Kapitalertragsteuer
Capital Gains Tax
Simple Definition
Tax on profit made from selling assets (stocks, crypto, art). In Switzerland, private capital gains on movable assets are TAX-FREE.
Why this matters to Expats.
The Expat Dream. If you buy Bitcoin at CHF 10k and sell at CHF 100k, you pay ZERO tax. Compare that to the US/UK/DE. However, you must not be classified as a "Professional Investor" (Gewerbsmässiger Wertschriftenhändler).
Actionable Intelligence
The Safe Haven Rules: To stay tax-free: 1) Hold assets >6 months. 2) Capital gains are <50% of your net income. 3) Transaction volume <5x portfolio value. 4) No debt leverage. 5) Derivatives usage is only for hedging.
Real Estate: Property Gains (Grundstücksgewinnsteuer) ARE taxed cantonal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crypto taxed?
Wealth Tax: Yes (on holdings). Capital Gains Tax: No (on profits), unless you are a pro trader.
Does this apply to US citizens?
Switzerland won't tax you, but the IRS (USA) absolutely will. Sorry.
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