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Wappen Kanton Basel-StadtHave your tax return for the Canton of Basel-Stadt completed

We know the cantonal deductions, deadlines and special features in the Canton of Basel-Stadt – from the tax system without a communal tax multiplier to the rules for cross-border commuters – and review your tax return in full, at a fixed price from CHF 35.–.

  • Personal expert review of your documents
  • All cantonal deductions checked
  • Deadline extension included free of charge
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The short answer

In the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the tax return for the 2025 tax year must be submitted by 31 March 2026; the deadline can be extended free of charge until 30 September 2026. We prepare your tax return at a fixed price per tax year: CHF 35.– for apprentices and students, CHF 99.– for individuals, CHF 149.– for married couples and families.

Cantonal knowledge

Tax return in the Canton of Basel-Stadt – what you should know

Basel-Stadt works differently from most cantons: there is no classic communal tax multiplier – but some of the most generous deductions in Switzerland.

Updated on 3 September 2026 · Tax year 2025

Professionally reviewed by FINWIWO AG on 3 September 2026.

Specialist discussing tax documents with a client

Three communes – and no tax multiplier system

The Canton of Basel-Stadt consists of the City of Basel as well as Riehen and Bettingen. Anyone living in the City of Basel pays the full cantonal tax and no communal tax – it is already included. In Riehen and Bettingen, the cantonal tax is reduced to 50 per cent; in return, the two communes levy their own communal tax (Riehen 40 per cent, Bettingen 37.5 per cent of the cantonal income tax, 2025 tax year).

Income tax follows a three-tier rate: 21 per cent up to CHF 212'500 of taxable income (single persons), above that 27.25 and 28.25 per cent respectively; for married couples, the tier thresholds are twice as high (2025 tax year).

BalTax Online – the electronic tax return

Via the eSteuern.BS tax portal, the tax return can be completed fully electronically with BalTax Online and submitted without a signature – including receipts, which can be captured with a smartphone camera. Access is via the AGOV government login; since the 2025 tax year, there has also been a dedicated input section for crypto assets.

BalTax is an option for anyone who wants to complete the return themselves. If you want to be sure that every item is recorded correctly and completely, we take care of it for you: we enter your details, discuss the draft with you and prepare the submission.

Typical mistakes that cost Basel taxpayers money

In practice, we see the same points again and again: the exceptionally high further education deduction of up to CHF 19'100 is not used in full. Cross-border commuter constellations with Germany or France are declared incorrectly, or certificates are missing. The travel expenses deduction is overestimated – in Basel-Stadt it is capped at CHF 3'200, less than in almost all other cantons.

The high third-party childcare deduction of up to CHF 26'000 per child also often remains unused. A specialist checks every item individually and points out missing receipts to you before the return is submitted.

Get more out of it

Tax deductions in the Canton of Basel-Stadt – making the most of every option

Basel-Stadt combines some very generous deductions with strict limits on others – those who know the differences save. The following maximum amounts apply to the 2025 tax year (cantonal tax); the official list of rates is authoritative.

  1. 01

    Further education costs – a Basel strength

    Job-related education and further training: up to CHF 19'100 per person and year (Confederation: CHF 13'000) – one of the highest values in Switzerland (2025 tax year). This includes course fees, teaching materials, examination fees and travel costs to the course location.

    Official source(opens in a new tab on media.bs.ch)
  2. 02

    Child deductions & third-party childcare

    Child deduction of CHF 9'000 per child as well as documented third-party childcare costs of up to CHF 26'000 per child under 14 (2025 tax year). One of the requirements is that both parents are gainfully employed – we check the details.

  3. 03

    Professional expenses & travel expenses – capped

    The travel expenses deduction in Basel-Stadt is capped at CHF 3'200 per year – usually sufficient in the public transport network close to the city, but lower than in other cantons. Added to this are meals away from home at CHF 15 per working day or a maximum of CHF 3'200 per year and the lump-sum deduction for professional expenses of CHF 4'200 (2025 tax year).

  4. 04

    Insurance premiums & savings interest

    Up to CHF 8'400 for married couples and CHF 4'200 for single persons is deductible (2025 tax year).

  5. 05

    Pillar 3a & pension provision

    Contributions to tied pension provision are deductible up to CHF 7'258 (2025 tax year, employees with a pension fund); buy-ins to the pension fund are added to this. We allocate the certificates to the correct position and check whether the permissible amount has been used in full.

  6. 06

    Donations & charitable contributions

    Voluntary contributions to tax-exempt charitable institutions domiciled in Switzerland as well as contributions to political parties, each within the applicable limits.

In addition, there are further items such as debt interest, maintenance payments, property costs or the social deductions (CHF 19'500 for single persons, CHF 38'000 for married couples). We clarify which deductions can be substantiated in your situation before we start – free of charge and without obligation.

Guidelines and forms of the canton(opens in a new tab on media.bs.ch)

Keeping track of dates

Deadlines and submission in the Canton of Basel-Stadt

The date on your personal tax documents is always authoritative. The following overview refers to the 2025 tax year.

Deadlines at a glance

Ordinary filing deadline
31 March 2026 for the 2025 tax year
Deadline extension
Free of charge until 30 September 2026 (online); further applications cost CHF 40
Electronic tax return
BalTax Online via eSteuern.BS with AGOV login
In case of late filing
After a reminder, a disciplinary fine and a discretionary assessment are possible

Missed the deadline? No need to panic.

Basel-Stadt is generous: the deadline can be extended online free of charge until 30 September – via the eSteuern.BS tax portal. Only further applications cost CHF 40.

If the deadline has already passed, a reminder usually follows first. In this case, contact us early – we will clarify with you what is still possible and take care of the application.

With us, the deadline extension is included in the package price free of charge.

Secure the deadlines – request now

Withholding tax

Withholding tax in the Canton of Basel-Stadt

If your salary is taxed directly at source, an ordinary tax return is not automatically required – but in certain cases it is mandatory or possible on a voluntary basis. In Basel, the cross-border commuter rules with Germany and France come into play as well.

01

Who is subject to withholding tax?

In principle, foreign employees without a C settlement permit who are resident or staying in the canton. For cross-border commuters from Germany, a withholding tax limited to 4.5 per cent applies with a certificate of residence; cross-border commuters from France are not taxed at source in Switzerland under the 1983 cross-border commuter agreement if they hold a certificate.

02

NOV – subsequent ordinary assessment

From a gross annual income of CHF 120'000, the subsequent ordinary assessment (NOV) is mandatory – and remains in place until the end of the liability to withholding tax. Below this threshold, it can be requested voluntarily, by 31 March of the following year; the application is irrevocable.

03

How we support you

We check the rate code, marital status, cross-border commuter status, further income and possible deductions and assess whether a NOV is worthwhile in your case. We then file the application on time and prepare the complete tax return.

This information is for guidance only and does not replace an individual assessment. We review your specific situation before we start.

Have your withholding tax checked

From the Canton of Basel-Stadt

Typical situations in the Canton of Basel-Stadt

Further education particularly attractive

Basel-Stadt allows a deduction of up to CHF 19'100 per year for job-related education and further training (2025 tax year) – considerably more than the Confederation with CHF 13'000. Anyone paying for major further training themselves should submit all receipts; we allocate them correctly.

Cross-border commuters

Basel is the place of work for many commuters from Germany and France – with their own rules under the double taxation agreements (limited withholding tax or the cross-border commuter agreement with France, including home-office rules). We clarify which constellation applies to you before we start.

Families with childcare

The third-party childcare deduction in Basel-Stadt is up to CHF 26'000 per child under 14 – one of the highest values in Switzerland. Added to this is the child deduction of CHF 9'000 (2025 tax year). We check the requirements and receipts.

Living in Riehen or Bettingen

Anyone living in Riehen or Bettingen pays a cantonal tax reduced to 50 per cent plus the respective communal tax – on balance slightly less than in the City of Basel. We assign your commune of residence correctly and account for both levels cleanly.

Property and imputed rental value in the Canton of Basel-Stadt

Anyone who owns residential property in the Canton of Basel-Stadt pays tax on the imputed rental value as income and can in return deduct mortgage interest, maintenance and administration costs. The key is a clean separation: repairs and replacements preserve the value and are deductible; an extension increases it and is not.

For wealth tax, owners benefit from tax-free allowances: CHF 150'000 for married couples, CHF 75'000 for single persons, plus CHF 15'000 per minor child (2025 tax year).

If your property is located in another canton or in the nearby border region abroad, a tax allocation is carried out. We record all properties in full so that the allocation remains transparent.

  • Imputed rental value and property details recorded correctly
  • Mortgage interest and list of debts checked
  • Maintenance: value-preserving separated from value-enhancing
  • Wealth tax allowances taken into account
  • Properties outside the canton and abroad taken into account

Additional service: CHF 65.– per property.

Communal comparison

The Basel tax system: three communes, no tax multiplier

Unlike in most cantons, there is no communal tax multiplier on the simple tax in Basel-Stadt: in the City of Basel, the communal tax is already included in the cantonal tax. Riehen and Bettingen levy their own communal tax – in return, the cantonal tax there is halved.

On balance, the tax burden in Riehen and Bettingen is slightly below that of the City of Basel. More important than where you live in Basel-Stadt is making full use of the deductions – such as the CHF 19'100 for further education, almost unique in Switzerland.

Rates, deductions and tax multipliers (Basel-Stadt)(opens in a new tab on media.bs.ch)

Your preparation

Documents you should have ready

Depending on your situation, further documents may be needed. After your request we tell you exactly what is still missing.

Simple process

Your finished tax return in 4 clear steps

Request, discuss, approve – we take care of the rest for you.

  1. 01

    approx. 60 seconds

    Submit a request

    Fill in a short form with your contact details and canton of residence – free of charge and without obligation.

  2. 02

    within 24 hours

    Meet your advisor

    Your personal tax specialist gets in touch – at your home, in the office or by video call.

  3. 03

    upload or post

    Go through your documents

    Together you go through the checklist; anything missing can easily be sent later.

  4. 04

    after your approval

    Finished tax return

    We prepare the tax return, you approve it – then we file it for you.

Request now, free of charge

Transparent prices

Fair fixed prices – also in the Canton of Basel-Stadt

Fixed price per tax year. Payment is made after completion, within 14 days.*

  • Apprentices & students

    CHF 35.–

    Up to CHF 30'000 gross salary

    Per tax return

    • Tax return included
    • Securities included
    • Deadline extension included
    • Advice and processing
    • Filing with the tax office
    • Available in all cantons
    Request now
  • Most popular

    Individuals

    CHF 99.–

    For employees & self-employed

    Per tax return

    • Tax return included
    • Securities included
    • Deadline extension included
    • Additional income included
    • Further education costs included
    • Filing with the tax office
    • Personal tax specialist
    • Advice by phone
    Request now

  • Married couples

    CHF 149.–

    Joint assessment

    Per tax return

    • Tax return included
    • Securities included
    • Deadline extension included
    • Joint assessment
    • Child deductions optimised
    • Third-party childcare costs
    • Filing with the tax office
    • Personal tax specialist
    Request now
  • Real estateCHF 65.– per property
  • InheritanceCHF 65.–
  • Express 72hCHF 100.–

See all prices and additional services

* Regular clients can pay online in advance.

Further reading

Related guide articles

In-depth articles on the topics addressed on this page.

Filing deadlines of all cantonsWhen each tax return is due – an overview of all cantons.Education and further trainingWhen further training costs are deductible – and to what extent.Withholding tax and expatsWhen a subsequent ordinary assessment (NOV) is worthwhile.Families and childcareClaiming child deductions and third-party childcare costs correctly.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions – Canton of Basel-Stadt

The key answers about your tax return in this canton.

Transparency

Official information

The information provided by the Canton of Basel-Stadt is always authoritative. Reviewed/updated: September 2026.

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