Note: If you would like a detailed overview of the interest rates on tax advances and penalty rates for delayed payments, just request a copy here (as a PDF).
Everyday Money
Interest Rates for Early and Late Swiss Tax Payments Explained
In Switzerland, many cantons pay interest on taxes paid in advance. All cantons and the Swiss federal government charge penalty interest when you pay taxes late. Get a clear overview of interest rates for cantonal and federal income taxes in this moneyland.ch guide.
In Switzerland, you have the option of paying taxes early. Some cantons even require that you pay provisional tax bills well ahead of submitting your tax returns. It can make financial sense to transfer your taxes to the tax office well in advance of the tax deadline.
Paying taxes early
The reason why paying your taxes early can be beneficial is that some cantonal tax offices pay higher interest on tax advances than banks pay on the balances of Swiss savings accounts. The most favorable tax advance interest rates are similar to the rates banks use for youth savings accounts. You can easily find the interest rate applicable in your canton in the tables below, and in the free PDF available at the foot of this article.
Interest rates vary between cantons
Depending on the interest rate applicable in your canton, paying your taxes in advance can be a smart financial move. Doing this makes sense if you do not otherwise need the money and it would sit in a bank account. The interest paid by tax offices is not subject to the withholding tax that applies to interest earned on bank account balances.
Interest paid for advance payments of Swiss cantonal taxes and Direct Federal Tax:
| Canton | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aargau | 0.10% | 0.30% | 0.75% | Equalizing interest for tax bills paid before a certain deadline. |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 0.20% | 0.20% | 1.00% | Equalizing interest for tax bills paid before a certain deadline. |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1.00% | 1.00% | 1.00% | |
| Basel-Landschaft | 0.20% | 0.50% | 0.80% | |
| Basel-Stadt | 0.10% | 0.50% | 1.00% | |
| Bern | 0.00% | 0.25% | 0.75% | 1.00% interest per annum for amounts for which you are billed that exceed your final tax liability. |
| Fribourg | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.25% | 3.75% interest per annum for amounts for which you are billed that exceed your final tax liability. |
| Geneva | 0.01% | 0.50% | 0.50% | |
| Glarus | 1.00% | 1.00% | 1.00% | Equalizing interest for tax bills paid before a certain deadline. |
| Grisons | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.25% | |
| Jura | 0.00% | 0.25% | 0.75% | |
| Lucerne | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.25% | |
| Neuchâtel | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Nidwalden | 0.00% | 0.10% | 1.00% | |
| Obwalden | 0.10% | 0.10% | 1.10% | Equalizing interest for tax bills paid before a certain deadline. |
| Schaffhausen | 0.10% | 0.10% | 1.00% | |
| Schwyz | 0.50% | 0.50% | 0.75% | 1.00% interest per annum for amounts for which you are billed that exceed your final tax liability. |
| Solothurn | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.00% interest per annum for amounts for which you are billed that exceed your final tax liability. |
| St. Gallen | 0.25% | 0.25% | 1.00% | Equalizing interest for tax bills paid before a certain deadline. |
| Ticino | 0.10% | 0.10% | 0.10% | 0.25% interest per annum for amounts for which you are billed that exceed your final tax liability. |
| Thurgau | 0.20% | 0.20% | 1.00% | Equalizing interest for tax bills paid before a certain deadline. |
| Uri | 0.25% | 0.25% | 1.00% | |
| Vaud | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.325% | |
| Wallis | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Zug | 0.00% | 0.00% | 2.00% | |
| Zurich | 0.25% | 0.25% | 1.00% | |
| Direct Federal Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.25% |
Information compiled by moneyland.ch as per data published by the cantons for informational purposes only. moneyland.ch does not guarantee the correctness of the information provided.
High penalty interest rates for late tax payments
Not paying your taxes in full by the deadline is not recommended. Tax offices charge penalty interest on tax debts carried past the payment deadline. These can be nearly as high as the interest rates of Swiss personal loans.
Penalty interest charged for late tax payments of cantonal and federal taxes:
| Canton | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aargau | 5.10% | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 4.00% | 4.00% | 5.00% |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 4.50% | 4.50% | 4.50% |
| Basel-Landschaft | 5.00% | 3.00% | 4.75% |
| Basel-Stadt | 3.00% | 3.50% | 3.50% |
| Bern | 3.00% | 3.00% | 4.00% |
| Fribourg | 3.00% | 3.00% | 3.00% |
| Geneva | 3.00% | 3.00% | 3.00% |
| Glarus | 4.50% | 4.50% | 4.50% |
| Grisons | 4.00% | 4.00% | 4.75% |
| Jura | 5.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Lucerne | 3.50% | 3.50% | 4.75% |
| Neuchâtel | 3.50% | 3.50% | 3.50% |
| Nidwalden | 4.00% | 4.00% | 4.75% |
| Obwalden | 5.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Schaffhausen | 4.00% | 4.00% | 4.00% |
| Schwyz | 3.50% | 3.50% | 3.50% |
| Solothurn | 3.00% | 3.00% | 3.50% |
| St. Gallen | 4.00% | 4.00% | 4.00% |
| Ticino | 2.50% | 2.50% | 3.50% |
| Thurgau | 3.00% | 3.00% | 4.00% |
| Uri | 4.00% | 4.00% | 4.50% |
| Vaud | 4.00% | 4.00% | 4.75% |
| Wallis | 3.50% | 3.50% | 3.50% |
| Zug | 4.00% | 4.00% | 4.00% |
| Zurich | 4.50% | 4.50% | 4.50% |
| Direct Federal Tax | 4.00% | 4.00% | 4.75% |
Information compiled by moneyland.ch as per data published by the cantons for informational purposes only. moneyland.ch does not guarantee the correctness of the information provided.
More on this topic:
Swiss tax deductions you should know about
How to lower your tax bill with the pillar 3a
Tax deductions for expatriates working in Switzerland explained
Daniel Dreier is editor and personal finance expert at moneyland.ch.
Request now for free
Free credit card
Free credit card
Leading credit cards
Swisscard Cashback Cards Amex
No annual fees
Two cards Amex & Visa/Mastercard
With cash back
Migros Cumulus Visa
No annual fees
With Cumulus points
Without foreign currency fees
Deal of the Day 
Free credit card
Swisscard Cashback Cards Amex
No annual fees
Trading platforms
Swiss Trading Platform
Swiss Broker
Brokers with low fees
Cornèrtrader Special Offer
Special offer: particularly favorable conditions for Moneyland users
No custody account fees for shares
Swiss online bank with FINMA license
Saxo Bank Special Offer
Special offer: Reimbursement of brokerage fees up to CHF 200 for 90 days
Licensed Swiss bank (FINMA)
Free expert research and trading signals
Request now for free
Cheap bank accounts with card
Request now for free
Online private account
Swiss digital bank
Swiss Bank
Swiss digital bank
Free bank account
Cheap bank accounts with card
UBS key4
50 KeyClub points as a welcome gift
Online private account with debit card
Radicant
High interest on your everyday account
Best exchange rates
Up to 1% of card spending as saveback in the investment portfolio
Bank WIR Bankpaket Top
Free account & card
No exchange fees for foreign payments (interbank exchange rates)
24 ATM withdrawals worldwide per year free of charge
Alpian
CHF 100 welcome bonus
Favorable foreign exchange rates
Multi-currency account with Visa card (CHF, EUR, USD, GBP)
Yuh
No account fees
Banking partner: Swissquote & Postfinance
CHF 20 trading credit with code «YUHMONEYLAND»
Information
About moneyland.ch Magazine
The moneyland.ch magazine provides accurate, unbiased information on topics related to finance and money. In addition to research and expert interviews, the magazine contains numerous financial guides. You can find more information about our editors and experts here.
Show categories
Compare Bank Packages
Compare Savings Accounts
