Hello, per title I moved in mid 2020 to zurich. On advice I filled my 3rd pillar to the max before the end of the year. However I thought because I was on the B permit that the refund would be automatically done like the tax through the employer.........now I realise I was an idiot.
Is it possible to reclaim this or have I just thrown away 1000 chf in tax?
Also, my salary has increased and combined with the bonus exceeds 120k (during 2021). Does this mean that I also need to now do tax forms formally? Is there a penalty for having missed 2021?
Thank you, sorry for the possibly silly questions I have just been focused so hard on the integration that I lost track of the "normal" things and coming from a PAYE background its all a bit new!
You'll need to ask the tax office if you can fill in a tax return for 2020. You do need to do a tax return for 2021, but you're well within the deadline. You've got until at least March. You've not missed 2021.
For 2021, since your salary exceeds the Fr. 120'000 threshold, the source-tax (Quellensteuer) becomes a withholding tax. The withholding is then used to offset the tax determined by the tax return. When your employer files the 2021 wage declaration (Lohndeklaration) with the government, this should normally alert the tax authorities to send you a tax return for ordinary filing. You could also be proactive and contact the tax office for a tax return.
Also, if your annualized Swiss wage exceeded Fr 120'000 for 2020, or you had unearned income exceeding Fr 3'000 or have net assets exceeding Fr 80'000, you should submit an ordinary tax filing for 2020. You should contact the tax office to request a tax return and a PID (Personal Identification number).
As your salary exceeds 120k, you will need to do a full tax return. To do this you will receive tax forms from the tax department, it could happen that you receive them after a few years together for all the years since 2021. AFAIK there will not be a penalty but if you have some refund then you will get it with interest otherwise you will have to pay tax with interest. You may also proactively ask the tax department to send forms.
For 2020, it depends if you extrapolate and it breaches the 120k threshold.
Call the tax authorities. They are very understanding, although you will probably pay a fine and interest.
For 2021, you can file for an extension - depending on where you live it will be as late as Nov 30. again you‘ll pay interest, but it gives you time to get your stuff together. File for the extension before March 31.
Highly unlikely there will be a fine and and the interest will be very low, if any.
Best to talk to the tax office and get it sorted out....the advisor our local tax office in our town is super-friendly (even overly so!) and helpful, and when it was a lot more complicated (employer seriously messed up the withholding tax and taxable employment benefits) and we went to the Cantonal tax office and again, they were super helpful....
A few years ago it was by appointment or you could walk in - these days you can easily email or phone them too ....