When selling a plot of land or a property, a property gains tax may be incurred. In simple terms, it is the difference between the sale proceeds and the tax-deductible acquisition costs.
Which costs can be credited?
Among the possible creditable items, depending on cantonal rules and the individual situation, may be the original purchase price, value-adding investments, certain purchase and sale costs, the broker's fee, and other verifiable expenses.
- original purchase price
- value-adding investments
- certain purchase and sale costs
- broker's fee
- other verifiable expenses
Receipts are decisive
Therefore, it is important to keep invoices and receipts for investments carefully. Not every renovation is automatically fully creditable. Maintenance and value-adding work can be treated differently for tax purposes.
Practical tip
If you gather the documents only shortly before the sale, you often overlook creditable costs. Clean documentation helps to substantiate the tax-relevant expenditure more effectively.
Duration of ownership and special cases
Ownership duration and special situations such as inheritances or replacement acquisitions can also affect the calculation. This can noticeably change the effective tax amount.
What surprises many: not only the sale price counts, but also the individual history of the property can be relevant for the tax assessment.
Early individual review
Since the concrete rules are governed by the canton, the anticipated tax should be examined early on an individual basis. Only then can the expected net proceeds be realistically calculated and used for a new living or investment solution.
If you are planning a real estate sale, it is worthwhile to deal with the property gains tax early. This helps you avoid surprises and allows you to plan your next steps on a reliable basis.