Before you sign a Swiss offer

Keep the offer letter beside you. Tick each item once you have a clear answer; the ticks stay in this tab only.

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Confirm twelve or thirteen salariesSwiss offers often quote a monthly salary paid thirteen times. Work out the annual total before comparing offers.
Check which permit you will holdMost foreign employees start on a B or L permit and are taxed at source. Holders of a C permit are assessed like Swiss residents.
Decide which canton you will live inYour withholding tariff follows where you live, not where you work. Cross-border commuters are taxed under separate rules.
Ask about the pension fundThe BVG sets a minimum, and many employers' plans go well beyond it. Ask what the plan contributes and how much of it the employer pays.
Buy health insurance in timeBasic health insurance is compulsory and must be taken out within three months of arriving. Premiums vary by insurer, canton and deductible.
Ask about church taxIf you belong to a recognised church, a church tax is added to the withholding in most cantons. The calculator assumes no church tax, except in Jura.

Questions before you sign

Can I get tax back at source?

If your income is above a threshold, or you have deductions such as voluntary pension payments, you may be assessed after the year instead. Ask your canton's tax office which applies.

Who pays the accident insurance?

Occupational accident insurance is paid by the employer. Non-occupational accident insurance is usually deducted from your salary.

Sources for Switzerland

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Take-home pay in Switzerland