Having a say: rights and obligations · Obligations
Taxes, registration, health insurance
Topic
Anyone who lives in Switzerland has not only rights but also obligations. They apply to all residents, with or without a Swiss passport. Three important obligations are: paying taxes, registering with the municipality and having health insurance. In addition, everyone must obey the laws.
Anyone who moves or comes to Switzerland for the first time must register with the municipality. You do this at the residents' registration office, usually within 14 days. Anyone who moves away deregisters. Anyone who has income or assets must pay taxes. The taxes go to the Confederation, the canton and the municipality. For many foreigners, the tax is deducted directly from their wages.
All people who live in Switzerland must be insured with a health insurance fund. Anyone who moves here must take out the insurance within three months. The following, however, are not obligations: a bank account, a telephone, a driving licence, a Half Fare travelcard (Halbtax), theft insurance or membership of a church. But children must attend compulsory school.
Key terms
- Einwohnerkontrolle
- Residents' registration office: the municipal office where you register and deregister.
- Grundversicherung
- Basic insurance: the compulsory health insurance for everyone who lives in Switzerland.
- Quellensteuer
- Withholding tax on wages: tax that the employer deducts directly from wages, mainly for foreigners without a C permit.
Exam questions on this topic
- What obligations do residents of Switzerland have?Correct answer: A, They must pay taxes.
- What obligations do residents of Switzerland have?Correct answer: C, They must register with the municipality.
- What obligations do residents of Switzerland have?Correct answer: B, They must be insured with a health insurance fund.