Kantonales Steueramt / Steuerverwaltung letter explained in English
Cantonal tax office. Works out your income and wealth tax. In Switzerland you pay tax to the federal state, your canton and your town.
Letters you may get
- Steuererklärung — the form for your yearly tax return
- Veranlagungsverfügung — the result of your tax return
- Provisorische Rechnung — an advance tax bill based on an estimate
- Mahnung — you missed a payment or the tax return deadline
What to do
- If you disagree with your tax assessment, send an Einsprache, usually within 30 days.
- If you can’t send your tax return in time, ask for more time (Fristerstreckung) before the deadline. This is often possible online.
- Find the deadline. Look for “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innert”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“Einsprache”, “Rechtsvorschlag”, “Rekurs”, “Beschwerde”). See the template.
Words you may see
- Verfügung
- Formal decision by an office. It becomes final if you don’t object in time.
- Einsprache
- Objection. You ask the same office to look at its decision again.
- Frist
- Deadline.
- Veranlagung
- Tax assessment. The office’s calculation of your tax, based on your tax return.
- Steuererklärung
- Tax return. The form where you list your income and wealth. The deadline is usually in spring.
- Mahnung
- Payment reminder. You paid late or not at all.
Questions
What is the Kantonales Steueramt / Steuerverwaltung?
Cantonal tax office. Works out your income and wealth tax. In Switzerland you pay tax to the federal state, your canton and your town.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Kantonales Steueramt / Steuerverwaltung?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innert” — they mark the deadline. In Switzerland, a legal deadline starts the day after you receive the letter. A registered letter you don’t collect usually counts as delivered on the 7th day after the collection notice (Abholungseinladung). To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“Einsprache”, “Rechtsvorschlag”, “Rekurs”, “Beschwerde”).
Can I read a Kantonales Steueramt / Steuerverwaltung letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in German. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Switzerland
Gemeindesteueramt · RAV (Regionales Arbeitsvermittlungszentrum) · Arbeitslosenkasse · Migrationsamt · Einwohnerkontrolle / Einwohneramt · Krankenkasse · Serafe AG · Betreibungsamt