Hello
quick question about the recognition of a child for non married parents:
We will be asked to chose who should receive the AHV benefits for the education of the child: 50-50, 100% to the mom or 100% to the dad.
The plan (for the beginning at least) is that my partner reduces her working time (I might follow in the future) so we would choose 100% to the mom which seems the most logic thing (it can always be changed after).
But are there any considerations to be taken tax-wise ? Are those benefits just a top-up based on a "virtual contribution" or is there an actual contribution ?
My partner earns less but still get a good salary (I'm not sure how this works exactly but AHV is capped anyway at some point so we might never see this money) but she has contributed since her early years while I have gaps for my first years (I came to Switzerland at 22 years old but did not know about the system and failed to plug the deficit of the first years).
Thank you!
The AHV refers to pension, so I’m unclear exactly what benefits you are talking about....
I presume the monthly child benefit, about CHF 200 or so, depending on canton.
As it adds to your taxable income, best bang for the buck is to the person who earns the least (if not married, which is the case here)
Tom
Kinderzulagen/Ausbildungszulagen - child allowance. It's paid to one of the parents by their employer. It's got nothing to do with any contributions or deductions. The employer's social contributions bill is simply reduced by that amount.
It is not through AHV, but it is a benefit (child + family) from the "Familienausgleichskasse" - sorry, don't know what this is in French or English.
This has nothing to do with AHV; either of you can choose to take it and this money will appear in your payslip. Then you'll have to pay taxes on it, as it's now part of your salaryeither by making a normal declaration or through tax at source, if neither of you is Swiss. If you're under normal taxation, it doesn't make a difference which parent takes it, as your salaries are added up anyway. As far as I know, there are no additional contributions based on which parent receives this benefit.
Edit: Sorry, I see you're not married. Then it makes sense to have the parent earning less get them, if it's allowed. There is normally an order to determine which parent receives them. If you both work in the canton where you live, then it is the higher-earning parent who gets it.
https://fak-basel.ch/familienzulagen/
if you read German.
I don't know if it is still a thing, but the amount varied by canton, so if they are working in different cantons it might make a difference.
Also at one employer, there was a 1k bonus per child up to 3k to the parent receiving the child allowance....
Yes. Search for "AHV Erziehungsgutschriften", things are a bit more complicated for unmarried couples. It is strongly advised to put your agreement in writing.
Probably too late now, but anyway, you can backpay the minimum annual contribution for up to five years (probably not beyond the year you arrived) to make a year count.
Thanks,
Yes we put things in writing in front of officials (I speak a bit of German but they actually required to book an interpret too).
I know it's too late for thie missed contributions, that was why I asked if I should consider it when deciding who gets the AHV Erziehungsgutschriften.
It's probably better if she gets them, assuming it even makes a difference, but that depends on the income situation.
You can always contact the AHV directly via ahv-iv.ch, those replies will be reliable and can be based on your actual income situation/plans.