Moving to UK but continuing to work in Switzerland

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hello,

I was wondering if it is possible to be "resident" in more than one country? I would like to move my residency to the UK (i am British), but would I be able to continue working in Switzerland? eg. commute every week, spend weekends in UK. I am employed on a local contract in Switzerland and am on EU B permit.

Thanks for advice

2
If you look at the statutory definition of UK residence, with a full time job in CH you would normally be treated as non resident, It's quite possible to be dual resident, but expect to pay full UK tax on your world wide earnings, quite why you would want to do this I don't know.

3

I agree with fatmanfilms, why would you want to do this? You’re not only likely to be taxed in both countries, but the strain of commuting week after week back and forth into a different time zone isn’t going to help either. By the time you’ve spent hours getting from Switzerland to the UK and more hours getting from the UK to Switzerland there wouldn’t be much time left to enjoy your UK time it seems to me. Especially if you have to add in things like food shopping, laundry, etc, while in the UK. What do you think you’ll gain if you do this?

4
It's only really viable for someone who is not really 'living' in CH but wishes to retain a B/C permit so they can buy premium Swiss property i.e. above 300m2 habitable space.

5
Thanks for the replies. There is a valid reason to want to move my base to UK, and you're right, it certainly wouldn't be "tax efficiency".

Is it correct that I would have to change from B to G permit?

Assuming yes, then I would need to go back every weekend, right? What about situations like:

- going on vacations

- having to work in Switzerland over the weekend (conferences for example)

- having to work in another country (again, conference for example)

As UK is not in Schengen then they swipe your passport every time, so they know whether you came and went. I could imagine that cross border commuters in France/Germany/Italy on the other hand could easily not go home every weekend, because who is able to know?

6
The Swiss will give you a G, I doubt they will care very much as you will be taxed at source .

7
Yes, I'm not so concerned about the Swiss. I am more concerned about the British - whether or not someone who is working 100% job in another country will be classed as "settled and present"

8
If you want some advice regarding this from a UK tax perspective inbox me. I am a UK tax adviser specialising in non-dom and residency issues.

It is highly likely that you will need to take advice if you are spending a large amount of time in the UK, as you have suggested. I am happy to put you in touch with an ex-colleague in the UK who could have an initial chat with you.

Good luck.

SCO

9
TBH, if you tell them your living there they will happily accept money in taxes

10
interesting....

I have had several contractors work for me over the years who have been living in the UK and working out of CH who flew back at the weekends.

for them i think it worked out quite well financially. I know they were paid in CHF into a swiss back account.

whether they declared it back in the UK however...