Methodology and sources
The calculator uses only tariffs and rates published by the Swiss federal administration and the cantons.
What the calculator works out
- Withholding tax (Quellensteuer) for people taxed at source: B and L permit holders, and cross-border commuters. It includes federal, cantonal and municipal tax, plus church tax where you choose it.
- Employee social contributions: AHV/IV/EO, unemployment insurance (ALV), pension fund (BVG) and non-occupational accident insurance (NBU). In Vaud, Valais and Schaffhausen it also includes the small cantonal funds employees pay into.
- Net salary per month and per year, and the same salary in every canton.
Sources
- Withholding tax tariffs 2026, all 26 cantonsSwiss Federal Tax Administration (ESTV). The cantons set the tariffs, and ESTV publishes them for all of Switzerland.Downloaded 14 November 2026 · estv.admin.ch
- Social insurance amounts 2026Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV): pension fund limits and pillar 3a maximums.Published 6 November 2025 · bsv.admin.ch
- AHV/IV/EO and unemployment contribution ratesAHV/IV information centre, leaflet 2.01 on salary contributions.Valid from 1 January 2026 · ahv-iv.ch
- Maximum insured earnings for accident insuranceFederal ordinance on accident insurance (UVV), article 22.Version of 1 January 2026 · fedlex.admin.ch
- Family allowances and cantonal funds 2026Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV), types and amounts of family allowances by canton.Status 12 December 2025 · bsv.admin.ch
- Postcodes, communes and cantonsFederal Office of Topography (swisstopo), official directory of localities with postcodes.Downloaded 14 November 2026 · opendata.swiss
How we keep the data current
We take the data straight from the official files and never type numbers by hand. Before new data goes live, we check it and compare it with the tariff tables the cantons publish. If anything looks wrong, the old data stays online until it's resolved.
ESTV publishes the next year's tariffs in December, and some cantons correct their files during the year. We check for updates regularly. Every page shows the tax year and the date of the data, so you can see what the result is based on.
What is an estimate
For the pension fund (BVG) we use the legal minimum and assume your employer pays half. Many pension funds charge more, so check your payslip.
Your employer's insurer sets the rate for non-occupational accident insurance (NBU). We assume 1%, and you can enter your own rate in the breakdown.
A 13th salary is taken to be the same as one monthly salary.
What isn't included
- Ordinary taxation for C permit holders and Swiss citizens. It's coming in a later version.
- Tax you pay in your home country as a cross-border commuter, for example in Germany or France.
- A later ordinary tax assessment, where you can claim extra deductions and the final tax can differ.
- Health insurance, family allowances and other income.
Questions
If you think a number is wrong, write to info@tax-calculator.ch. Tell us your inputs and what you expected, and we'll check it.