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Gross to net 2026

Work out your net salary in Switzerland (2026)

Enter your gross salary, canton of work and permit: you get the net on your payslip, with source tax from the official 2026 ESTV tariffs. Cross-border workers included.

CHF
Net salary (payslip)
CHF7’156.57
per month
Breakdown
Gross salary
CHF 8’000.00
AHV / IV / EO5.3% employee share
–424.00
ALVUnemployment ins. 1.1%
–88.00
BVG / Pension fund3.5% · CHF 64'260
–187.43
NBUNon-occupational accident ins.
–104.00
KTGDaily sickness allowance ins.
–40.00
Net salary
CHF 7’156.57
Set aside for taxes (estimate) Not deducted: you pay it via your tax return · Tariff A0, ZH, 8.66%
–692.80
Left after setting tax aside
CHF 6’463.77
81% net19% taxes & deductions
NetSocialTaxes
Total deductions
10.5%
Annual net salary
CHF 85’878.90
Exact calculation: ESTV tax calculator ↗Source tax office of your canton ↗
Estimate without guarantee. Source tax uses the official ESTV 2026 tariffs (by marital status and children, no church tax unless selected). For Swiss citizens and C permits, the tax amount is an approximation using the same tariffs: your actual bill depends on your municipality, deductions and assets. Health insurance and child allowances are not included.

The essentials

  • Social insurance: about 10 to 12 % of gross (AHV/IV/EO 5.3 %, ALV 1.1 %, BVG 3.5–9 % depending on age on the coordinated salary, NBU ~1–2 %).
  • Swiss citizen or C permit: no tax is deducted on your payslip. You pay income tax after filing your tax return; the calculator shows how much to set aside.
  • B, L or G permit: your employer withholds source tax at every income level (unless your spouse is Swiss or holds a C permit). Above CHF 120,000 a year, a subsequent ordinary assessment (NOV/TOU) is mandatory.
  • Example: CHF 6,000 a month, B permit, single, 35, in Zurich: source tax 6.79 % (CHF 407), net ≈ CHF 4,941. In Geneva: 9.87 % (CHF 592), net ≈ CHF 4,756.

Exact calculation: ESTV tax calculator · Tariffs and contacts: cantonal source tax offices (ESTV list) · Official rates: AHV leaflet 2.01 "Contributions on wages" (as of 1 January 2026)

Cross-border workers: where do you pay tax?

You live in France and work in Vaud, Valais, Neuchâtel, Jura, Bern, Solothurn, Basel-City or Basel-Country? Under the Franco-Swiss agreement of 1983 there is no Swiss source tax: your salary is taxed in France. The condition is that you generally return to France every day (at most 45 nights a year in Switzerland for a full-time job, fewer if part-time). Hand your employer the French tax residence certificate 2041-AS before you start, then every year before 1 January; you request it from your French tax office through your secure inbox on impots.gouv.fr (details on impots.gouv.fr).

You work in Geneva or another canton (such as Zurich, Fribourg or Ticino)? Normal source tax is deducted from your salary. In Geneva you can request an ordinary assessment ("quasi-resident" status) if at least 90 % of your household's worldwide income is taxable in Switzerland, by 31 March of the following year. Official info: Geneva source tax · Vaud source tax.

Other countries of residence:

  • Germany: Swiss source tax capped at 4.5 % (tariffs L/M/N) if you give your employer the residence certificate Gre-1; you are taxed in Germany, with the Swiss tax credited.
  • Austria: ordinary Swiss source tax tariffs apply (A/H, B/C).
  • Italy: new cross-border workers (since 17 July 2023) in Ticino, Graubünden and Valais pay 80 % of the normal tariff and are also taxed in Italy.

In the calculator, choose "G permit (cross-border)" and your country of residence.

Every deduction on your payslip (2026)

DeductionEmployee shareNotes
AHV/IV/EO5.3 %On your whole salary, no cap; your employer also pays 5.3 %
ALV (unemployment)1.1 %Up to CHF 148,200 a year, nothing above
BVG (2nd pillar)3.5–9 %By age (25–34: 3.5 %, 35–44: 5 %, 45–54: 7.5 %, 55–65: 9 %), on the coordinated salary: gross minus CHF 26,460, minimum CHF 3,780, maximum CHF 64,260. Mandatory from CHF 22,680 a year
NBU (non-occupational accident)~1–2 %Depends on insurer and industry; mandatory from 8 hours a week with the same employer
KTG (daily sickness)0–1 %Depends on your employer's policy, not mandatory
Source taxby tariffB, L and G permits; e.g. 6.79 % at CHF 6,000 in Zurich (tariff A0)
Church tax~0.1–0.5 % of grossSurcharge on cantonal tax. Vaud: no church tax. Geneva and Neuchâtel: voluntary

Swiss citizen or C permit? Income tax (federal, cantonal and municipal) does not appear on your payslip: you get the bill after filing your tax return. So the net on your payslip is not yet what you keep, which is why the calculator shows a "set aside for taxes" line.

Example: CHF 6,000 gross a month, Zurich, single, 35, B permit, no church

DeductionAmountRate
Gross salaryCHF 6,000—
AHV/IV/EO−CHF 3185.3 %
ALV−CHF 661.1 %
BVG−CHF 1905 % on the coordinated salary (72,000 − 26,460) ÷ 12
NBU−CHF 781.3 %
Total social insurance−CHF 65210.9 %
Source tax ZH (tariff A0)−CHF 4076.79 %
Net salary paid out≈ CHF 4,94182 %

Same salary in Geneva: source tax 9.87 % (CHF 592), net ≈ CHF 4,756. In Lausanne (Vaud): 11.19 % (CHF 671), net ≈ CHF 4,677. With a Swiss passport or C permit your payslip shows ≈ CHF 5,348 and you set the tax aside separately. Rates: ESTV 2026 tariffs (tar26zh, tar26ge, tar26vd), tariff A0N.

Estimate: your pension fund, accident insurer and municipality can change the result.

Swiss pension system

The 3-pillar system: your retirement explained

Swiss retirement rests on three pillars. Knowing them shows you where your payroll deductions go, and how to optimise your finances.

1st pillar: AHV/IV (state pension)

The mandatory state pension, funded by AHV/IV/EO contributions. It aims to cover basic living costs in retirement. It is pay-as-you-go: today's workers fund today's retirees.

  • Mandatory for all employees and self-employed
  • Maximum pension: CHF 2,520/month (2026, single)
  • Married couples: max. CHF 3,780/month together
  • 13th AHV pension paid for the first time in December 2026
  • Reference age: 65 for men; for women it rises step by step (64 and 6 months for women born in 1962), 65 from those born in 1964

2nd pillar: BVG (occupational pension)

Your employer's pension fund. Together with the 1st pillar it aims to keep about 60 % of your previous income in retirement. Mandatory from a salary of CHF 22,680 a year (2026 entry threshold).

  • Mandatory from CHF 22,680/year salary
  • Contributions shared with your employer (at least 50/50)
  • Your capital grows tax-free until retirement
  • Can be withdrawn to buy a home or start a business

Pillar 3a: private pension (voluntary)

Voluntary private savings with big tax benefits. Pillar 3a contributions are fully deductible, up to CHF 7,258 a year if you are in a pension fund (2026).

  • Max. contribution: CHF 7,258/year (with BVG)
  • Max. contribution: CHF 36,288/year (without BVG)
  • Fully deductible from taxable income
  • Locked until 60 (with exceptions)
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Swiss payroll deductions

What is deducted from my gross salary in Switzerland?

On your payslip: AHV/IV/EO (5.3 %), unemployment insurance ALV (1.1 %), BVG (3.5–9 % by age, on the coordinated salary), non-occupational accident insurance NBU (~1–2 %) and often daily sickness insurance. With a B, L or G permit, source tax is added. If you are Swiss or hold a C permit, income tax is paid separately via your tax return.

How much is the AHV/IV/EO contribution in 2026?

The total AHV/IV/EO rate is 10.6 %, split equally between you and your employer (5.3 % each): AHV 8.7 %, IV 1.4 % and EO 0.5 %. These rates apply to your whole gross salary, with no cap.

What is the BVG and how does it affect my salary?

The BVG is the occupational pension, the 2nd pillar. Contributions depend on age: 7 % in total between 25 and 34, up to 18 % between 55 and 65, at least half paid by your employer. They apply to the coordinated salary (gross minus CHF 26,460, capped at CHF 64,260).

What is source tax?

Source tax is withheld directly by your employer. It applies to foreign nationals without a C permit (B, L, G permits), unless their spouse is Swiss or holds a C permit, at every income level. Above CHF 120,000 a year, a subsequent ordinary assessment is mandatory. The rate depends on canton, salary, marital status and children: for example 6.79 % in Zurich and 9.87 % in Geneva at CHF 6,000 a month (single, tariff A0, 2026).

I'm a cross-border worker. Do I pay Swiss source tax?

It depends on where you live and work. If you live in France and work in Vaud, Valais, Neuchâtel, Jura, Bern, Solothurn, Basel-City or Basel-Country, you are taxed in France provided you give your employer form 2041-AS every year. In Geneva and the other cantons, cantonal source tax is deducted. German residents pay at most 4.5 % in Switzerland with form Gre-1; Austrian residents pay the ordinary tariffs.

Do payroll deductions differ by canton?

Social insurance contributions (AHV, ALV, BVG) are the same everywhere. Tax varies a lot: at CHF 100,000 a year, the 2026 source tax tariff for a single person ranges from about 4.5 % in Zug to over 13 % in Geneva, Vaud or Bern.

How does marital status affect net salary?

Married couples are taxed together. With a single income (tariff B) the rate is clearly lower than for a single person; with two incomes (tariff C) it can be higher. Children lower the rate through deductions. The calculator picks the right tariff from your marital status and children.

Is there a minimum wage in Switzerland?

There is no national minimum wage. Geneva has a minimum wage of CHF 24.59 an hour and Basel-City CHF 22.20 (2026); Neuchâtel, Jura and Ticino also have cantonal minimum wages (around CHF 20 to 21.50). If you are paid by the hour, vacation and public holiday surcharges come on top.

How can I reduce my tax legally?

The most effective tool is pillar 3a: up to CHF 7,258 a year (2026) is fully deductible. Next: claim every eligible expense (commuting, meals, training), make voluntary BVG buy-ins and, if possible, choose a low-tax municipality.

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