Valais Wealth Tax Rates
Valais Wealth Tax: Rates & Communal Coefficients
Valais applies a progressive cantonal wealth tax between 1‰ and 3‰ of taxable net wealth. Each commune then applies its own coefficient, so effective wealth tax typically ranges from about 0.35% in low-tax communes like Verbier to around 0.70% in higher-tax communes like Kippel at higher net-worth levels.
Wealth tax in the Canton of Valais (Wallis) is levied on your taxable net wealth at 31 December. Taxable net wealth is worldwide assets (for residents) minus deductible debts and a cantonal allowance (typically CHF 30,000 for single taxpayers and CHF 60,000 for married couples or families). Only net wealth above this allowance is subject to wealth tax.
The canton uses a progressive per-mille tariff on taxable wealth. The resulting cantonal tax is then mirrored at the communal level: each municipality applies the same barème but multiplies the cantonal amount by its own coefficient (between 1.0 and 1.5). The total wealth tax is therefore the sum of the cantonal tax plus the commune’s share, with optional church tax for members of recognised communities.
Cantonal Progressive Wealth Tax Schedule
The official Valais barème for wealth tax on individuals (Barème 3 – impôt cantonal et communal sur la fortune) sets out a progressive scale:
- Minimum rate: 1‰ on the first band of taxable wealth (up to around CHF 10,000).
- Maximum rate: 3‰ for taxable wealth exceeding approximately CHF 2,000,000.
- The rate increases in small steps between these values, so the average effective rate rises gradually as wealth grows.
Remember that before this tariff is applied, you deduct the Valais allowance (e.g. 30k/60k) and all deductible debts to arrive at taxable net wealth. The table below shows illustrative cantonal wealth tax amounts (canton only, coefficient 1.0) at selected taxable wealth levels.
| Taxable Net Wealth (CHF) | Illustrative Cantonal Tax (CHF) | Approx. Average Cantonal Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Up to allowance threshold | 0 | 0% |
| 50,000 | ≈ 70–90 | ~0.14%–0.18% (1.4–1.8‰) |
| 100,000 | ≈ 200–250 | ~0.20%–0.25% (2.0–2.5‰) |
| 500,000 | ≈ 1,000–1,300 | ~0.20%–0.26% (2.0–2.6‰) |
| 2,000,000 | ≈ 4,000–6,000 | ~0.20%–0.30% (2.0–3.0‰) |
The official wealth tax barème in Valais uses detailed CHF-by-CHF brackets with rates between 1‰ and 3‰. Values here are rounded and for illustration only; always use the official barème or tax calculator for the filing year.
Communal Coefficients in Valais
Valais is somewhat distinctive: the cantonal tariff itself applies directly (no separate cantonal coefficient), while each commune chooses a coefficient that scales the cantonal wealth tax to determine the communal portion. In practice:
- The canton calculates the wealth tax using Barème 3 on your taxable net wealth (1‰–3‰ progression).
- The same barème is then used to compute the communal wealth tax, but the result is multiplied by the commune’s coefficient, typically between 1.00 and 1.50.
- Some communes also show an indexation percentage (e.g. 158%–176%) for income tax; for wealth tax, the key driver is still the coefficient in the municipal regulations.
External guidance for 2024/2025 illustrates how different Valais communes compare:
| Commune (examples) | Indicative Communal Coefficient* | Effective Wealth Tax @ CHF 500k | Effective Wealth Tax @ CHF 2m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbier (Val de Bagnes) | ≈ 1.20 | ≈ CHF 2,210 (≈0.44%) | ≈ CHF 12,010 (≈0.60%) |
| Kippel (Lötschental) | ≈ 1.50 | ≈ CHF 2,650 (≈0.53%) | ≈ CHF 14,410 (≈0.72%) |
| Val de Bagnes (other villages) | ≈ 1.10–1.25 | Typically slightly below Verbier | Effective rates around 0.40%–0.58% |
| Mid-range communes (e.g. Conthey / Riddes-type) | ≈ 1.25–1.35 | Effective rates around 0.47%–0.50% | Effective rates around 0.60%–0.65% |
| High-tax communes (e.g. certain small mountain communes) | ≈ 1.40–1.50 | Effective rates up to ~0.55% | Effective rates up to ~0.72% (current cap) |
*Communal coefficients are expressed as multipliers on the cantonal wealth tax and are set annually by each commune. The examples for Verbier and Kippel are based on worked examples for the 2024/2025 tax years (married couple, no church tax).
Combined Effective Burden — Examples
The total ordinary wealth tax (excluding church) can be thought of as:
Total Valais wealth tax ≈ Taxable net wealth × progressive per-mille rate × (1 + communal coefficient-1)
i.e. canton + commune, both derived from the same barème, plus any church tax for members.
The examples below contrast a low-tax commune like Verbier with a higher-tax commune like Kippel. They use published examples for 2024/2025 for a married couple (no church tax) and round figures for clarity.
| Taxable Net Wealth (CHF) | Verbier (low-tax profile) | Kippel (higher-tax profile) | Effective Wealth Tax % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000 | ≈ CHF 160 | ≈ CHF 190 | ~0.32% vs. ~0.38% |
| 100,000 | ≈ CHF 350 | ≈ CHF 418 | ~0.35% vs. ~0.42% |
| 500,000 | ≈ CHF 2,210 | ≈ CHF 2,650 | ~0.44% vs. ~0.53% |
| 2,000,000 | ≈ CHF 12,010 | ≈ CHF 14,410 | ~0.60% vs. ~0.72% |
These figures are taken from detailed Valais examples for Verbier and Kippel and illustrate the approximate range of effective wealth tax in the canton. In practice, many communes (including mid-range locations and the cantonal capital region) lie somewhere between these two profiles.
Notes & Caveats
- Allowances & thresholds: Valais grants a general wealth allowance (typically CHF 30,000 for single taxpayers and CHF 60,000 for couples and certain family situations). Only wealth exceeding this allowance is taxed. See Allowances & Deductions.
- Debt reduces the base: Mortgages, investment loans and other enforceable debts outstanding on 31 December are deductible. For cross-canton or international asset structures, Valais applies standard Swiss allocation rules for wealth tax. See Allowances.
- Valuation rules: Bank assets and listed securities are valued at year-end market value; real estate at cantonal tax values; and business interests / private companies using specific valuation methods coordinated with the federal tax administration. See Valuation Rules.
- Church tax: Recognised religious communities can levy additional wealth tax via their own multipliers. These are not included in the examples above and apply only to registered members.
- No cantonal coefficient, but communal multiples: Unlike many cantons, Valais does not use an annual cantonal coefficient on the barème. The progression in your total bill comes from the barème itself and the communal coefficient (plus church tax where applicable).
- Year-specific parameters: Wealth tax barèmes and communal coefficients can change; the examples above are based on current (2024/2025) tables and advisory materials. Always confirm the current-year figures with the Valais tax administration or an up-to-date calculator.