Wealth tax in the canton of Bern is levied on the taxpayer’s net wealth as at the end of the tax period, normally 31 December. The Steuergesetz des Kantons Bern (StG) sets out valuation rules for assets and liabilities (Arts. 48–61 StG, summarised in the cantonal tax information and Kantonsblatt guidance).

This page focuses on how Bern expects you to value assets and debts for wealth tax purposes. Exemption thresholds and rates (including the general wealth tax allowance and municipal multipliers) are covered on the Allowances & Deductions and Rates pages.

1. General Principle

Under Bernese law and the federal harmonisation rules, assets are in principle valued at fair market value (Verkehrswert). For certain asset classes (real estate, securities without a market price, life insurance) there are special valuation rules that override the generic fair market value principle.

2. Real Estate & Official Values

For wealth tax purposes, Bern uses the official value (amtlicher Wert) as the taxable value of real estate. The official value is determined by the cantonal tax administration and also serves as the basis for municipal property tax. It is intended to approximate a percentage band of market value.

• The amtlicher Wert is the wealth tax value for Bern properties.
• Ownership shares are taxed proportionally to the land register share (co-owners each declare their fraction).
• The canton conducted a general revaluation (AN20) to bring official values back to a range of roughly 70–100% of market value, restoring equal treatment between taxpayers.
• Official values are notified to owners and used by both canton and municipalities for wealth and property taxes.

3. Listed Securities

Listed securities (shares, funds, bonds) are valued at their year-end market value. Bern follows the federal approach and its own TaxInfo guidance for securities:

• For exchange-traded securities, use the 31 December market price (typically from the FTA year-end price list).
• If bid/ask prices are quoted, the official list generally incorporates an appropriate basis; no additional averaging is required.
• Accrued interest on bonds is normally included in the quoted year-end value.
• Keep portfolio statements showing positions and values in CHF at 31 December.

For securities without a market price (e.g. unlisted shares), the Bern tax administration follows the Swiss Tax Conference (SSK) guidelines (Kreisschreiben Nr. 28) and sets values annually:

• Valuation is based on annual financial statements submitted with the company’s tax return.
• The resulting tax value is published or communicated as the wealth tax value per share.

4. Unlisted Shares & Private Companies

For participations in unlisted companies where no official tax value has yet been published, Bern relies on the federal practitioner method as set out by the SSK:

• Net asset value (NAV): Adjusted equity including hidden reserves.
• Earnings value: Average sustainable profit multiplied by a capitalisation factor (typically 7–10).
• In many cases, the taxable value is a weighted average (e.g. 1/3 NAV, 2/3 earnings value).

In practice, you should:

• Provide financial statements for the last 2–3 years for significant private companies.
• Explain exceptional items (one-off gains/losses, restructurings) affecting equity or earnings.
• Apply the same valuation consistently across all shareholders and over time.

5. Life & Annuity Insurance

The Steuergesetz contains specific rules for life insurance (Art. 50 StG). In line with federal practice:

• Taxable value of life insurance policies is generally the surrender value (Rückkaufswert) at 31 December.
• Refundable annuities and similar products are treated similarly when they have a surrender value.
• Pure risk policies without savings component (no surrender value) are typically not part of taxable wealth.

The insurer’s year-end statement is the key document to support the declared value.

6. Other Assets

All other assets fall under the general fair market value principle unless a specific rule applies:

• Cryptoassets: Value using FTA’s crypto rate list or a recognised exchange average at 31 December.
• Precious metals: Use standard bullion prices at year-end.
• Art & collectibles: Use realistic fair values; obtain an appraisal for material holdings.
• Cash, deposits, receivables: Use nominal value; for doubtful receivables, factor in probable loss.
• Business movable assets and intangibles (in sole proprietorships): Typically follow the values used in the tax accounts.

7. Employee Shares & Options

Bern has adopted federal-style rules for the taxation and valuation of employee participation plans. In wealth tax, the key points are:

• Tradeable employee shares are valued at market value.
• Where lock-up periods apply, a discount may be granted in line with the ordinance and Bern practice.
• Non-tradeable options are typically only wealth-tax relevant once they become transferable or have a determinable market value.
• All participations should still appear in the Wertschriftenverzeichnis with the tax value applied.

For complex plans (RSUs, long vesting or cross-border plans), a written explanation of the valuation approach is advisable.

8. Foreign Assets & Exchange Rates

The Bern Kantonsblatt summarises that, in line with StHG and StG, assets are generally valued at fair market value, with special rules for insurance, securities and real estate. For foreign assets:

• Foreign-currency assets and liabilities are converted into CHF using the official year-end exchange rates (FTA list).
• Foreign real estate is valued at local market/official value, then converted to CHF.
• Keep documentation in the original currency and evidence of the FX rates applied.

9. Liabilities (Valuation for Deduction)

Liabilities are deductible when determining net wealth, provided they are genuine and the taxpayer is legally liable. In line with typical cantonal practice:

• Debts for which the taxpayer is solely liable are fully deductible at their nominal value.
• Joint or guarantee debts are deductible only to the extent the taxpayer must economically bear them.
• Foreign-currency debts are converted at the same year-end rates used for assets.

10. Documentation & Verification

• Official valuation notices for Bern properties (amtlicher Wert), including any updates from the 2020 revaluation.
• Year-end bank and portfolio statements, with CHF totals and tax values where available.
• Financial statements and valuation memos for unlisted companies or substantial business assets.
• Insurance policy statements showing surrender values.
• Evidence for reduced values on doubtful receivables (correspondence, financial difficulties, legal actions).

11. Planning Takeaways

• Real estate: The amtlicher Wert is central in Bern. Post-2020 revaluation, review whether official values are in line with realistic market values and consider appeals where they are not.
• Private companies: Make use of practitioner-method valuations and cantonal tax values to keep wealth tax outcomes predictable.
• Portfolio structuring: Ensure consistent use of official FTA price and FX lists to avoid disputes.
• Cross-border situations: Align Bern wealth tax valuations with foreign reporting (e.g. for US or German returns) to manage double-tax and disclosure issues.
• Allowances: Combine precise valuation with Bern’s wealth tax allowance and municipal multipliers to model your effective rate rather than focusing only on nominal tax values.