We've had a few questions pop up in other threads where people have been asking for (and getting answers) to the question of where to find a tax advisor or an accountant.
Therefore I thought i useful to start a "resource thread" on the topic. This thread will not be for discussion of tax-related issues - please try to limit it only to recommendations and questions about specific tax professionals.
Please note that the German word for an accountant is Treuhand , so if you are searching for them, this is a useful word to remember!
If you find people in other threads asking where they can find an accountant, please don't provide the information on that thread, but link them to this thread instead.
When you make recommendations on this thread please give a few details about the type of person you are recommending. Bear in mind that there are different types of tax professionals - some might be straight bean-counters and others might specialise more in legal matters (these are often more lawyers than accountants). Some might deal mainly with individuals, some might advise large corporates.
I'll start the ball rolling with a recommendation I made on another thread:
He's probably not the guy you want for a simple filing of your tax return, but if your questions are more complex and relate to expat issues (like money coming in or out of the country) he's the one.
If anyone else has previously given recommendations scattered throughout other threads, please repeat them here for easy reference.
Can anyone recommend a tax consultant in the Montreux area? I am moving to Villars in june 2007. my notary is dealing with my purchase and my Permit B application but I need additional advice on my tax situation.
Does anyone have good experience with tax advisors based in the Zurich or Baden areas? Pretty regular sort of tax returns, with one expat move.
I'll contact the guy Mark mentioned too, though he sounds a bit heavyweight from what Mark said (though he might be the right chap to contact regarding my move-based questions).
Collin sounds fine too, and thanks for posting the details. I'm basically being lazy, and hoping to find someone directly on my home-work-home commute. I checked the train/bus times, and the lady in Brugg is about 50mins from my office, and one hour from my home. This is in fact better than I'd expected, so I will make a phone call and see how it goes.
The chap in Zurich had the advantages of operating from my home city/kanton, and being recommended as good for expat things (I was actually on basically the same programme as the person who was being advised when Mark first posted Scheuch's details), and I have one largeish question in this regard.
I just got his bill. He is a heavyweight. Cost me 450 francs for 1 hour of his time and a few phone calls to the previous account which had given me bad advice.
Still, but telling me correct information he got me out of a bit of trouble. Mind you, if the previous accountant hadn't given me the incorrect advice I probably wouldn't have gotten myself into trouble anyway. So just bear that in mind when selecting and accountant or lawyer.
Yes but if as you say you are able to deal with her remotely then all is good. I shall await her response and hope she is able to help with the initial declarations required for a Permit B entry... cheers.
I know it's not *tax time* and I am soooooo confused about how this system works here.
Basically, I need to find a *reasonably priced* Zurich accountant who can help with a few questions I have.
I was looking over some papers my husband had and nearly had a heart attack when I saw what he paid in taxes last year (in April)
I had just moved here last Nov., and really wasn't involved in the process, nor did I ask to understand it....but recently I've become very interested in our finances since I am not working and need to understand why he paid so much last year for 2 people, one of whom is unemployed and also not using unemployment benefits.
I'm already sleepless every night now b/c I think I know what we are in for come April and it is REAALLLLLY REEEEEAAALLY scaring me financially.
I need someone who does just simple returns, we have no property or anything like that. He's a postman and I'm a expat not working.
I don't want April to ever come if this is what we have to pay again....
I use Verena Conte on Giesshubelstrasse (opposite Migro's at Brunau Park). I only used her once so far but she managed to sort out a couple of problems for me and I haven't had any issues with the tax return that she did last year. I can't give an exact price as she did lots of additional work for me the last time but I believe she's around the market average. She speaks German, English and Italian very well.
As a side note, my tax bill usually works out at around one months salary for the Kanton and this seems to be what other people pay. The Government tax seems to be a flat rate but I can't remember what it was.
without giving out too much personal financial info. of my hubby...
if the average is *generally* around one month salary, then we got seriously, and I mean SERIOUSLY SCREWED last year. he paid alot more than one month of salary. alot more. it doesn't make any sense to me how/why we paid so much, especially with what he makes. there's no way someone could come up with this amount every April, no way in hell.
(pardon my language)
like I said, he's a postman...he doesn't make alot of $$$.
I am not working, nor did I even reside here the full year...but what I saw he paid in April literally almost stopped my heart. and I haven't stopped thinking about this upcoming april since then.
You should ask her about a rebate for last year while you are talking to her. If your husband did pay too much you should be able to claim it back?? I'm not an expert but a big believer in if you don't ask you don't get.
I will be bringing all papers to her from last year to show what was paid.
If this is the case, then we are owed a fairly big chunk of cash.
see, in Canada if you over pay, they pretty much fix it and mail you a cheque (at least that's what I had happen twice and was quite happy to receive money back!!)
I just *assumed* that here IF we had over payed, the same rule applies...they would have mailed/sent something out saying we overpaid.
but again, that's just stupid me not understanding how their system works. I wasn't aware it was up to us to ASK for our overpaid $$$ back.
but if that's how it works, good to know...b/c I WANT OUR MONEY BACK!
please do remember to differentiate between local and national tax - you'll pay a chunk to your Gemeide/Bezirk and the (local tax) rest to the Bund (Federal tax).
All-in-all he should lose no more than 25% of his income to social and tax deductions.
I think that Lob is referring to all tax and monthly deductions when he mentions 25%. I certainly never received a single tax bill that was anywhere near 25% of my salary. But if I were to count in the monthly deductions (AHV etc) then I could see it creeping up to around that point.
My advice to you is not to worry until you've spoken to someone about your last tax return. I honestly don't think it will be as bad as you think.