Swiss withholding tax deducts 35% from specified investment income, such as Swiss-source interest and dividends. This is not your final income tax rate. A refund depends on your circumstances and meeting the declaration requirements.

Recovering Swiss withholding tax

For an individual, including a sole proprietor, the application generally goes through the cantonal tax return. Report gross income, withholding and assets from the bank statements. The authority assesses eligibility and credits or refunds the accepted amount.

Illustrative example: CHF 1'000.00 of interest subject to withholding produces CHF 350.00 tax at 35% and CHF 650.00 net cash. Declare CHF 1'000.00, not CHF 650.00. If the requirements are met, CHF 350.00 is refundable; ordinary income tax is assessed separately.

The refund entitlement generally expires three years after the end of the calendar year in which the income became due (Article 32 of the Withholding Tax Act). Keep statements and check any missing years.

What is Form 25 for?

Form 25 covers refunds of Swiss withholding tax for legal entities resident in Switzerland, including AG and GmbH companies. Apply to the FTA no earlier than the end of the year in which the income became due. This is not a foreign withholding tax refund form.

Foreign income: DA-1 and tax treaties

Tax deducted from a foreign dividend is not Swiss withholding tax. An individual can use DA-1 to request a Swiss tax credit for the eligible foreign tax under the applicable treaty and limits. Any portion reclaimable from the source country follows a separate process.

DA-1 therefore does not guarantee repayment of every foreign deduction. Legal entities use other forms, including DA-2 for interest and dividends. See the FTA forms and guidance.

Dividends from your own company

A distribution by a Swiss AG or GmbH may involve 35% withholding. The company handles the withholding; the shareholder reports the gross dividend in their own return. A company’s Form 25 does not replace the shareholder’s personal declaration. Any partial taxation of dividends is separate from the withholding refund.

Common mistakes

Do not mix up gross and net income, Swiss and foreign withholding, or the company’s application and the shareholder’s return. Omitting income can jeopardise a refund; the consequences depend on the circumstances and any correction.

VAT is a different tax, with rates of 8.1%, 2.6% and 3.8%. It is not directly offset against withholding tax. Bookkeeping software helps retain supporting records but does not determine refund eligibility.

Sources: FTA Form 25, Withholding Tax Act, French text. Updated September 2026.