How are investments taxed in Switzerland?

Private individuals normally pay no capital gains tax on securities, but dividends and interest are taxable as income, and your total assets are subject to an annual cantonal wealth tax. That combination is why the structure an investment sits in matters as much as what it holds — and why it needs looking at again if you later leave Switzerland.

How much of my money is protected if my bank fails?

Swiss depositor protection covers CHF 100,000 per client per bank, and the European equivalent is EUR 100,000. Holding an investment under insurance legislation rather than banking legislation changes that: the structures BCS uses carry a minimum of 90% protection with no upper limit on the amount invested.

Can I keep my Swiss investments if I leave Switzerland?

Usually yes, but the tax treatment changes with your residence, and some Swiss providers restrict which countries they will continue to service. This is the part worth planning before you move rather than after — particularly for South African clients, where cross-border rules and tax migration need coordinating on both sides.

Services

Investment and wealth preservation

Investing in Switzerland: structure first, performance follows.

There are two types of investors: the monthly savings profile, and the lump-sum investor. BCS accommodates both, and the real value is in how the investment is structured.

Two profiles

Which investor are you?

Profile one

Monthly savings

Typically the person who is either young and would like to accumulate some funds, wants to save for a specific goal such as a deposit for a house, or is quite simply supplementing liquid and retirement income.

Each investor has their own criteria and ideas about how they would like to save, over what timeframe, and how much liquidity they need at hand. BCS can accommodate each of these requirements.

Profile two

Lump sum investing

This is where investing becomes interesting. The lump-sum investor includes the person who has accumulated some wealth, sold an asset, or is the high-net-worth individual with a few very important questions.

BCS has answers to those questions, shared through a carefully developed product that addresses most of the concerns set out below.

Monthly savings

Set up so that growth is tax free.

Importantly, the real value-adding benefit is setting your investment up in such a way that you get tax-free growth on it.

Making use of our services and products, hundreds of investment funds are available to you — where the conservative investor achieves around 5% growth per annum, and the moderate to aggressive investor receives 7–15% per annum.

~5%

Conservative

Growth per annum

7–15%

Moderate to aggressive

Per annum

100s

Funds available

Across providers

Figures are indicative of historic fund performance and are not a guide to future returns. The value of an investment can fall as well as rise, and the outcome depends on the allocation chosen and the term invested.

Lump sum

Nine questions a serious investor should ask.

Tax, administration, security, confidentiality, income, access and valuation. These are the concerns BCS addresses through the structure itself — before a single fund is chosen.

Tax

Income tax, capital gains tax, wealth tax and estate duties need to be considered everywhere you go. Using a fully authorised tax-exempt company/product means each of these is substantially reduced or mitigated completely. Only once you draw an income at retirement, and depending on your domicile, might a portion be taxable.

Admin

Administration, research, trade, settlement and contract notes — all taken care of on your behalf.

Dividends

Dividends, which are otherwise subject to income tax.

KYC / AML

Know Your Client and Anti-Money-Laundering requirements are handled within the recommended product. All you need to do is instruct BCS to buy or sell; we provide the recommendations, and KYC/AML is done at inception and stays valid for the term of your investment.

Security

Your statutory level of protection is EUR 100,000 in Europe should your bank fail. Moving away from banking legislation to insurance legislation means you enjoy a minimum of 90% protection with no upper limit on your investment.

Confidentiality

Provided you are not involved with anything you shouldn't be, the only people who know about your investment are you and the product provider — who are obliged to operate under strict confidentiality laws.

Income

Any time from the investment day forward you can make withdrawals anywhere in the world. A fixed percentage or amount, paid monthly, quarterly or annually — the choice is yours.

Access

You have immediate access to your funds.

Valuation

Log into the service centre and view all of your assets online, live, every day if you wish — the value of every asset, a history of what you have bought and sold, and your current cash balance.

“The idea is to strengthen your relationship with your assets, so your portfolio becomes investment- and performance-driven instead of just sitting in a bank account.”

Questions

Common questions

How are investments taxed in Switzerland?: Private individuals normally pay no capital gains tax on securities, but dividends and interest are taxable as income, and your total assets are subject to an annual cantonal wealth tax. That combination is why the structure an investment sits in matters as much as what it holds — and why it needs looking at again if you later leave Switzerland.
How much of my money is protected if my bank fails?: Swiss depositor protection covers CHF 100,000 per client per bank, and the European equivalent is EUR 100,000. Holding an investment under insurance legislation rather than banking legislation changes that: the structures BCS uses carry a minimum of 90% protection with no upper limit on the amount invested.
Can I keep my Swiss investments if I leave Switzerland?: Usually yes, but the tax treatment changes with your residence, and some Swiss providers restrict which countries they will continue to service. This is the part worth planning before you move rather than after — particularly for South African clients, where cross-border rules and tax migration need coordinating on both sides.

Figures are the scale in force for 2026 and are checked against the federal sources linked above. They are general information, not personal advice — what applies to you depends on your canton, municipality, provider and circumstances.

Book a consultation

Ask the nine questions of your own portfolio.

Bring us what you hold today — bank accounts, funds, policies, property — and we will show you what the structure is costing you in tax, protection and access.

Book a consultation oloff@bcs-swiss.ch