It’s not something many want to hear, but the start of 2024 brings with it the beginning of the tax season. To help stoke some inter-town rivalries, Swiss newspaper Watson has compiled how local tax rates will change in the Canton of Zurich in 2024, and which communities will have the lowest and highest rates to pay.

Changes to cantonal taxes in Zurich

Starting with the canton, people who a registered in Zurich will benefit from slightly lower taxes for the 2024 season. Authorities have approved a 1 percentage point cut in cantonal income tax.

This means that those on an average Swiss salary (80.000 francs a year) should be able to treat themselves to a couple of cups of coffee in Zurich after they fill out their tax return, as the change will save them around 20 francs a year - not much but still worth mentioning.

How will local tax rates change in Zurich in 2024?

With cantonal tax rates declining slightly, several local councils have also decided to change their tax rates in 2024. 23 different communities in Zurich will see lower rates in 2024, while 12 communities will raise their tax rates.

Which towns in Zurich will be cutting taxes?

For 2024, the following communities in Zurich will be cutting their taxes:

• 1 percentage point cut: Wila, Wädenswil, Dachsen
• 2 percent: Küsnacht, Thalwil, Volketswil, Fischental, Boppelsen, Rheinau
• 3 percent: Hombrechtikon, Aeugst Am Albis, Erlenbach, Zollikon, Oberengstrigen
• 4 percent: Zumikon, Dinhard, Rickenbach, Ellikon an der Thur, Truttikon, Trüllikon, Embrach
• 5 percent: Buchs, Dorf

Speaking to Watson, officials from Dorf said that increased outside investment has allowed it to reduce taxes. When it came to Buchs, while local authorities wanted to maintain tax rates for 2024, the audit commission in the town recommended they be lowered. Their proposal was then backed by Swiss citizens in the town by 42 votes to 32.

Which Zurich communities will see higher tax rates?

On the flip side, here are all the communities in Zurich that will be raising taxes in 2024:

• 1 percentage point increase: Bonstetten, Wettswil am Albis, Stallikon
• 2 percent: Hagenbuch, Marthalen
• 3 percent: Dietlikon, Oberweningen, Lufingen
• 4 percent: Elgg
• 5 percent: Oberembrach
• 6 percent: Weiach
• 8 percent: Thalheim an der Thur

The community of Weiach told Watson that the rise was necessary because otherwise, they would be unable to provide asylum accommodation or start work on a new building for their local school. The 8 percentage point rise in Thalheim an der Thur is still provisional, as the community assembly rejected the budget after heated discussions. The council is now on an emergency budget, with the rise set to be voted on next in March.

Which parts of Canton Zurich have the highest and lowest tax rates?

While it may not be planning to raise or lower taxes this year, Kilchberg is still the place in Canton Zurich with the lowest local taxes. There, local taxes are 28 percent lower than the cantonal average (without church tax). The community on the Silver Coast of Lake Zurich has held the title since 2018.

However, the rest of the cheapest 10 was dominated by the Gold Coast, with Küsnacht ranking in second place. Tax rates there amount to just 73 percent of the Zurich average. In all, here are the communities in Zurich with the lowest local taxes in 2024:

• 1. Kilchberg (72 percent)
• 2. Küsnacht (73 percent)
• =3. Rüschlikon (75 percent)
• =3. Herrliberg (75 percent)
• =5. Winkel (76 percent)
• =5. Erlenbach (76 percent)
• =5. Zollikon (76 percent)
• =8. Zumikon (77 percent)
• =8. Neerach (77 percent)
• 10. Stäfa (78 percent)
• 11. Meilen (79 percent)

By contrast, the community of Maschwanden has the highest local taxes, with rates 30 percent above the cantonal average. They are followed by Bachs (28 percent), Wildberg (27 percent) and Zurich’s second city Winterthur (25 percent).