Glarus Wealth Tax Cases

Glarus Wealth Tax: Cases & Worked Examples

Illustrative computations showing how Glarus’ low cantonal wealth tax and communal Steuerfüsse interact across the three municipalities Glarus Nord, Glarus and Glarus Süd.

The canton of Glarus applies a cantonal wealth tax tariff on taxable net wealth, and the resulting simple tax is multiplied by the cantonal and municipal tax rates (Steuerfüsse). Since the 2011 municipal reform there are only three communes: Glarus Nord, Glarus, Glarus Süd, each with its own tax rate.

Comparative surveys show that Glarus’ overall effective wealth tax burden in the cantonal capital is typically around 0.29% at CHF 1m and ≈0.34% at higher wealth levels, placing it in the lower-middle group of Swiss cantons. The examples below use indicative 2025 values for demonstration. For exact computations, use the cantonal calculator and current tariff tables.

All numbers rounded; church tax ignored. Rates and factors approximate and for planning illustration only.

Case A — Single Professional in Glarus (Cantonal Capital)

Commune: Glarus (benchmark tax burden within the canton)
Assets: CHF 1,000,000 (listed securities & cash)
Liabilities: none
Allowance: CHF 80,000 (single, rounded)

Net wealth	CHF 1,000,000
Less allowance	− CHF 80,000
Taxable net wealth	CHF 920,000
Cantonal simple wealth tax	≈ 0.16% → ≈ CHF 1,470
Combined cantonal & municipal factor	≈ ×2.00
Wealth tax due	≈ CHF 2,940
Effective rate	≈ 0.29% of net wealth

Observation: At CHF 1m financial wealth, Glarus offers a materially lower wealth-tax burden than high-tax cantons, but is slightly above the very lowest-tax central Swiss jurisdictions.

Case B — Married Couple with Two Children in Glarus Nord

Commune: Glarus Nord (slightly higher Steuerfuss than Glarus)
Assets: CHF 3,000,000 (family home + portfolios)
Liabilities: CHF 1,000,000 mortgage
Allowances: CHF 200,000 (married couple + children, rounded)

Net wealth	CHF 2,000,000
Less allowances	− CHF 200,000
Taxable wealth	CHF 1,800,000
Cantonal simple wealth tax	≈ 0.14% → ≈ CHF 2,520
Combined cantonal & municipal factor	≈ ×2.35
Estimated tax	≈ CHF 5,930
Effective rate	≈ 0.30% of net wealth

Planning angle: The mortgage reduces taxable wealth directly. Between Glarus and Glarus Nord, the main difference is the municipal factor, which becomes more visible as wealth rises.

Case C — Entrepreneur with Private Company Shares in Glarus Süd

Commune: Glarus Süd (traditionally the higher-tax commune in the canton)
Unlisted shares: CHF 4,000,000 (valued under practitioner method)
Other assets: CHF 1,000,000 (cash & listed portfolios)
Liabilities: CHF 1,500,000 (business and private loans)
Filing status: Married, no children

Net wealth	CHF 3,500,000
Less allowances	− CHF 160,000
Taxable wealth	CHF 3,340,000
Cantonal simple wealth tax	≈ 0.14% → ≈ CHF 4,680
Combined cantonal & municipal factor	≈ ×2.40
Total wealth tax	≈ CHF 11,230
Effective rate	≈ 0.32% of net wealth

Assumes a stable practitioner-method valuation for the private company and no additional business-participation reliefs beyond the standard Glarus rules.

Planning angle: For entrepreneurs, the main levers are valuation of private participations and the choice between Glarus, Glarus Nord and Glarus Süd. Small percentage differences in the communal factor can translate into several thousand francs per year at higher wealth levels.

Case D — Nonresident Owning a Holiday Property in Glarus Süd

Tax nexus: Nonresident with Glarus property only
Property value: CHF 1,100,000 (wealth-tax value)
Mortgage: CHF 700,000 (loan economically tied to the property)
Commune: Glarus Süd
Other Swiss assets: none

Swiss-situs net wealth	CHF 400,000
Cantonal simple wealth tax	≈ 0.13% → ≈ CHF 520
Combined cantonal & municipal factor	≈ ×2.10
Estimated wealth tax	≈ CHF 1,095
Effective rate on Swiss-situs wealth	≈ 0.27%

Tip: For nonresidents, only the portion of debt economically linked to the Glarus property is deductible here. Global assets and liabilities remain relevant in the country of residence and for any inter-cantonal allocation.

Case E — Comparison: Glarus vs. Glarus Nord vs. Glarus Süd

Single taxpayer with CHF 2,000,000 taxable net wealth (after allowances and debts)

	Glarus	Glarus Nord	Glarus Süd
Cantonal simple wealth tax	≈ CHF 2,800	≈ CHF 2,800	≈ CHF 2,800
Indicative combined factor	× 2.00	× 2.30	× 2.40
Total wealth tax	≈ CHF 5,600	≈ CHF 6,440	≈ CHF 6,720
Effective rate (on taxable wealth)	≈ 0.28%	≈ 0.32%	≈ 0.34%
Annual difference	Spread of ≈ CHF 1,100 per year between Glarus and Glarus Süd at identical taxable wealth

Note: In Glarus, the cantonal tariff is uniform, but which of the three communes you live in still makes a noticeable difference once wealth exceeds the mid six-figure range.

Key Takeaways

Glarus is a low-to-mid wealth tax canton, with effective burdens around 0.29–0.34% at typical high-net-worth levels in the capital.
There are only three communes, but their Steuerfüsse differ enough to create planning room, especially between Glarus (lower) and Glarus Süd (higher).
Mortgages and other deductible debts reduce taxable net wealth directly and are important for property owners and entrepreneurs.
For holders of private company participations, valuation methodology and documentation are central to managing the wealth tax base.
Nonresidents are taxed only on Glarus-situs wealth, with debt allocation governed by economic linkage to the Swiss property.