Vaud Wealth Tax Allowances
Vaud Wealth Tax: Allowances & Deductions
How to determine taxable net wealth in Vaud — personal thresholds, dependents’ add-ons, deductible liabilities, and exempt pension assets.
Vaud calculates wealth tax on net assets at 31 December. From total worldwide assets (for residents), you subtract:
- Allowances (personal, marital, dependents);
- Deductible debts (mortgages, loans, tax liabilities);
- Exempt items such as occupational pensions (pillar 2) and tied retirement accounts (pillar 3a).
The result is your taxable net wealth, to which Vaud’s progressive tariff and commune coefficients apply.
1. Personal Allowances
Vaud grants basic allowances based on filing status, with supplements for dependents. These exempt thresholds are applied before the cantonal base and commune multiplier.
| Filing Status | Indicative Allowance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single | CHF 50,000–60,000 | Base exemption per individual |
| Married (joint) | CHF 90,000–100,000 | Combined exemption for couples |
| Per dependent child | CHF 10,000–15,000 | Added to the parents’ threshold |
Figures are indicative; verify the current official tariff published by the Administration Cantonale des Impôts (ACI).
2. Deductible Debt (Netting)
Deduct only documented, enforceable liabilities outstanding at 31 December. Vaud follows standard Swiss practice for debt netting:
- Mortgages on Swiss and foreign real estate (allocated proportionally if assets are multi-cantonal)
- Bank loans, margin accounts, and private loans with written contracts
- Taxes due and unpaid at year-end (income and wealth tax accruals)
- Other enforceable personal debts (if legally binding and not contingent)
Guarantees and contingent obligations are not deductible until due and payable.
3. Pension Assets (Exempt)
Assets held in occupational pensions (pillar 2) and tied retirement accounts (pillar 3a) are fully exempt from wealth tax until withdrawal. Only non-tied assets (pillar 3b) remain part of taxable wealth.
- Pension buy-ins reduce taxable wealth indirectly by transferring cash into an exempt structure.
- Declared value upon withdrawal becomes subject to income tax, not wealth tax.
- Keep official pension fund statements as documentation.
4. Real Estate Valuation Interface
Real estate in Vaud is reported at its official fiscal value (valeur fiscale). This amount is usually below market value (often 60–80%), depending on location and property type.
- Request the latest valeur fiscale certificate from the commune or cantonal office.
- Renovations or ownership changes may trigger reassessment.
- Properties outside Vaud must still be declared for allocation but are excluded from the Vaud tax base.
5. Family & Attribution Rules
Married couples in Vaud are jointly assessed; dependents’ assets are attributed to parents. If separated or divorced, each spouse files individually with single allowances.
Gifts or inheritances received during the year count toward wealth at 31 December unless specifically exempt. Vaud has its own gift and inheritance tax (exempt for direct descendants).
6. Planning Observations
- Maintain genuine, documented debt; avoid artificial arrangements.
- Consider partial mortgage repayment vs. liquidity — interest is deductible but affects wealth and income tax differently.
- Pension buy-ins and 3a contributions can both defer income and reduce wealth base.
- Ensure the valeur fiscale is up to date and not overstated.