Tax Returns and Household Help in Switzerland: Maximize Your Deductions (2026)
Tax season in Switzerland: now is the time to gather all your receipts. If you have legally employed household help, the right documents can save you hundreds to thousands of francs. Those paying under the table get nothing. This guide shows you step by step which documents you need, which cantonal deductions are available, and how Clino automatically generates your tax documents for you.
For any tax deduction around household help you need the salary certificate and AHV confirmation - childcare is deductible up to CHF 25,800 per child (federal).
- No official registration means no salary certificate - and no tax deduction.
- Filing deadline by canton: between March 31 and September 30, 2026.
- Clino generates salary certificate, AHV confirmation and annual statement automatically.
Know how much you can deduct? Tax deduction calculator & tips →
March 2026: your tax return is on the table. You have a cleaner, nanny, or housekeeper - but where are the receipts? Having the right documents now can mean a real tax advantage. Not having them means double loss: no deductions and potential fines for undeclared work.
Which Documents Do You Need for Your Tax Return?
The tax authorities require proof that you legally employed your household help and correctly paid social security contributions. Without these documents, no deduction will be accepted.
Salary Certificate (Form 11)
The official Swiss salary form - shows gross salary, deductions (AHV, ALV, UVG), and net salary. Must be attached to the tax return. Clino generates this automatically in January.
AHV Confirmation from the Compensation Office
The annual statement from the compensation office proves that social security contributions were paid. In the simplified billing procedure, it also serves as a tax certificate.
Employment Contract
Not always required, but recommended as proof: workload, salary, scope of duties. Especially important for childcare to prove the care component.
Payment Receipts
Bank statements or receipts proving actual payments. Cash payments without receipts are not accepted by the tax office.
Medical Certificate (if applicable)
Only for disability-related care needs: a medical certificate confirms that the household help is medically necessary. Allows full deduction without upper limit.
Clino automatically generates the salary certificate, annual statement, and employment contract. All documents are available as PDFs in your dashboard - ready to download and submit.
What Tax Deductions Are Possible?
Not all household help costs are tax-deductible. The options depend on your situation.
Third-Party Childcare
Nanny, au pair, or day mother for children under 14: up to CHF 25,800/child (federal). For a nanny who also cleans: approx. 50% counts as childcare.
Max. CHF 25,800/childDisability-Related Costs
If you or a dependent person needs household help due to disability: full amount, no deductible, no maximum.
No maximumIllness/Accident Costs
Home nursing care (Spitex services) - minus 5% deductible on net income. Pure housework does not count here.
Minus 5% deductibleProperty Maintenance
Stairwell cleaning, rental property cleaning, Airbnb cleaning - deductible as property maintenance costs. Private apartment cleaning does not count.
Actual costsNot deductible:
Cantonal Differences in Tax Deductions
Federal tax deductions are uniform across Switzerland. For cantonal taxes, however, there are major differences - especially for childcare.
| Canton | Max. cantonal/child | Max. federal/child |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | CHF 25,300/child (cantonal) | CHF 25,800 |
| Bern | CHF 16,000/child (cantonal) | CHF 25,800 |
| Lucerne | CHF 20,200/child (cantonal) | CHF 25,800 |
| Basel-Stadt | CHF 26,000/child (cantonal) | CHF 25,800 |
| St. Gallen | CHF 26,800/child (cantonal) | CHF 25,800 |
| Geneva | CHF 26,392/child (cantonal) | CHF 25,800 |
| Vaud | CHF 15,200/child (cantonal) | CHF 25,800 |
| Aargau | CHF 25,000/child (cantonal) | CHF 25,800 |
Sources: Cantonal tax offices, as of 2025/2026. Check current values with your tax office.
Tip: In cantons with low limits (from CHF 8,000), the cantonal deduction is quickly exhausted. Check if your canton offers separate deductions for disability costs - there is often no maximum.
Legally registering your household help is not just meeting a legal obligation - it also secures the tax deduction that undeclared employers never receive.
Undeclared Work = No Tax Deduction
Anyone who does not register their household help not only loses the possibility of tax deductions - serious consequences await.
No Salary Certificate
Without official registration, there is no salary certificate. Without a salary certificate, the tax office does not accept a single franc as a deduction.
Back Payments + Late Fees
If social security contributions are demanded retroactively, up to 5 years of arrears plus 5% late interest apply.
Fines up to CHF 10,000
Undeclared work is a criminal offense. Fines range from a few hundred to CHF 10,000 - depending on severity and canton.
Liability for Accidents
Without UVG insurance, you are personally liable for all medical and treatment costs in case of a workplace accident.
The math is simple: legal registration (for CHF 19.90/month with Clino) enables tax deductions of often several thousand francs. Undeclared work costs you deductions AND brings the risk of fines.
Without Registration (undeclared)
- •No salary certificate possible
- •No tax deduction - zero francs
- •Fines up to CHF 10,000
- •Personal liability for accidents
With Clino (legal)
- •Salary certificate automatic in January
- •Tax deduction up to CHF 25,800/child
- •100% legally compliant
- •UVG insurance included
How Clino Automatically Creates All Tax Documents
Clino is not a tax advisor - but Clino creates all the documents that your tax advisor (or you yourself) need for the tax return.
Registration in 5 Minutes
Register your household help, set the salary, done. Clino prepares the AHV registration and UVG insurance.
Monthly Payroll
Every month, Clino calculates net salary, social contributions, and creates the pay slip - all saved in the dashboard.
Year-End in January
In January, Clino automatically generates: salary certificate (Form 11), annual social security statement, AHV confirmation.
Download and Submit
Download all documents as PDFs, attach to your tax return - done. No manual calculations, no missing documents.
CHF 19.90/month - all tax documents included. No hidden surcharge for the salary certificate.
Tax Calendar 2026: Key Deadlines
Each canton has its own deadlines. Here are the key dates for the 2025 tax return (filing in 2026):
January 2026
Clino automatically generates the 2025 salary certificate. Employer confirmation of social security becomes available.
March 31, 2026
Filing deadline in many German-speaking cantons (ZH, BE, LU, AG, SG, etc.). Extension usually possible but may cost a fee.
June 30, 2026
Deadline for most French-speaking cantons (GE, VD, FR, NE). If you have not filed yet: act now.
September 30, 2026
Last extension deadline in most cantons. After that, reminder fees and estimated assessments apply.
7 Common Mistakes on Tax Returns with Household Help
No salary certificate created
Without a salary certificate, no deduction is accepted. Even in the simplified procedure, you need the tax certificate from the compensation office.
Declaring cleaning as childcare
Only the care component is deductible. For a nanny who also cleans: claim max. 50% of salary as childcare.
Exceeding cantonal maximum
Federal deduction is CHF 25,800 - cantonal between CHF 8,000 (SZ) and CHF 27,300 (GR). Check the lower value.
Cash without receipt
Cash payments are allowed but only verifiable with receipts. No receipt = no proof = no deduction.
Forgetting to declare simplified procedure
In the simplified procedure, taxes are settled at a flat rate. Nevertheless, the salary must appear in your own tax return.
Not keeping records
The tax office can request documents up to 5 years later. Keep all pay slips, receipts, and contracts.
Missing the deadline
Missing the filing deadline without an extension request risks reminder fees and an estimated assessment (usually higher).
Checklist: Tax Return with Household Help
Tax Documents at the Push of a Button - with Clino
Register your household help with Clino, and in January you automatically receive the salary certificate, AHV confirmation, and all statements. For CHF 19.90/month - less than one hour with an accountant.
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