Tax planning 2026: What to do before year-end
I couldn't help but wonder … why not plan tax optimization with the same passion as planning the perfect New Year's Eve celebration?
Do you already have a date for New Year’s Eve, or are you taking a chance to end the year without a countdown kiss? We’re the type who likes to have everything prepared for the new year. In addition to the perfect New Year’s Eve party, that also means planning and optimizing your taxes for 2026. After all, you will benefit from that far beyond December 31.
8 tips for your 2026 tax planning
Effective tax planning before the end of the year can reduce your tax burden for 2026. Plus, your tax return will be much easier to file in the new year if you’re prepared. The following 8 tips will help you close out the tax year with more clarity and understanding.
1. Take a good look back at 2026
New Year’s Eve is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past year: What has changed – for better or for worse? When it comes to taxes, however, you should assess your situation sooner. Major changes in your life can also affect your tax burden. This often applies in the following cases:
You have changed employers.
Your salary has increased or decreased significantly.
You received an exceptional bonus.
You receive RSUs, employee stock, or stock options.
You have started or stopped working as a self-employed person or in a side job.
You have moved to Switzerland or from Switzerland to another country.
You have moved to a different municipality or canton within Switzerland.
You have bought or sold real estate.
You have inherited or received a large gift.
Your investment income or assets have changed significantly.
You have gotten married or divorced.
If your finances have changed, you should estimate your expected tax liability before the end of the year. Check whether your preliminary tax bills are based on outdated information. This could mean that you’re paying far too little or far too much. If that’s the case, it’s best to schedule an appointment right away. Then we can plan your 2026 taxes together with enough time to spare!
2. Consider voluntary pension fund buy-ins
Major changes don’t just affect your taxes for the current year – they can also result in a contribution gap in your occupational pension scheme. In such cases, you can make additional contributions to the second pillar of the Swiss pension system to supplement your retirement savings and, ideally, save on taxes. This is relevant in the following situations, among others:
Your salary has increased significantly, or you will have a particularly high income in 2026.
You have received a substantial bonus.
You have switched pension funds.
You are over 55 years old.
There is already a gap in your pension fund.
You plan to leave Switzerland in the medium term.
These may be good reasons to consider a voluntary pension fund buy-in before the end of the year. The contribution must be made in 2026! However, you should carefully consider what this means in the long run. Don’t just focus on the short-term tax savings. After all, there is a 3-year lock-in period for capital withdrawals – and these are also subject to tax.
Before you make contributions to the 2nd pillar, you should thoroughly analyze your retirement planning and tax situation. We’d be happy to help you, as this decision is a bit more important than choosing who to spend New Year’s Eve with! Just schedule an appointment.
3. Make timely contributions to Pillar 3a – and fill in the gaps
There are some things that can’t wait until the last minute. Otherwise, it might be too late to make a reservation at your favorite restaurant on New Year’s Eve! The clock is already ticking for contributions to Pillar 3a, too. So be sure to make your contribution early.
In 2026, employees in Switzerland can make contributions to private pension plans of up to CHF 7,258. Self-employed individuals without a pension fund can contribute up to CHF 36,288. To claim a tax deduction for these contributions, you must choose one of three options: a 3a bank account, a 3a securities savings account, or a 3a plan with an insurance company.
In any case, the payment must still be made in 2026, so don't wait until December 31!
Retrospective contributions to Pillar 3a starting 2025
As of 2026, you can also make up for gaps in Pillar 3a retroactively. After all, if you miss New Year’s Eve at your favorite bar, you can always stop by another time. Retroactive payments are possible starting with the 2025 contribution year, as long as you meet the following conditions:
Gaps can be filled retroactively for up to 10 years.
However, this only starts with the 2025 contribution year, as the regulation is new.
You must have been eligible to make contributions in Switzerland during the year in question.
You must meet the requirements regarding earned income subject to AHV contributions.
The maximum amount for the current year must first be paid in full.
Retroactive payments are also subject to statutory limits.
The tax deduction is applied in the year in which you make the payment.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to make contributions to Pillar 3a before the end of the year not only for 2026 but also to catch up on payments for 2025. This could result in greater tax savings for 2026. Alternatively, you could choose not to make any contributions in 2026 and make a catch-up payment in 2027. Together we can find out what makes the most sense for you.
4. Donate to charitable causes before the end of the year
A good New Year’s resolution is to think of others – without losing sight of yourself in the process. You don’t have to wait until 2027 to do this, because even the best resolutions are quickly forgotten amid the rush of January.
It’s better to donate to a good cause in 2026 and take advantage of tax deductions. Here’s what’s important:
Choose a nonprofit organization as the recipient. The organization must be based in Switzerland and recognized as tax-exempt.
Be sure to check the minimum amount, which is usually CHF 100 per year. Find out what the minimum amount is in your canton so that your donation qualifies for a tax deduction!
Also note the maximum limits: For direct federal tax, a maximum of 20% of taxable income can be claimed as a donation deduction. Different regulations apply within the cantons here as well.
Keep the donation receipt and proof of payment so you can provide clear documentation of your donation.
Also, make sure to donate before December 31 so that the donation counts for 2026!
5. Document your investments and crypto assets
The closer we get to the end of the year, the more concrete the preparations become. While it’s time to pick out your New Year’s Eve outfit, you also need to think about other investments. If you opened or closed accounts, traded extensively, or invested in cryptocurrencies in 2026, you’ll need to obtain the following documents:
(Electronic) tax statements from banks and brokers
Transaction histories for securities
Statements of interest and dividend income
Proof of foreign withholding taxes for refund claims
Documents regarding brokerage accounts opened or closed in 2026
Complete crypto transaction histories
Relevant proof of purchase and acquisition costs
Account and portfolio statements as of December 31
Crypto holdings statements as of December 31
Tip: You should record the value of your assets as of December 31 first thing in the morning on January 1. A screenshot of your investment accounts, wallets, and other assets is all you need to document your net worth. That's easy to do, even if you've had a long night!
Why these documents help with your tax return
Documentation is particularly important when dealing with foreign brokers, trading platforms, and crypto exchanges. They typically do not provide automatic Swiss tax statements or neatly formatted annual financial statements. So be sure to check which reports you can export to ensure you have access to past transactions. This is important for two reasons:
The statements as of December 31 are important for recording your assets at the year-end. That’s why you should take care of this right away on the first day of the new year.
Income such as interest, dividends, or reinvested fund distributions, on the other hand, is considered taxable income.
If your head is already spinning: Just talk to us! We’re also happy to remind you of your year-end tasks again with tip #8. But with the right preparation, it’s not much more of a hassle than slipping into your already chosen sparkly outfit on New Year’s Eve!
6. Keep track of foreign assets and income
You want to ring in the New Year at your vacation home in Ibiza? Whether that’s just a dream or a reality, Switzerland is also keenly interested in your assets and income abroad. If you’re a taxpayer in Switzerland, you must report your worldwide assets and earnings, even as an expat!
For tax planning purposes, you should therefore identify early on which changes have occurred in your foreign finances in 2026. For example:
Bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and investment accounts abroad
Real estate and rental income outside of Switzerland
Foreign pensions and retirement savings
Inheritances or gifts with a foreign connection
List all foreign assets and sources of income and start collecting supporting documents early on: from bank statements to rent statements. Everything must be reported, even if the actual taxation depends on the double taxation treaty. For example, real estate abroad is used only to determine your tax rate in Switzerland.
Please note: If you realize that you omitted foreign income or assets in previous tax returns, you should not simply add them to your 2026 return. You may need to file a voluntary disclosure without penalty. It’s best to schedule a consultation so we can review this together.
7. For the self-employed: Conduct a year-end review
Self-employed people are the singles of the working world. This affects not only your New Year’s Eve plans but also your year-end tax obligations. You have more to do, but also more freedom! Here’s what should be on your checklist before the holidays catch up with you:
Get your accounting up to date.
Collect all receipts for your 2026 expenses.
Make a strict distinction between personal and business expenses.
Review outstanding invoices and accounts receivable.
When dealing with invoices, be mindful of the year-end and ensure they are properly allocated to the correct period.
Check whether the provisional AHV contributions still align with the expected net profit for 2026. Report any changes to avoid additional payments and interest.
Review your VAT position if your turnover has changed significantly.
Also, determine whether and how much you should contribute to a Pillar 3a account.
Save bank statements from business accounts, accounting systems, and payment providers such as Stripe and PayPal as of December 31!
Tax planning helps you make your single-entry bookkeeping for 2026 even easier. That way, on New Year’s Eve, you’ll have your mind free to do your own thing. After all, that’s what being self-employed is all about, isn’t it?
8. Think about your taxes on January 1, at least for a moment!
Even if you partied all night long: On the first morning of the new year, you should invest a couple of minutes in your tax planning. A few screenshots and statements can make filing your tax return a lot easier.
This is especially important for the wealth tax, since your net worth as of December 31 of the respective tax year is what matters. By documenting it the morning after, you can accurately verify the status of your bank accounts, brokerage accounts, wallets, and your debts. Relevant assets include:
Bank balances
Real estate assets
Securities accounts
Crypto wallet holdings
Mortgages and other debts
You should export statements as of December 31, especially from foreign banks, brokers, wallets, and tangible assets. With Swiss banks, on the other hand, you can generally rely on automatic tax statements. Just think of compiling a list of your assets on the morning of January 1 as a reminder of just how much you own! That way, you can start the new year feeling motivated.
Your checklist for tax planning in 2026
Date, location, outfit: That's all it takes for a great New Year's Eve party. Tax planning requires a bit more effort, but the benefits last well beyond the start of the new year. Just work through the following checklist step by step:
Have there been any significant changes in your income, assets, marital status, or place of residence?
If so: Is the preliminary tax bill for 2026 still realistic?
Does a planned contribution to Pillar 2 make sense, and is it still possible in terms of timing?
Has the planned Pillar 3a contribution for 2026 been transferred?
Is a back payment for 2025 possible, and has it been made?
Were planned donations transferred before the end of the year?
Are all documents regarding investments, brokers, and cryptocurrencies complete?
Have all foreign assets and income been identified and documented?
Can all assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2026, be verified?
And, last but not least: Do you have a tax boutique by your side that makes all of this (almost) as enjoyable as the most wonderful New Year’s Eve?
You can also keep track of all your important documents using our tax return checklist: just download it, gather your documents, and check them off.
The countdown starts now, not 10 seconds before midnight!
The new year still feels miles away. Yet we all know how quickly the holiday season creeps up on us as soon as it gets colder outside. You can do yourself a favor by planning your taxes before the most stressful time of the year. Just follow the checklist to optimize your taxes. Or schedule an appointment with us right away – because, just like the best New Year’s Eve party, filing your taxes is much more fun when we do it together.
And just like that… you're all set for a New Year's Eve you won’t forget!
