Live in Vaud, and received my 'decompte final' for 2019 income tax at the start of October, and just noticed a nasty surprise lurking on the balance sheet. I'm only semi-literate, in financial terms, so wonder if someone here could enlighten me?
Basically, I've been charged CHF 555 for 'interest moratoires sur acomptes ICC' - effectively an interest penalty for late payment? It seems strange as on the final decompte I would have otherwise got some 250 francs back, it seems, as I would have overpaid for the year.
N.B. For context I requested, and was granted, permission to submit my 2019 declaration by June 30 this year, rather than the normal March 15. Don't know if that is relevant or not.
Be grateful for any guidance on why I've been penalized like this, before I phone the tax office with my 60% French!
You need to pay tax on time (possibly during the year) credit interest is given for early payment & debit for late payment)
When you submit your return is irrelevant.
Looks like the tax in Vaud is due March 31 of the tax year (2019 tax was due March 31 2019), and late payment interest is 3 1/2 % This means your tax bill was around CHF 10k.
https://www.vd.ch/themes/etat-droit-...er-mes-impots/
Thanks all. Come to think of it I may know the reason. Until October it was deducted at source, as I'm a permis B holder. Then I married a Swiss and from October there was a joint calculation, which did lead to delays - my employer stopped the automatic deductions, and it then took the tax office some time to complete the bureaucracy, reassess us both and send bills. Best that I call them in any case, many thanks!
I think it will not make a difference, they just follow the rules & don't have any mechanism to be nice.
Sorry but that is your issue all along. You knew when you married the Swiss the your tax regime will change. Right then you could had time to calculated the tax due and pay as much tax as needed. Your souse should have had plenty of payment slips for that (read that Vaud sends you 13 !) and in most cantons you can simply order new, additional payments slips any time very easily.
I love the acid tone that some people take when others ask them for advice! Really, thank you for your (previously) useful comment. FYI I've just bought a house, work a 50-hour week and have a small child. As a matter of equity, I don't expect to be penalized for getting married when the cantonal office can't sort their administration out. In the UK the system is entirely based on PAYE and is far easier to negotiate - here the system is labyrinthine - hence my request for help.
The structure here is simple as well. When changing to a C permit, you can - in advance if you want - check with the tax authorities what needs to be paid.
Fairly straight forward process here (not knowing the UK system)
In the UK people are treated like babies, here you need to take personal responsibility.
Ha ha - that is true, and I certainly wouldn't want to move back to UK at the moment. I very much appreciate Switzerland and the well-ordered life here. That said, I think it's a failing if you don't accept that certain systems and processes can be improved in your country, or in the country where you live. Your assertion isn't an argument.
Sorry for throwing you in the cold water and expecting you to be able to swim like a dolphin right away. But the Swiss system is one known to be based on the concept of "Selber Schuld" ("Your own fault") and self responsibility. This might not always work perfectly but in generell it is assumed that the people are informed, know the rules and follow them as necessary. YOu have the liberty but also the responsibility. It is not like the information is only on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard." (I linked to them btw.)
If you think the tax system works the same as back home, than I have another message for you: Dorothy, you are not in Kansas anymore. Many more things are different here than back home. Swiss authority are more than happy to slap on some extra fees or even what some would consider hefty fine if you do not know the rules. If your excuse is that you do not speak the language: "Selber schuld" as you see language course virtually pays for it self.
I struggle to understand tax rules in English, let alone French. My French language skills are OK, but all the same...
Nonetheless, I take your point and thank you for your help, seriously. Apologies as well for my slightly churlish tone before. Have a good day!