Switzerland residency
Discussion
Looking for a bit of local insight if possible..
We’re currently French residents, we’ve been working on a long project that comes to an end shortly and we’ve always said we wouldnt stay in france for winters (rural france in winter is dead)
We’ve always wanted a lake house and have loved Switzerland and its people when we’ve travelled through, with the obvious tax benefits of certain cantons + capital gains being zero, this certainly has spiked out interest in building / renovating there.
spending 10 days in Luzern area as of next week and we noticed that this Canton has a particularly low tax, any prominent reason for this?
As an expat, how do you find it on the whole through winter? is the place still lively into the evening? is travelling to neighbouring countries normally fairly simple (covid aside)
Are there hidden taxes that we’re not seeing? also noted there are ‘over the age of 55’ restrictions for residency, my wife is but i’m not, is it based on the males age?
Any areas to avoid?
Bit of a ramble opener i know, sorry, just wanted to get a conversation started and its very early days on thoughts..
Any help appreciated
We’re currently French residents, we’ve been working on a long project that comes to an end shortly and we’ve always said we wouldnt stay in france for winters (rural france in winter is dead)
We’ve always wanted a lake house and have loved Switzerland and its people when we’ve travelled through, with the obvious tax benefits of certain cantons + capital gains being zero, this certainly has spiked out interest in building / renovating there.
spending 10 days in Luzern area as of next week and we noticed that this Canton has a particularly low tax, any prominent reason for this?
As an expat, how do you find it on the whole through winter? is the place still lively into the evening? is travelling to neighbouring countries normally fairly simple (covid aside)
Are there hidden taxes that we’re not seeing? also noted there are ‘over the age of 55’ restrictions for residency, my wife is but i’m not, is it based on the males age?
Any areas to avoid?
Bit of a ramble opener i know, sorry, just wanted to get a conversation started and its very early days on thoughts..
Any help appreciated
Edited by LeroyLoser on Thursday 14th October 11:28
Thanks guys, some very interesting info, i’ll respond properly when we’re settled..
we’re en route to Lucern currently, sitting in Beaune, wandering which route to take through swtitzerland? Any suggestions? or are they all pas pretty as each other…
Checking in to the Burgenstock so the south side of the lake, google maps is showing in on the A36 then drop down on A35
we’re en route to Lucern currently, sitting in Beaune, wandering which route to take through swtitzerland? Any suggestions? or are they all pas pretty as each other…
Checking in to the Burgenstock so the south side of the lake, google maps is showing in on the A36 then drop down on A35
Well, ended up on motorways getting in to Burgenstock, first impressions werent the best, not sure i was in very receptive mood that day after dinner celerbrations the night before so i’ll cut it some slack..
Motorways were horrid vs the trip across france on the A89, they were slow, 100 / 120 limits with a fair few cameras, nose to tail traffic but good driving characteristics from the swiss plated people, motorways themselves are quite claustrophobic as many are ‘dug in’ to hide them (as we understand it now)
A small observation from the outset and not that meaningful as when living here i doubt we’d use them much but first impressions are created by these small things and arrival at the bugenstock resort compounded the ‘lots of people’ scenario we encountered on the way in.
Going to venture out today in this glorious weather, go hiking, then ferry to Lucern for a walk around, maybe car venture later depending on how busy everything looks by foot earlier.
The views are stunning from the hotel and we’d definitely want decent lake views, mountain facing and afternoon sun, thats established.
mosquito activity seems low to nothing in the months we’d be here, from what we’ve read, thoughts on this away from the tourist areas? (Most likely we’ll plump for a non tourist area due to people numbers here)
Tax - thanks for your input on this, from what i understand, if we base it on the highest rate then you’re looking at 45% with no CG on non property related gains (which is our concern). 45% saves us in excess of 1m p.a in tax vs france, so over the 3 years we’re looking at it is very much worth it, in addition to this we dont even have to live in switzerland all the time due to the relaxed border controls, our place in France will remain our home in our hearts & where we’ll spend most of our time tbh.
Just need to get out ourselves out there now and get a feel for the real switzerland away from this americanised resort…
Sorry for spilling our findings in this way but its my way of feeling my way through wether or not this will work, any more input from you guys on where to and what to see is much appreciated
ETA: french tax residents but still Uk citizens
Motorways were horrid vs the trip across france on the A89, they were slow, 100 / 120 limits with a fair few cameras, nose to tail traffic but good driving characteristics from the swiss plated people, motorways themselves are quite claustrophobic as many are ‘dug in’ to hide them (as we understand it now)
A small observation from the outset and not that meaningful as when living here i doubt we’d use them much but first impressions are created by these small things and arrival at the bugenstock resort compounded the ‘lots of people’ scenario we encountered on the way in.
Going to venture out today in this glorious weather, go hiking, then ferry to Lucern for a walk around, maybe car venture later depending on how busy everything looks by foot earlier.
The views are stunning from the hotel and we’d definitely want decent lake views, mountain facing and afternoon sun, thats established.
mosquito activity seems low to nothing in the months we’d be here, from what we’ve read, thoughts on this away from the tourist areas? (Most likely we’ll plump for a non tourist area due to people numbers here)
Tax - thanks for your input on this, from what i understand, if we base it on the highest rate then you’re looking at 45% with no CG on non property related gains (which is our concern). 45% saves us in excess of 1m p.a in tax vs france, so over the 3 years we’re looking at it is very much worth it, in addition to this we dont even have to live in switzerland all the time due to the relaxed border controls, our place in France will remain our home in our hearts & where we’ll spend most of our time tbh.
Just need to get out ourselves out there now and get a feel for the real switzerland away from this americanised resort…
Sorry for spilling our findings in this way but its my way of feeling my way through wether or not this will work, any more input from you guys on where to and what to see is much appreciated
ETA: french tax residents but still Uk citizens
Edited by LeroyLoser on Sunday 24th October 08:33
Thanks
It is uggly talking of tax etc but easier with the anonymity of a forum rather than friends..
There will actually be a payroll set up in switzerland, so essentially employed by a swiss company.
We’re back in france now, we scouted and observed as best we could whilst in Lucern and en route via Geneva on way home.
It turns out we dont want where we live in switzerland (i think we will) to be dictated by the different taxes tbh, even at your highest rate we are much better off and we dont like the highest tax rate areas of Zurich and Geneva.
We fell for Lucern and Interlaken, not so keen on being bang on the lake but back away a little so as to get a bit of land for the dogs, plus.. being up in Burgenstock we did notice that allot of the cloud and fog sat around the lake and most of the town but being slightly up the hill meant you had sun quicker in the day, is this usual for autumn / winter? though we’ll most likely use the property july / august to get away from the heat of france, possibly a mute point in that case.
It is uggly talking of tax etc but easier with the anonymity of a forum rather than friends..
There will actually be a payroll set up in switzerland, so essentially employed by a swiss company.
We’re back in france now, we scouted and observed as best we could whilst in Lucern and en route via Geneva on way home.
It turns out we dont want where we live in switzerland (i think we will) to be dictated by the different taxes tbh, even at your highest rate we are much better off and we dont like the highest tax rate areas of Zurich and Geneva.
We fell for Lucern and Interlaken, not so keen on being bang on the lake but back away a little so as to get a bit of land for the dogs, plus.. being up in Burgenstock we did notice that allot of the cloud and fog sat around the lake and most of the town but being slightly up the hill meant you had sun quicker in the day, is this usual for autumn / winter? though we’ll most likely use the property july / august to get away from the heat of france, possibly a mute point in that case.
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