Swiss voters have approved a major reform to introduce individual taxation, replacing the country’s longstanding system of joint taxation for married couples.
Preliminary official estimates show nearly 54% of voters supported the measure in a nationwide referendum. The reform aims to address the so-called “marriage penalty”, where couples filing jointly could be pushed into higher tax brackets compared with unmarried partners with similar incomes.
The new system will be introduced gradually and is expected to be fully implemented by 2032, allowing the Swiss federal government and the country’s 26 cantons time to adapt their tax systems.
Key developments:
• Government estimates suggest the reform could add around 60,000 people to the workforce and increase GDP by about 1%.
• The current system has been criticised for discouraging second earners — often women — from working more hours.
• Officials estimate around half of taxpayers will benefit, while about a third will see little change.
In separate referendum votes, more than 70% of Swiss voters supported guaranteeing continued access to physical cash, ensuring banknotes remain protected in Switzerland’s constitution. Voters also rejected a proposal to create a federal climate fund intended to finance long-term climate and energy transition policies.
In another ballot, 62% of voters dismissed an initiative to reduce the licence fee funding the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), maintaining the current public broadcasting funding structure.
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