Nidwalden Wealth Tax Rates
Nidwalden Wealth Tax: Rates & Municipal Multipliers
Nidwalden combines a very low, flat cantonal wealth tax rate with moderate communal multipliers — resulting in the lowest effective wealth tax burden in Switzerland at typical high-net-worth levels.
In the canton of Nidwalden, wealth tax is levied on your taxable net wealth at 31 December. Taxable net wealth is your worldwide assets (for residents), minus deductible debts and personal allowances. The canton applies a linear simple wealth tax of 0.25‰ (0.025%) of taxable net wealth, with a reduced rate of 0.20‰ for qualifying substantial shareholdings (≥ 10%).:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
The simple tax is then multiplied by the combined cantonal and municipal tax rate (Steuerfuss). Across Nidwalden’s municipalities, the overall Steuerfuss for natural persons typically lies between about 4.05 and 5.16 units (excluding church), which translates into an effective wealth tax of roughly 0.10%–0.13% of taxable wealth.:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Cantonal Simple Wealth Tax (Flat 0.25‰)
Nidwalden is unusual in Switzerland because its wealth tax is flat rather than progressive: once taxable net wealth exceeds the allowance, the same cantonal rate applies to all wealth bands.
- Basic allowance: approx. CHF 35,000 for single taxpayers and CHF 70,000 for married couples, plus around CHF 15,000 per child.:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Standard rate: simple wealth tax of 0.25‰ on taxable net wealth above the allowance.
- Reduced rate for participations: 0.20‰ for qualifying shareholdings of at least 10%.:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
The table below shows the simple cantonal wealth tax (before applying the Steuerfuss) at selected wealth levels. For simplicity, it uses the standard 0.25‰ rate and assumes taxable wealth already reflects allowances.
| Taxable Net Wealth (CHF) | Simple Cantonal Wealth Tax @ 0.25‰ (CHF) | Approx. Average Cantonal % |
|---|---|---|
| Up to allowance threshold | 0 | 0% |
| 100,000 | ≈ 250 | 0.25‰ (0.025%) |
| 500,000 | ≈ 1,250 | 0.25‰ (0.025%) |
| 1,000,000 | ≈ 2,500 | 0.25‰ (0.025%) |
| 3,000,000 | ≈ 7,500 | 0.25‰ (0.025%) |
These figures show the simple cantonal wealth tax only. Your actual bill depends on the total Steuerfuss (cantonal + municipal + church, if applicable) in your municipality.
Municipal Steuerfüsse in Nidwalden
In Nidwalden, the ordinary wealth tax for natural persons is calculated as:
Ordinary wealth tax = Simple wealth tax × Total Steuerfuss
The Total Steuerfuss is the sum of the cantonal and municipal Steuerfüsse (plus church, where relevant). According to recent guidance, the combined Steuerfuss in Nidwalden’s municipalities typically ranges between about 4.05 and 5.16 units (excluding church tax).:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} That relatively low multiplier, applied to an already low simple rate, is what produces Nidwalden’s extremely competitive effective wealth tax.
| Municipality (examples) | Illustrative Total Steuerfuss* (excl. church) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Stans (capital) | ≈ 4.20–4.30 | Capital benchmark; external comparisons show an effective wealth tax of about 0.12–0.13% at CHF 1–5 million.:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} |
| Hergiswil | ≈ 4.05–4.20 | Lakeside commune; often among the lowest combined Steuerfüsse in the canton. |
| Stansstad | ≈ 4.20–4.40 | On Lake Lucerne; competitive multiplier, popular with commuters and retirees. |
| Buochs / Ennetbürgen | ≈ 4.30–4.60 | Lakeside residential communes with slightly higher, but still low, overall rates. |
| Beckenried / Emmetten | ≈ 4.50–4.80 | Mountain & lake area; multipliers in the upper half of the Nidwalden range. |
| Highest-tax municipalities (e.g. Oberdorf, Wolfenschiessen) | ≈ 4.90–5.16 | Still low compared with most Swiss cantons; modestly higher local component. |
*Total Steuerfuss is the sum of cantonal and municipal Steuerfüsse and is applied to the simple wealth tax. Ranges above are indicative for natural persons and exclude church tax, which is set separately by religious communities.
Combined Effective Burden — Examples
For Nidwalden residents (excluding church tax), the combined cantonal and municipal wealth tax can be approximated as:
Total wealth tax ≈ Taxable net wealth × 0.25‰ × Total Steuerfuss.
The examples below use the simple rate of 0.25‰, and compare a lower-tax setting (Total Steuerfuss ≈ 4.10) with a higher-tax setting (≈ 5.10). These values are consistent with published ranges for Nidwalden municipalities and lead to effective rates near the 0.12–0.13% figures quoted for Stans at CHF 1–5 million.:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
| Taxable Net Wealth (CHF) | Commune @ Steuerfuss 4.10 | Commune @ Steuerfuss 5.10 | Approx. Effective % Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500,000 | Simple: 500,000 × 0.25‰ = 125 → 125 × 4.10 ≈ CHF 513 | 125 × 5.10 ≈ CHF 638 | ~0.10%–0.13% |
| 1,000,000 | Simple: 1,000,000 × 0.25‰ = 250 → 250 × 4.10 ≈ CHF 1,025 | 250 × 5.10 ≈ CHF 1,275 | ~0.10%–0.13% |
| 3,000,000 | Simple: 3,000,000 × 0.25‰ = 750 → 750 × 4.10 ≈ CHF 3,075 | 750 × 5.10 ≈ CHF 3,825 | ~0.10%–0.13% |
These examples assume standard allowances already reflected in taxable wealth and exclude church tax. They align with independent comparisons that show Nidwalden (Stans) at around 0.12–0.13% of taxable wealth at CHF 1 million and CHF 5 million — the lowest in Switzerland among cantonal capitals.:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Notes & Caveats
- Allowances & family situation: Personal allowances (around CHF 35,000 for singles and CHF 70,000 for married couples) plus child allowances (around CHF 15,000 per child) reduce taxable wealth before the 0.25‰ rate is applied.:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8} See Allowances & Deductions.
- Debt reduces the base: Mortgages, margin loans and other enforceable debts outstanding on 31 December are deductible from gross assets. For cross-canton or cross-border holdings, Steuerausscheidung allocates wealth between taxing jurisdictions. See Allowances.
- Valuation rules: Bankable assets are generally taken at year-end market value; real estate is taxed based on official valuation rules; qualifying participations can benefit from the reduced 0.20‰ rate. See Valuation Rules.
- Church tax: Church taxes are calculated as additional Steuerfüsse and apply only to members of recognised religious communities. They can modestly increase the effective rate above the figures shown here.
- Year-specific figures & reforms: While the simple 0.25‰ rate has been stable, Nidwalden periodically reviews its tax law and Steuerfüsse (including in the context of the 2026 tax reform project). Always confirm the current simple rate, allowances and municipal Steuerfüsse for the tax year you are modelling.:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}