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Vaud tax return

In the canton of Vaud, French is spoken for the most part. The canton is located in the southwest of Switzerland. The capital of the canton is Lausanne. The canton of Vaud has 825,807 inhabitants. It is divided into ten districts and 309 communes. Vaud is the canton with the third highest tax rate in Switzerland. The ordinary deadline for filing the tax return is short in the canton of Vaud.

Tax rate in the canton of Vaud

The average tax rate of all Swiss cantons is 33.6 percent. The tax rate in the canton of Vaud is significantly higher at 41.5 percent.

This puts the canton of Vaud in third place. Only in the canton of Basel-Landschaft with 42.2 percent and in the canton of Geneva with 45 percent are the tax rates even higher.

Residents of the canton of Vaud are taxed at the cantonal level, but also by the federal government and the communes. Taxes vary from municipality to municipality, as the municipalities themselves set the tax rates and report them to the cantonal tax administration. Residents who belong to the church must also pay the church tax.

In addition to income tax, property tax is calculated. The calculation is made in per thousand on the total assets.
In the case of inheritance or gifts, inheritance or gift tax is also calculated. Spouses and registered partners do not have to pay inheritance tax.

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Cantonal Tax Administration of the Canton of Vaud

Each year, the cantonal tax administration of Vaud asks all residents who are at least 18 years old to file a tax return. The tax return can be submitted in digital form. This is the web address of the cantonal tax administration of Vaud: https://www.vd.ch/themes/aides-financieres-et-soutien-social/

The postal address of the Vaud Cantonal Tax Administration is:


Administration cantonale des impôts
Section Impôt Source
Rue Caroline 9bis
1014 Lausanne


The cantonal tax administration can also be contacted by telephone or e-mail. The website of the Cantonal Tax Administration lists the telephone number and e-mail address. For questions about taxes and deadlines, taxpayers can also contact the relevant municipal office. Alternatively, you can work with a tax advisor and have them complete your tax return.

Tax software accepted in the canton of Vaud

Tax software makes it easier to file your tax return. The individual Swiss cantons accept different tax software. In the canton of Vaud, the VaudTax software is accepted, which can be downloaded free of charge from the website of the cantonal tax administration. The software can be used for Windows, MacOS and Linux. Extensive explanations for using the software are available on the website of the cantonal tax administration.

A tax consultant can be hired when taxpayers want to make their tax return work easier. This avoids errors in the tax return.

Deadlines for filing the tax return

The individual Swiss cantons themselves set the deadlines for filing the tax return.

In the canton of Vaud, the ordinary deadline is already March 15. The ordinary deadline is significantly shorter than in most other Swiss cantons.

The tax return is always filed in the current year for the previous year. Thus, the ordinary deadline for the 2022 tax return is March 15, 2023. If it is not possible to submit the tax return within the regular deadline, the taxpayer can apply online for an extension of the deadline. The maximum extension of time may be granted until September 30 of the current year. A further extension of the deadline is not possible.

Consequences of failure to meet the deadline or to file the tax return

If the tax return is not submitted within the regular deadline, the taxpayer will receive a reminder with a renewed deadline of. A fee of 50 CHF will be charged for the reminder. If the taxpayer does not respond to the reminder, a fine may be levied, which may amount to up to CHF 1,000. In serious cases, the fine can also be up to CHF 10,000. A serious case is one in which the tax return is repeatedly not filed.

Possibility of payment relief in the canton of Vaud

No information is provided on the website of the Canton of Vaud about the possibility of payment relief for taxpayers in financial distress. Taxpayers who are in payment difficulties may submit a request to the body that issued the tax assessment promptly after receiving the tax assessment. With the request, payers can ask for tax deferral or payment by installments. In most cases, financial hardship must be demonstrated with supporting documentation.

What is tax-free in the canton of Vaud?

In the canton of Vaud, various revenues are tax-exempt. Tax exemption applies to the pay of militia firefighters if it is provided in connection with the performance of core duties. Winnings from legally permitted games of chance are also tax-free. For large games, winnings up to CHF 1 million are tax-free. In the case of winnings from lottery games and games of skill for sale exemption from tax applies up to CHF 1,000 per game.

What is tax deductible in the canton of Vaud?

In the canton of Vaud, various expenses are tax deductible:

  • Professional expenses, for example, for clothing, professional literature or a workroom
  • Costs for travel between living and working room
  • Costs for education and training
  • Premiums for life, health and accident insurance
  • Accident and medical expenses
  • Costs for third-party care of children up to the age of 14 years
  • Maintenance costs for privately used real estate
  • Donations to charitable organizations
  • Membership fees and donations for political parties
  • Stake costs for winnings from licensed games of chance up to 5,000 euros per game, maximum CHF 25,000