VaudTax · Chapter 6/11
Bank accounts, securities and crypto in VaudTax: securities list and withholding tax
Key points
- All your accounts and securities, in Switzerland and abroad, go into the securities list (code 410): value on 31 December and gross income for the year.
- The easiest way: import your bank's eRelevé fiscal PDF, which fills everything in automatically.
- Declaring Swiss income correctly lets you recover the 35% withholding tax deducted from interest and dividends.
- Capital gains on private securities are not taxable, but wealth and dividends are.
Two sections in VaudTax
VaudTax splits the securities list into two sections, both feeding code 410 of the return.
Current and savings accounts, postal account, rent deposit account, leasing account, condominium renovation fund share, metal accounts and crypto.
Shares, bonds, funds and ETFs, totals from a bank tax statement, loans made to individuals and lottery winnings.
The quick way: import the eRelevé fiscal
- 1In your e-banking, download the eRelevé fiscal (electronic tax statement) as a PDF and save it to your device.
- 2In VaudTax, click « Importer un eRelevé fiscal ».
- 3Check the lines created: accounts, securities, debts and interest are filled in automatically.
- 4Repeat for each participating bank. Enter other banks manually.
Manual entry: what to fill in
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Institution / issuer | ISO country code + name (e.g. « CH UBS », « US Apple Inc. », « IE iShares Core MSCI World »). |
| Account or security number | Last 8 characters of the account, or the security number (ISIN). |
| Value at 31.12 | Balance or tax value on 31 December, in Swiss francs. |
| Gross income | Interest or dividends before Swiss withholding tax or foreign tax. |
| With / without withholding tax | Column A: Swiss income subject to the 35%. Column B: everything else (foreign securities, small interest). |
| Purchase / sale | Date of purchase or sale if the security entered or left the portfolio during the year. |
- Securities listed in Switzerland: price from the Federal Tax Administration official list at 31.12.
- Securities listed abroad: last December price, converted at the official exchange rate at 31.12.
- Unlisted shares (GmbH/Sàrl shares, start-ups): tax value provided by the company.
Recovering the 35% withholding tax
On Swiss share dividends and Swiss account interest above CHF 200 a year, the bank deducts 35% withholding tax. You get it back (credited against your cantonal tax) if you declare the gross income and the related wealth. Forget to declare it, and you lose the refund.
The refund right expires at the end of the 3rd calendar year after the income was due: for 2026 income, by 31 December 2029 at the latest, provided it appears in the 2026 return.
Crypto-assets
Crypto-assets are declared at their market value on 31 December (the Federal Tax Administration price list gives official rates for the main coins). In VaudTax, enter them in the accounts section on a crypto line. Staking rewards and interest are taxable income. Price gains remain tax-free for a private investor.
Two small deductions not to miss
| Deduction | 2026 amount | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Savings interest (code 480) | CHF 1,600 (single), CHF 3,300 (couple), + CHF 300 per child | Limited to savings interest declared (not dividends). |
| Securities administration costs (code 490) | Flat 1.5‰ of the value of securities managed by third parties | Custody and safekeeping fees. Not brokerage or asset management fees. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to declare a foreign bank account in VaudTax?
Yes. All accounts and securities, in Switzerland and abroad, go into the securities list with their 31 December value converted to Swiss francs and their gross income.
Are gains from selling shares taxable?
No, for a private investor capital gains on securities are not taxable in Switzerland. Dividends, interest and wealth are.
How do I get the 35% withholding tax back?
Declare the gross income and the related wealth in the securities list (withholding tax column). The amount is automatically credited against your cantonal tax bill.
Rather hand it over?
NeoFidu prepares and files your Vaud tax return for you, including a check for missed deductions. Service in English available.
This guide is for information only and is not personalised advice. Amounts come from official publications of the Vaud cantonal tax administration (ACI). VaudTax itself is in French: we quote the French labels so you can find them on screen. If in doubt, the official ACI instructions prevail.