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Wappen Kanton ZurichHave your tax return for the Canton of Zurich completed

We know the cantonal deductions, deadlines and special features in the Canton of Zurich and check your tax return in full – with personal support and at a fixed price from CHF 35.–.

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

In the Canton of Zurich, the tax return for the 2025 tax year must be filed by 31 March 2026; a deadline extension can be requested from your municipality of residence and is included free of charge with us. 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 Zurich – what you should know

The Zurich tax law applies equally across the whole canton – but how much you end up paying depends heavily on your municipality and on the deductions you claim.

Updated on 2 September 2026 · Tax year 2025

Professionally reviewed by FINWIWO AG on 2 September 2026.

Specialist discussing tax documents with a client

160 municipalities, one tax law – but big differences

The Canton of Zurich has 160 political municipalities. The simple cantonal tax is derived from your taxable income; it is multiplied by the cantonal tax multiplier (98 % in the 2025 tax year) and the tax multiplier of your municipality of residence, plus church tax depending on your denomination. In 2025, the communal tax multipliers range from 72 % (Kilchberg) to 129 % (Maschwanden) – a considerable difference for identical income.

For your tax return, this changes nothing about how it is recorded: what counts is your municipality of residence, and if you move within the canton, generally the one at the end of the year. We clarify such points before we start.

ZHprivateTax – the online tax return

The Canton of Zurich relies entirely on the online channel: the tax return is completed and filed via the ZHprivateTax web application, with access through the AGOV government login. The former offline software «Private Tax» has been discontinued – from the 2025 tax return onwards, there is only ZHprivateTax or filing on paper.

ZHprivateTax is an option for anyone who wants to fill in 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 filing.

Typical mistakes that cost Zurich taxpayers money

In practice, we keep seeing the same points: for commuting by private vehicle, proof of necessity is missing, so the travel expenses deduction is lost entirely. The insurance premium deduction is not used in full. People taxed at source miss the deadline for the voluntary subsequent ordinary assessment – it expires on 31 March of the following year and cannot be extended.

Third-party childcare costs also often go unused, even though the Canton of Zurich has generous maximum amounts here. A specialist checks every item individually and points out missing receipts before the return is filed.

Get more out of it

Tax deductions in the Canton of Zurich – using every option

Anyone who knows all the permitted deductions and claims them correctly noticeably reduces their tax burden. We check every deduction item systematically for your situation. The following maximum amounts apply to the 2025 tax year (cantonal and communal taxes); the official guidelines are authoritative.

  1. 01

    Professional expenses & commuter deduction

    Travel expenses between home and workplace are deductible in the Canton of Zurich up to CHF 5'200 per year (federal: CHF 3'300), plus meals away from home at CHF 15 per working day or a maximum of CHF 3'200 per year. If a private vehicle is used, the necessity must be proven.

  2. 02

    Insurance premiums & medical expenses

    Premiums for health and accident insurance are deductible up to CHF 5'800 (married persons) or CHF 2'900 (others), plus CHF 1'300 per child (2025 tax year). Medical and dental expenses you pay yourself are additionally deductible above the applicable threshold.

  3. 03

    Pillar 3a & retirement provision

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

  4. 04

    Child deductions & third-party childcare

    Child deduction of CHF 9'300 per child as well as documented third-party childcare costs of up to CHF 25'000 per child under 14 (2025 tax year). One of the requirements is that both parents are gainfully employed – we check the details.

  5. 05

    Further training costs

    Job-related education and further training: up to CHF 12'400 in the Canton of Zurich, up to CHF 13'000 at federal level, per person and year (2025 tax year). This includes course fees, teaching materials, examination fees and travel costs to the course venue.

    Official source(opens in a new tab on zh.ch)
  6. 06

    Donations & charitable contributions

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

There are also further items such as debt interest, maintenance payments, property costs or asset management costs. 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 zh.ch)

Keeping track of dates

Deadlines and filing in the Canton of Zurich

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
Request from your municipality of residence before the deadline expires; usually until 30 September, at the latest until 30 November
Electronic tax return
ZHprivateTax with AGOV login; paper remains possible
In case of delay
After a reminder, a disciplinary fine and a discretionary assessment are possible

Missed the deadline? No reason to panic.

If you need more time, submit the extension request to your municipality of residence before the deadline expires – online or in writing. An extension until 30 September is usual, in justified cases until 30 November at the latest.

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

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 Zurich

If your salary is taxed directly at source, an ordinary tax return is not automatically necessary – but in certain cases it is required or possible on a voluntary basis.

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 example with a B or L permit. The tax is deducted directly from the salary.

02

NOV – subsequent ordinary assessment

From a gross annual salary of CHF 120'000, the subsequent ordinary assessment is carried out ex officio; for married couples, each person is assessed individually and the salaries are not added together. The NOV is also compulsory for income not taxed at source exceeding CHF 3'000 or taxable assets exceeding CHF 80'000 (single persons) or CHF 160'000 (married persons).

03

Voluntary NOV – note the deadline

Below the thresholds, the NOV can be requested voluntarily – by 31 March of the following year; this deadline cannot be extended. We check your tariff code, other income and possible deductions and submit the request on time.

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

Have your withholding tax checked

From the Canton of Zurich

Typical situations in the Canton of Zurich

Expats and people taxed at source

Many professionals in the Zurich economic area work with a B or L permit and have their salary taxed at source. From a gross annual salary of CHF 120'000, the subsequent ordinary assessment is compulsory – below that, it can be worthwhile, for example with pillar 3a, further training or commuting costs. We check this before deadlines expire.

Commuters

Whether by S-Bahn into the city or by car into the surrounding area: in the Canton of Zurich, the travel expenses deduction is capped at CHF 5'200 per year (2025 tax year). If you want to deduct your private vehicle, you need proof that public transport is not reasonable – we check this in advance.

Students at UZH, ETH and ZHAW

Zurich is the largest university location in Switzerland. Even with a part-time job, internship or scholarship, a properly prepared tax return pays off. For apprentices and students, our fixed price of CHF 35.– per tax year applies, including a check of the deductions for education costs and travel expenses.

Families with childcare

The Canton of Zurich allows a deduction of up to CHF 25'000 per child for documented third-party childcare costs (2025 tax year) – considerably more than many other cantons. Added to this is the child deduction of CHF 9'300. We check whether the requirements are met and all receipts are available.

Property and imputed rental value in the Canton of Zurich

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

Particularly in the Canton of Zurich with its high property values, carefully compiling the maintenance costs is especially worthwhile – lump sum or actual costs, whichever is more favourable for your tax year.

If your property is located in another canton or you own several properties, a tax allocation is made between the public authorities involved. 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-increasing
  • Lump-sum and actual deduction compared
  • Properties outside the canton taken into account

Additional service: CHF 65.– per property.

Communal comparison

Tax multipliers of the municipalities in the Canton of Zurich

The tax burden is derived from the simple cantonal tax, multiplied by the cantonal tax multiplier (98 % in the 2025 tax year) and the tax multiplier of your municipality of residence; church tax is added depending on your denomination. The following selection shows some of the larger municipalities and some particularly favourable ones.

In 2025, the range extends from 72 % (Kilchberg) to 129 % (Maschwanden). Depending on where you live, your tax burden can differ considerably – all the more important is a tax return that makes full use of all permitted deductions.

Current communal tax multipliers in the Canton of Zurich(opens in a new tab on zh.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 Zurich

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 which tax return is due – an overview of all cantons.Professional expenses and commuter deductionClaiming travel expenses, meals and other professional expenses correctly.Withholding tax and expatsWhen a subsequent ordinary assessment is worthwhile.Families and childcareClaiming child deductions and third-party childcare costs correctly.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions – Canton of Zurich

The key answers about your tax return in this canton.

Transparency

Official information

The information provided by the Canton of Zurich is always authoritative. Checked/updated: September 2026.

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Other cantons

We work in all 26 cantons – choose your canton for the relevant information.