and then signed it would out reviewing the contents....
we have had this discussion in the past on EF- and as I explained then, it is not so simple.
I am not a believer and have chosen NOT to pay Church tax accordingly. But you need to look at the history of The Reformed Church in CH to understand that, unlike the Church of England, or the Catholic Church - it has no land and no inherited funds or treasures. And because the Church always traditionally provided care and support for the elderly, the sick, the poor, the alcoolics and drug addicts, etc, etc - that is what the Church tax was mainly used for, and still is. Currently, since Neuchâtel people voted to make said tax voluntary- the Reformed Church is truly struggling to continue the above without- as the Canton has not picked up the bill (which would mean raising taxes). And at the same time, the Church is still expected by those who do not pay the tax, to officiate for baptisms, weddings and funerals - and provide support and care when people are down.
Their popularity is falling dramatically in this country, and in many others. Perhaps the first thing they need do is to look at that fact, and ask themselves why.
But I agree- just trying to explain that historically they have taken the rôle of social services- and when and if the model changes- taxes will have to be raised to pay for it.
And perhaps what you need to do is learn about religion, respect people's right to their beliefs and stop making silly remarks. Religion is not about numbers, it's not a popularity competition, it is as simple as that.
The Neuchâtel Reformed Church has had to sell many of their Vicarages (hurrah, we said) - and trim down staff drastically. Vicars and staff are shared and services spread out to Parishes on some sort of rosta. But they sill provide social services to many groups of vulnerable people - a lot on a volunteer basis. We help in our own non religious way. I do think it is hypocritical of people who refuse to pay, to expect to benefit from Church services when it suits them.
Some of the local Vicars are regularly asked to officiate for weddings and funerals, and baptisms- and specifically asked to 'tone the God bit down' - knowing they are just video opportunities. I can see how they feel misused. And how those who do continue to pay Church Tax, also feel they bear a truly unfair 'burden', both in financial and volunteering time and energy.