How to find an English-speaking tax advisor in Switzerland
When you need one, how tax at source and the NOV work, cantonal deadlines, titles you can check and what to ask, with a primary source for every rule.
In short
To find an English-speaking tax advisor in Switzerland, start with what you need: a tax return, a withholding-tax assessment (NOV), US filings, or bookkeeping and VAT for a business. expat-services.ch lists English-speaking tax advisors and Treuhand firms by city. Then check the advisor’s qualifications, ask for a written fixed quote and note your canton’s deadline.
Do I really need a tax advisor for my first Swiss tax return on a B permit?
No law requires one. With a B or L permit you are usually taxed at source: your employer deducts the tax from your salary and you file no return. You file one only if your gross salary reaches CHF 120,000, if you have income or assets not taxed at source, or if you apply by 31 March.
Tax at source (Quellensteuer, impôt à la source) applies to foreign employees resident in Switzerland without a C permit, unless they are married to a Swiss citizen or a C permit holder (DBG, checked ) (StHG, checked ) (ch.ch, checked ). It covers federal, cantonal and communal income tax, and its tariffs already include flat-rate deductions (StHG, checked ) (ch.ch, checked ). See also B, L and C permits.
When a tax return becomes mandatory
- Gross salary of CHF 120,000 or more: you are assessed afterwards in the subsequent ordinary assessment (NOV, nachträgliche ordentliche Veranlagung). For a working couple, one salary at that level is enough (QStV, checked ).
- Income or assets not taxed at source, such as rent or investments: ask the tax office for a return form by 31 March of the following year (DBG, checked ) (StHG, checked ). Zurich sets the limits at CHF 3,000 of other income or CHF 80,000 of assets (CHF 160,000 for couples) (Canton of Zurich, checked ).
- On request: anyone taxed at source may apply for a NOV by 31 March, for example to claim actual deductions instead of the flat rates. The application cannot be withdrawn, and the NOV then continues every year until tax at source ends (QStV, checked ).
How you are taxed
| Situation | Taxed | Tax return? |
|---|---|---|
| B or L permit, salary under CHF 120,000 | At source | Only if you apply by 31 March |
| B or L permit, salary of CHF 120,000 or more | At source, then NOV | Yes, every year |
| C permit, or a Swiss or C permit spouse | Ordinary | Yes |
| Self-employed | Ordinary | Yes |
Sources: DBG Art. 83, 89 and 89a; StHG Art. 32 to 33b; QStV Art. 9 and 10.
Who helps me with the subsequent ordinary assessment (NOV) if I pay withholding tax?
You can apply yourself: Zurich, Zug and Geneva publish the application online. A tax advisor or Treuhand can also apply and deal with the tax office for you under a written power of attorney. Either way, the application must reach the cantonal tax office by 31 March of the following year.
The NOV replaces the tax deducted at source with a normal assessment. Tax already deducted is credited without interest, so the result can be a refund or a bill (DBG, checked ).
- Zurich: apply on ZHServices with your AHV number. The deadline cannot be extended. If accepted, you then receive a tax return (Canton of Zurich, checked ).
- Zug: applications arriving after 31 March are not considered, and no extension is possible (Canton of Zug, checked ).
- Geneva: the TOU (taxation ordinaire ultérieure) is also mandatory with CHF 3,000 of income not taxed at source or with taxable wealth, and then applies to you and your spouse every year (Canton of Geneva, checked ).
An advisor files the application, prepares the return, checks the assessment and can object in writing within 30 days of receiving it (DBG, checked ). The tax office can ask an advisor for a written power of attorney (DBG, checked ).
The NOV, step by step
-
By 31 March
Apply
Send the NOV application, or ask for a return form. No extension.
-
Later
File the return
The tax office sends you a tax return.
-
Assessment
Check the result
Tax deducted is credited; 30 days to object.
-
Every year
The NOV continues
Until tax at source ends, for example with a C permit.
When is the Swiss tax return due in Zurich, Zug, Geneva and Vaud?
Each canton sets its own date. The return is due by 31 March in Zurich and Geneva and by 30 April in Zug. In Vaud the legal deadline is 15 March, with tolerance until 30 June. Extension rules differ by canton, but the 31 March date for a NOV application is set by federal law.
You must file even if you received no form, on time and with the required documents (DBG, checked ). The deadline is printed on the form, and you can apply for an extension (ch.ch, checked ).
- Zurich: 31 March. Ask your municipal tax office (Gemeindesteueramt) for an extension before the deadline; some offer this online (Canton of Zurich, checked ).
- Zug: 30 April. Extensions online with your Pers ID, generally until 31 December; a later one costs CHF 35 (Canton of Zug, checked ).
- Geneva: 31 March. An extension costs CHF 20 for up to three months, CHF 40 for up to five and CHF 60 for longer (Canton of Geneva, checked ).
- Vaud (Lausanne): legal deadline 15 March, tolerance until 30 June. Free extensions run to 30 June for requests made by 15 May, and to 30 September from 16 May (Canton of Vaud, checked ).
Tax advisor, Treuhand or tax expert: what is the difference?
Swiss tax law lets anyone with legal capacity represent you before the tax office, so there is no licence for tax advisors. A Treuhand (fiduciary) firm usually also does bookkeeping, payroll and VAT; a tax advisor focuses on tax returns and tax questions. The protected title to check is the federal diploma «dipl. Steuerexperte/Steuerexpertin».
Federal titles are protected: only people who passed the federal examination may use them, and misuse is punishable by a fine (VPETA, checked ). The advanced federal examination for tax experts is run by EXPERTsuisse, the Swiss Bar Association, the Swiss Tax Conference, the association of certified tax experts (SVDS) and TREUHAND|SUISSE (tax-exam.ch, checked ). Words like «tax consultant» or «accountant» prove no exam, so ask which qualification the person handling your file holds.
- Treuhand firm: bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, annual accounts and tax returns. See tax and finance providers.
- Tax advisor: tax returns, the NOV, objections, arriving and leaving. See tax advisors.
ch.ch names TREUHAND|SUISSE and EXPERTsuisse as the associations to ask for a professional (ch.ch, checked ).
How do I choose an English-speaking tax advisor?
Match the advisor to your case, then compare two or three on four points: experience with your situation and canton, the languages used for meetings and letters, qualifications, and the fee model. Tax offices write in the canton’s official language, so ask who explains their letters to you and how quickly the advisor replies.
Choose by situation
- A tax advisor if you are taxed at source and need a NOV, a first return after a C permit, or help when you leave.
- A Treuhand firm if you run a GmbH or are self-employed and want books, VAT and the tax return from one place.
- A firm with US experience if you are a US citizen, because you file in both countries.
- A dipl. Steuerexperte/Steuerexpertin if your case involves several countries, employee shares or property.
Fees are billed by the hour or as a fixed price per return; ask for a written quote listing what is included, such as the NOV application, tax office correspondence and an objection.
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English-speaking tax advisors in Zurich
Premium and Featured listings are paid and shown first
Seeland Tax
Tax advisors · ZürichSeeland Tax in Ermatingen (TG) prepares Swiss tax returns and handles international tax questions for people with ties to Germany, the US, the UK and other countries.
abrechnungen.ch
Tax advisors · ZürichFixed-price tax return service for private individuals and expats, plus bookkeeping, payroll and VAT for SMEs; offices in Zurich and Baar (Zug).
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Deloris
Tax advisors · ZürichZurich tax and financial advisory firm offering fee-based retirement and pension planning, tax optimisation and estate planning for expatriates.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Can one tax advisor in Geneva handle both US and Swiss taxes for Americans?
It depends on the firm: some prepare both returns, others work with a US preparer. Either way, you file in both countries. The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live, and Switzerland taxes you as a resident. The Swiss–US tax treaty lets the US credit Swiss income tax against US tax.
US citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income; while living abroad, they get an automatic extension of the US filing date to 15 June (IRS, checked ).
- FBAR (FinCEN Form 114): required if your foreign accounts together exceeded USD 10,000 at any time in the year. It is filed with FinCEN, not with the return, by 15 April, automatically extended to 15 October (IRS, checked ).
- Form 8938 (FATCA): abroad, required above USD 200,000 at year end or USD 300,000 at any time if unmarried, or USD 400,000 and USD 600,000 if married filing jointly. It does not replace the FBAR (IRS, checked ).
Under the 1996 Swiss–US tax treaty the US keeps the right to tax its citizens and credits Swiss income tax (CH–US tax treaty, checked ). A US citizen with a B permit is taxed at source like any foreign employee (DBG, checked ). Ask who prepares the US return and the FBAR, and whether one fee covers both. See tax advisors in Geneva.
English-speaking tax advisors in Geneva
Ark Fiduciaire
Treuhand & accounting · GenèveGeneva fiduciary handling personal and corporate tax returns, accounting, payroll and VAT for expats, executives, self-employed and SMEs in Romandy.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Findea (incl. Taxea)
Treuhand & accounting · GenèveDigital fiduciary with offices across Switzerland: accounting, payroll and tax for start-ups and SMEs; its Taxea service files tax returns for individuals and expats.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?US & International Tax Services
Tax advisors · GenèveGeneva firm for US and international tax matters: US tax preparation and advisory for individuals, plus Swiss and US corporate consulting.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?What does an English-speaking accountant do for a small GmbH in Zug or a self-employed person in Lausanne?
A Treuhand firm or accountant keeps the books, prepares the annual accounts and files the VAT and tax returns. A GmbH must keep full accounts. A sole proprietor with revenue under CHF 500,000 only needs records of income, expenses and assets. VAT applies once turnover reaches CHF 100,000 a year, in Switzerland and abroad combined.
A small GmbH in Zug
- Accounts: full accounts and financial reports, kept for ten years (CO, checked ).
- Audit: with all members’ consent, a GmbH with ten or fewer full-time employees on annual average can dispense with the limited audit, notified to the commercial register in advance (CO, checked ).
- VAT: quarterly returns, due within 60 days of each period; since 2025, annual reporting on request up to CHF 5,005,000 of taxable turnover (VAT Act, checked ).
- Where to look: tax advisers and Treuhand firms in Zug, and our guide to the cost of living in Zug.
Self-employed in Lausanne
A sole proprietor with revenue under CHF 500,000 keeps records of income, expenses and assets (CO, checked ) and attaches them to the tax return; in Vaud the legal deadline is 15 March (StHG, checked ) (Canton of Vaud, checked ). For an English-speaking accountant, see tax advisers and Treuhand firms in Lausanne.
GmbH or sole proprietorship
| GmbH | Sole proprietor | |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts | Full accounts | Income, expenses and assets (revenue under CHF 500,000) |
| Audit | Limited audit, unless waived | None |
| VAT | From CHF 100,000 turnover | From CHF 100,000 turnover |
Sources: CO Art. 727a, 818 and 957; VAT Act Art. 10.
Where do I find an English-speaking tax advisor near me?
Start with your canton and your situation. On expat-services.ch you can browse English-speaking tax advisors and Treuhand firms by city, including Zurich, Zug, Geneva and Lausanne. Compare two or three on experience, language, qualification and a written quote, and contact them well before 31 March if you need a NOV application.
If you searched for an English-speaking tax consultant near you, browse all tax and finance providers, or go straight to English-speaking tax advisors in Zurich or in Geneva. City guides: Zurich, Zug, Geneva, Lausanne. For the tax system overall, see taxes in Switzerland.
This guide is general information, not tax advice. For your own case, ask a tax professional or your cantonal tax office.
Tax advisors
Premium and Featured listings are paid and shown first
Seeland Tax
Tax advisors · ErmatingenSeeland Tax in Ermatingen (TG) prepares Swiss tax returns and handles international tax questions for people with ties to Germany, the US, the UK and other countries.
abrechnungen.ch
Tax advisors · ZürichFixed-price tax return service for private individuals and expats, plus bookkeeping, payroll and VAT for SMEs; offices in Zurich and Baar (Zug).
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Ark Fiduciaire
Treuhand & accounting · GenèveGeneva fiduciary handling personal and corporate tax returns, accounting, payroll and VAT for expats, executives, self-employed and SMEs in Romandy.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?What else do people ask about tax advisors in Switzerland?
Which tax advisors in Zurich do Swiss tax returns in English for expats?
expat-services.ch lists English-speaking tax advisors in Zurich without ranking them. Ask about their experience with tax at source and the NOV, and for a written fixed quote.
Do I really need a tax advisor for my first Swiss tax return on a B permit?
No. Most B permit holders are taxed at source and file no return. One is required from CHF 120,000 of gross salary, with income or assets not taxed at source, or after a NOV application.
Who helps me as an expat with the subsequent ordinary assessment (NOV) if I pay withholding tax?
You can apply yourself online, or a tax advisor or Treuhand can apply for you with a power of attorney. The application is due by 31 March of the following year; Zurich and Zug allow no extension.
Do I have to file US taxes if I live in Switzerland?
Yes, if you are a US citizen or resident alien: you report worldwide income, with an automatic extension to 15 June while abroad. An FBAR is due if your foreign accounts together exceeded USD 10,000.
Is “tax advisor” a protected title in Switzerland?
No. Anyone with legal capacity may represent you before the tax office. Federal titles such as «dipl. Steuerexperte/Steuerexpertin» are protected, and misuse is punishable by a fine.
Does a small GmbH in Zug need an audit?
Not if it has ten or fewer full-time employees on annual average and all members agree to waive the limited audit, notified to the commercial register in advance. Full accounts are still required.
Sources
Last checked by the expat-services.ch editorial team
- Fedlex, SR 642.11 Federal Act on Direct Federal Taxation (DBG), Art. 83, 89, 89a, 117, 124 and 132: tax at source, subsequent ordinary assessment, representation, tax return and objection (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 642.14 Tax Harmonisation Act (StHG), Art. 32, 33, 33a, 33b and 42: tax at source, flat-rate deductions, subsequent ordinary assessment for cantonal and communal taxes, records of the self-employed (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 642.118.2 Withholding Tax Ordinance (QStV), Art. 9 and 10: CHF 120,000 threshold, couples, application by 31 March, no withdrawal (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- ch.ch Tax at source in Switzerland: who pays it and what it covers (opens in a new tab)
- ch.ch Tax return: C permit holders, extensions and the professional associations (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, Cantonal Tax Office Applying for a subsequent ordinary assessment: ZHServices, 31 March, no extension, other income and assets (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, Cantonal Tax Office Tax return for individuals: 31 March deadline and extensions at the municipal tax office (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zug, Tax Administration Extending the tax return deadline for individuals: 30 April, until 31 December, CHF 35 beyond (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zug, Tax Administration Withholding tax information sheet 2026 (Infoblatt 100): NOV application by 31 March, no extension (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Geneva, Cantonal Tax Administration When to request or report a subsequent ordinary taxation (TOU) (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Geneva, Cantonal Tax Administration Requesting an extension for your tax return: 31 March and fees (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Vaud, Cantonal Tax Administration Requesting an extension: 15 March, tolerance until 30 June, free extensions (in French) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 412.10 Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act (VPETA), Art. 28, 36 and 63: federal examinations, protection of titles, abuse of title (opens in a new tab)
- Examination board for Swiss tax experts Sponsoring organisation of the advanced federal examination for tax experts (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 220 Code of Obligations (CO), Art. 727a, 818, 957 and 958f: limited audit, GmbH auditors, duty to keep accounts, retention (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 641.20 Federal Act on Value Added Tax (VAT Act), Art. 10, 35 and 71: tax liability, reporting period, filing the return (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 0.672.933.61 Convention between Switzerland and the United States for the avoidance of double taxation on income (1996), Art. 1 and 23 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad: worldwide income and the automatic extension to 15 June (opens in a new tab)
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Comparison of Form 8938 (FATCA) and FBAR requirements: thresholds, where to file, due dates (opens in a new tab)