Hello. I was wondering if people had experience moving to Schwyz.
I saw a thread from 2005 - and it didn't really answer our question so am starting a new one.
We moved from Geneva to Schwyz in May 2022. While in Geneva, we had been paying estimated tax for 2022 as advised by the accounting firm (paid by our employer) but since we left the job and Geneva, we no longer have their advice. We understand that when you change cantons, your place of residence as of December 31 applies to the whole calendar year for tax purposes, i.e. the tax return for the whole calendar year must be submitted to the new canton. (from Credit Suisse site: https://www.credit-suisse.com/media/...wechsel-en.pdf )
So we understand that we should request refund to Geneva for the tax payments so far. But how do we make 2022 estimated tax payments to the new canton =Schwyz? Do they send us a tax bill automatically?
Contact the Steueramt Schwyz. My experience has been that the folks at the Steueramt are very easy to deal with, they have been happy to answer questions and help find solutions.
https://www.sz.ch/behoerden/staatska...-382-3151-3153
Thank you meloncollie! I will try that!!
Thank you Meloncollie - will definitely try that. My German is horrible, is it best to call with someone fluent in German or do some of them speak English?
My experience when I moved from ZH to SZ mid year was that SZ weren’t interested in the tax at source I’d paid to ZH. I was on the hook for the whole bill and would get a refund when ZH transferred the money to SZ. Happily that only took a few months and I’d moved to a C permit in any case so it didn’t impact my cash flow.
This being SZ, I wouldn’t approach them in English. I’d email them at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and use Google translate and start your message explaining that English is your first? Language and you don’t speak good German yet, so are using Google translate (or DeepL or whatever). You’re showing sensitivity to local norms and are making an effort. There’s a good chance they’ll reply in English, whereas if you assume they understand English, you’ll get their back up. As you may have noticed, SZ is not GE. I have to say though I have found the local authorities to be nothing other than helpful, courteous and quick when I’ve dealt with various departments.
Eyebeebee is spot on here.
IME it is important to always start a conversation with Schwyzer Officialdom - be it the Steueramt, Migrationsamt, Gemeinde offices, etc - in German, just as described above. The official you are speaking to might switch to English if your German hurts the ears but dont count on it. You can generally, however, usually count on good natured patience when you start out by making an effort.
Showing that you are sensitive to local norms makes relationships much easier.
Speaking of relationships, the same gentleman at the Steueramt had been reviewing our taxes for most of the time we have lived here, which has turned out to be quite helpful many times. So do all you can to start off on the right foot.
All the best as you settle into your life in Schwyz.
Thank you eyebeebe. we will try that!
Mini-update on this topic.
We received a 2022 Tax bill from Canton Schwyz.
We had filed departure docs at Geneve where we lived. On one of the Geneva departure tax forms to submit, we had to get the receiving canton (Canton Schwyz) to validate/stamp and sign that we moved to Schwyz. Now, we are expecting the refund of prepaid 2022 taxes (my spouse is Swiss) by end of Aug.
BTW: it's interesting how different tax payment processes are by canton (in Geneva we had to pay in 10 installments, in Schwyz you have options to pay early and get slight discount, one payment or 3 payments)