What documents do I need for my tax return?

For a complete tax return in Switzerland, you need various receipts and documents: salary certificate, insurance statements, bank documents, donation and continuing education receipts, as well as all documents regarding real estate and investments.

A systematic collection of all required documents is crucial for a correct and optimal tax return. Here is a comprehensive checklist:

Basic documents (mandatory):

Salary and income certificates:

• Salary certificate: Issued by employer (by January 31st)
• Pension certificates: AHV, IV, BVG pensions
• Unemployment benefits: Certificate from unemployment insurance
• Self-employed income: Annual balance, profit and loss statement
• Side activities: Fees, freelance income
• Capital benefits: One-time payments from pension funds

Identity and personal documents:

• Tax return form: Sent by the canton
• ID/Passport: For identity proof
• Civil status certificate: In case of marriage, divorce, death
• Residence permit: For foreign nationals

Income and capital returns:

Bank documents and interest income:

• Account statements: Year-end balance of all accounts
• Interest certificates: Returns on savings and investment accounts
• Securities deposit: Holdings and returns
• Dividend statements: Stock distributions
• Bond interest: Fixed remuneration
• Life insurance: Surrender values and returns

Other investments:

• Real estate ownership: Land register extract, tax value
• Rental income: Lease contracts and statements
• Private loans: Interest income from credits
• Precious metals: Holdings and valuation
• Cryptocurrencies: Holdings and transactions

Deductible expenses:

Insurance premiums:

• Health insurance: Premium statements basic insurance
• Supplementary insurance: Limited deductibility
• Life insurance (3b): Premiums and benefits
• Household/liability insurance: Annual premiums
• Legal protection insurance: Premium certificate
• Disability insurance: Private provision

Pillar 3a (tied provision):

• Payment receipts: All payments of the tax year
• Account confirmation: Year-end balance
• Insurance policy: For 3a insurance solutions
• Withdrawal receipts: If withdrawal has taken place

Professional and employment-related costs:

Professional expenses:

• Commute: GA, half-fare, subscriptions, mileage allowance
• Meals: Additional costs for external activity
• Work clothes: Special work clothing
• Work tools: Computer, software, office supplies
• Professional literature: Job-related books and magazines
• Home office: Home office costs

Continuing education and retraining:

• Course costs: Job-related continuing education
• Travel expenses: Round trip to courses
• Accommodation: Hotels for multi-day courses
• Learning materials: Books, software, online courses
• Exam fees: Certifications and degrees

Family deductions and child costs:

Childcare:

• Daycare bills: External childcare
• All-day school: Lunch and afternoon care
• Nanny/babysitter: Private childcare
• Holiday care: Camps and holiday programs
• Day mother: Family-supplementing care

Child costs:

• Education costs: School fees, university fees
• Apprenticeship contract costs: Expenses and materials
• Children's medical costs: Not covered by health insurance
• Alimony contracts: Maintenance payments

Housing and real estate:

Rental apartment:

• Rental contract: Current contract
• Ancillary costs: Heating, water, waste
• Moving costs: For job-related move
• Household insurance: Premiums

Home ownership:

• Mortgage interest: All interest statements
• Bank fees: Charges and processing costs
• Maintenance and repairs: Craftsman invoices
• Insurance: Building and elemental damage
• Energy renovations: Special deduction possibilities
• Property taxes: Municipal taxes

Health and special circumstances:

Illness and accident costs:

• Medical costs: Deductible and franchise
• Dental costs: Not covered by health insurance
• Medications: Prescriptions and OTC preparations
• Therapies: Physiotherapy, psychotherapy
• Aids: Glasses, hearing aids, wheelchair
• Alternative medicine: Recognized therapies

Extraordinary events:

• Elemental damage: Flood, storm, hail
• Theft: Uninsured losses
• Legal costs: Lawyer and court fees
• Bankruptcy/losses: Irrecoverable claims

Public benefit expenses:

Donations and memberships:

• Donation receipts: Recognized public benefit organizations
• Church taxes: Contributions to religious communities
• Association fees: Public benefit associations
• Political donations: Parties and candidates

International relations:

Foreign income:

• Work income: Income earned abroad
• Capital returns: Interest and dividends from abroad
• Real estate income: Rental income outside Switzerland
• Withholding tax deductions: Taxes paid abroad
• Double taxation agreements: Relevant treaties

Digital document management:

Organization tips:

• Digital collection: Scan or photograph
• Folder structure: Sort by categories
• Cloud storage: Secure storage
• Backup: Multiple backup of important documents
• Annual archiving: Systematic filing

Findea.ch document service:

• Scan app: Easy photographing of receipts
• Automatic categorization: AI-assisted assignment
• Secure storage: GDPR-compliant storage
• Direct access: For tax advisors and clients

Monthly checklist:

Continuous collection (year-round):

• January: Salary certificate and insurance statements
• February-November: Collect ongoing receipts
• December: Year-end statements and account balance
• After year-end: Add late receipts

Often forgotten documents:

• Mileage allowance: Private trips for employer
• Home office costs: Share of rent and utilities
• Continuing education: Online courses and e-learning
• Cryptocurrencies: Trading and mining
• Sharing economy: Airbnb, Uber, etc.
• Volunteer work: Expenses and costs

Professional support:

When professional help is useful:

• Complex situations: Multiple income sources
• International activity: Cross-border payment
• Real estate ownership: Multiple properties
• Self-employment: Commercial income
• Large assets: Complex investments

Findea.ch service:

• Complete processing: From collection to submission
• Optimization: Maximum utilization of all deductions
• Legal security: Compliance with all regulations
• Time savings: Professional and efficient handling

Legal notes:

Retention obligation:

• Duration: 10 years after completion of tax year
• Form: Original or legally valid copy
• Digitization: Permitted under certain conditions
• Proof obligation: For tax authority inquiries

Conclusion: A systematic collection of all relevant documents is the key to a correct and optimal tax return. With digital tools and professional support, this process is significantly simplified.