Whoever leaves Switzerland must steer their pension-fund capital right – there's a lot of money here.
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Pension capital on leaving
Two cases
Cash or parked
Outside EU/EFTAoften full withdrawal
Within EU/EFTAmandatory stays
Extra-mandatorycan be withdrawn
The interim step
Vested benefits
Vested benefits accountparks the capital
Free choiceof foundation
Leverfor later
The tax lever
Choose the foundation wisely
Capital taxat the foundation's seat
Favourable cantonfor example Schwyz
Final?depends on country of residence and double taxation agreement
The timing
Withdraw after deregistering
Deregister firstthen withdraw
Withholding taxthen cheaper
Partly reclaimabledepending on agreement
Good to know
Are you giving away tax?
💡 First step: On leaving, the choice of foundation and the timing decide the tax: a vested benefits foundation in a favourable canton like Schwyz and a withdrawal only after deregistering noticeably lower the capital tax.