Hi all,
I spent a few years in Switzerland, and every year, I was careful to put as much money as I could on my third pillar in December to deduct it from the taxes.
This year is the last year, I moved back on July 31. I thought for this year I could put money into my third pillar at any time during the year like the years before, but my current understanding is that it's not the case. As soon as I deregistered, I was sent a tax declaration to fill, that I have to send next week. And it looks like to deduct third pillar money, I had to contribute to my third pillar before July 31.
Well, I didn't. It hasn't even been a month though, so I'm wondering if there is still a way to deduct the money. What if I transfer the money now, go to UBS tomorrow and ask for some document that shows what I have on my accounts/a certificate for how much money I contributed to the third pillar this year, and I use that for my tax declaration? Would it work or is it too late? From what I remember, the third pillar certificates for the other year didn't show an exact date at which the money was transferred.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Did you deregister already? Pillar III is only for residents.
I deregistered but I didn't close my bank account/third pillar yet, I'm in the process of taking care of all this. So technically I can still contribute to it, send my tax form, and then close everything next week.
Technically maybe, but you are not a resident so that borders on fraud.
Alright, that was my question, actually. Would taking 3-4 weeks to take care of this kind of stuff after years here be considered "normal"/tolerated or is it really like... July 31 is July 31 and you must have nothing left in Switzerland on that date.
I guess it's the latter then.
July 31st is July 31st. You stopped being a resident then and anything that happens after is too late.
Annoying indeed but I doubt there is anything you can do about it.
However, there is nothing preventing you from trying it.
Worse comes to worse when you complete your tax declaration it will not be considered and you can argue a bit and see if someone is sympathetic.
K
Technically and actually it does not work like that, it's called tax evasion as opposed to tax avoidance and the tax authorities are well aware of the games people play.
The certs are issued at the end of the tax year and the deduction is based on a whole year's residence.
Are you saying you can't get a certificate in the middle of the year if that's when you're leaving the country?
How do people get the third pillar deducted from their taxes in that case then?