With the 2025 tax season already upon us, the latest data from the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has revealed which towns and cities in Switzerland have the lowest and highest rates to pay. They found that families and individuals can save thousands on their tax returns every year by simply moving communities. 

Tax rates in Switzerland vary massively by region

With taxes in Switzerland charged at the local, cantonal and national level, the differences between regions can be huge. According to the FTA, in the most extreme case, moving from one town to another can save more than 80 percent of your tax bill.

Generally speaking, tax rates in Switzerland for families and individuals rise the further west you go, with many of the hot spots being in Bern and the French-speaking cantons - notable exceptions to this rule include Geneva and Valais. Rates are comparatively lighter in and around Canton Zurich and central Switzerland, but rates can still vary massively.

The Swiss cities and towns with the lowest taxes revealed

With this in mind, here are the highest and lowest tax rates in Switzerland for families and individuals in 2025:

Canton Zug offers the lowest taxes for individuals

For a single person earning roughly the median salary in Switzerland (80.000 francs a year), Baar in Canton Zug offers the most competitive taxes. There, a single person would only pay 4,4 percent in local, cantonal and federal taxes, totalling roughly 3.519 francs a year. 

Other areas of the canton like Zug itself (4,43 percent), Walchwil (4,45 percent) and Steinhausen (4,47 percent) rounded out the top four.

This order remained unchanged at both lower and higher income levels - a single person earning 50.000 francs a year would pay a 2,35 percent tax rate in Baar. By contrast, a worker with a 125.000-franc income would pay just 7,20 percent in tax in Baar, and 7,25 percent in Zug.

Schwyz offers high-earning singles the lowest tax bill

However, the top three did change at very high incomes. Three towns in Canton Schwyz, Freienbach (10,54 percent), Feusisberg (10,69 percent) and Wollerau (10,69 percent), took the podium for those earning 200.000 francs or more. For those curious, a single person or family living in Freienbach and earning 100 million francs a year would be charged 18,25 percent in tax.

Which parts of Switzerland charge the most in tax?

Interestingly, all of the towns with the highest tax rates for single earners were in Canton Neuchâtel. The top spot for 80.000 francs a year was shared by Enges and Les Verrières, with both charging a total tax rate of 17,25 percent. Low earners should also try to avoid the town of Schelten, Canton Bern, where 50.000-franc earners are charged 13,16 percent in tax.

Enges and Les Verrières also sported the highest tax rate for singles earning 125.000 francs a year (21,77 percent), while Leukerbad in Canton Valais had the highest rate for 200.000-franc earners (27,96 percent).

Families in Switzerland benefit hugely from living in Zug

For families, Canton Zug still remains the best bet when it comes to tax. In 11 of the canton’s towns like Zug, Baar and Cham, a family with two children would have to earn a combined income of over 100.000 francs a year before they would be charged any tax at all. 

However, if the high cost of living in Zug puts you off, families with two children earning less than 60.000 francs a year pay no tax in cantons Basel-Stadt, Basel-Land, Schwyz, Zug, St. Gallen and Graubünden. Sub-1 percent tax rates are also offered in Geneva for families earning less than 90.000 francs.

Zug also remains the region of choice for families with two children who earn between 100.000 and 400.000 francs a year, after which the Schwyz communities of Freienbach, Feusisberg and Wollerau return to the top spots.

Bern and Neuchâtel charge the highest tax rates for families

For families with two children, the highest tax rates in Switzerland can be found in Canton Bern and Neuchâtel. Schelten (Bern, 8,87 percent) took first for those with a combined annual income of 100.000 francs, while Enges and Les Verrières (Neuchâtel) took first for 150.000 francs (13,68 percent), 200.000 francs (17,28 percent) and 300.000 francs (23,89 percent).

What is the highest tax burden in Switzerland?

For those interested, the highest tax burden in Switzerland belongs to a (theoretical) pensioner who lives in Avully in Geneva, and earns 100 million francs a year. There, they would pay the highest tax rate possible of 45,98 percent.

For more information, and to see how your community ranked, check out the interactive map compiled by the Tages-Anzeiger (paid piece).