Quellensteuer / Tax at Source in Switzerland: How It Works and When You Can Claim Money Back

If you hold a B permit and earn under 120,000 CHF gross a year, your Swiss employer deducts Quellensteuer (tax at source) directly from every payslip. The rate depends on canton, marital status, kids, and religion. You can file a voluntary return (NOV / TOU) to deduct pillar 3a, commute, childcare, and training costs. Deadline is 31 March of the following year and it often refunds 2,000 to 6,000 CHF.