Taxes on foreign lottery winnings in Switzerland

I recently won a relatively small sum (a 5-figure number) through a lottery in my home country. Do I have to declare the money as income. If so, how much must I pay in tax?

Hi there,

Lottery winnings paid out to residents of Switzerland are taxable as income in Switzerland, regardless of whether they originate in Switzerland or abroad. For federal tax purposes, only winnings above 1000 Swiss francs must be declared as taxable income. A tax deduction equal to 5% of taxable winning applies (to account for your investment in lottery tickets), up to a maximum deduction of 5000 francs.

In all cantons, lottery winnings are counted as taxable income. Cantonal income taxes vary between cantons, as do cantonal tax brackets and tax deductions. For this reason, getting advise from a qualified tax advisor as soon as you discover that you have won a lottery is recommended.

Best regards from Moneyguru

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