Swiss Income Tax – Canton Vaud

Canton Vaud (VD) is a predominantly French-speaking canton in western Switzerland, located on the northern shore of Lake Geneva and including the city of Lausanne. Like all cantons, it applies its own cantonal and communal income taxes in addition to the federal income tax. This page provides an overview of how income tax works in Vaud and serves as the entry point to more detailed sections on tax rates, deductions, filing requirements, special rules, examples and a simplified income tax calculator.

Position of Vaud in the Swiss Tax System

Swiss income taxation operates at three levels:

• Federal level – direct federal income tax, harmonised nationwide.
• Cantonal level – each canton, including Vaud, sets its own income tax law and tariffs.
• Communal level – communes apply tax multipliers on top of cantonal tax.

In practice, residents of Vaud pay:

• Federal income tax based on the federal tariff, and
• Cantonal and communal income tax calculated under Vaud’s tax law, including the applicable communal multiplier.

Who Is Taxable in Canton Vaud?

As a rule, you are subject to income tax in Vaud if:

• You are resident in Vaud for tax purposes, or
• You have your main economic interest or source of income in Vaud, or
• You own or operate a business or permanent establishment in Vaud, or
• You own real estate located in Vaud.

Foreign nationals who are not yet fully integrated into the ordinary tax system may be subject to withholding tax (impôt à la source / Quellensteuer) on employment income, with the possibility of a subsequent ordinary assessment in specific cases.

Sections of the Vaud Income Tax Guide

The Vaud income tax guide is divided into several core sections. You can access each section here:

• Vaud Income Tax Rates – how the cantonal and communal income tax is calculated, including the interaction of progressive tariffs and communal multipliers.
• Deductions – employment-related costs, social security and pension contributions, family-related deductions, property deductions and other relevant deduction categories under the rules of Vaud.
• Filing Requirements – who must file a tax return in Vaud, deadlines, extensions, required documents and possible interaction with withholding tax.
• Special Rules – particular rules for new arrivals and departures, cross-border workers, withholding tax, self-employment, real estate, investment income and international situations.
• Examples – simplified case studies showing how federal, cantonal and communal taxes combine for different profiles (single individuals, families, expats, real-estate owners, self-employed) in Vaud.
• Vaud Income Tax Calculator – a simplified calculator for estimating cantonal and communal income tax in Vaud, based on an approximate model.

How This Guide Relates to Other Vaud Tax Topics

Vaud income tax is only one part of the overall tax picture. For a complete view of the canton’s tax landscape, you may also wish to consult:

• Vaud Wealth Tax Guide – covering net wealth taxation and relevant valuation rules.
• Vaud Inheritance Tax Guide – focusing on inheritance and gift tax rules in the canton.
• Vaud Income Tax Service – if you are looking for professional support with your Vaud income tax return or planning.
• Vaud Inheritance Tax Service – for advisory and filing services in inheritance and gift tax matters.

Using the Vaud Income Tax Guide

You can use this guide in different ways:

• As an orientation tool if you plan to move to Vaud or are comparing cantons.
• As a technical reference if you want to understand how your income is taxed and which deductions may be available.
• As a starting point for professional advice, by combining the factual information here with tailored planning and compliance support.

For a comprehensive overview of your situation, the information in this guide should be read together with the Swiss-wide income tax overview, federal rules and, where relevant, the canton-specific guidance for wealth tax and inheritance tax.