Central Europe Ref. CH-01
Switzerland
Lump-sum taxation for foreign nationals who do not work locally.
Overview
Lump-sum taxation for foreign nationals who do not work locally.
Forfait taxation available to non-Swiss nationals not gainfully employed in Switzerland.
This jurisdiction is held in outline in our index rather than described at full length, because it tends to suit a narrower set of situations than the four or five that come up most often. The profile below gives the position, the tax treatment and the principal caveat. An assessment establishes whether it is genuinely open to you.
How it scores
Editorial scores, 1–5, on a consistent basis across the index. 5 is favourable (low tax, strong mobility, fast, cheap, low presence). They are a comparison aid, not a recommendation, and they weight nothing — that is what the finder does.
Tax position
How Switzerland taxes you
Lump-sum taxation replaces ordinary income tax with a charge based on deemed living expenditure, agreed with the canton. It is not available to Swiss nationals or to people working in Switzerland, and the cantonal minimums vary substantially.
The caveat that matters
A full route-by-route breakdown for Switzerland is prepared as part of an assessment rather than published here, because eligibility turns on details that a summary page cannot capture honestly.
Compare
Other jurisdictions in the index.
PTPortugal
Narrowed golden-visa routes after 2023 — funds and income pathways remain.
PAPanama
Territorial taxation and a USD economy — the classic offshore base.
AEUnited Arab Emirates
No personal income tax; 9% corporate tax above the threshold.
Next step
Is Switzerland actually open to you?
Eligibility depends on your citizenship, income sources, family structure and timeline. An assessment tells you whether Switzerland is viable for your situation — and which routes are closed.