29.10.2025
If you’re thinking about getting married, it makes sense to give some serious thought to what the impact of saying “I do” will have on your finances and insurance. We will show you what the financial advantages and disadvantages are of getting married in Switzerland. In doing so, couples can get ready for their future together, even when it comes to this admittedly dry topic.
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In 2024, 36,800 couples got married in Switzerland. According to the watson news portal, couples in Switzerland like to get married on dates with repeating digits, usually in May or August. But these are by no means the most important facts and figures when it comes to marriage. Far more important are the effects of tying the knot on a couple’s finances. What is the impact of getting married in Switzerland on taxes? What else changes after your wedding day in terms of finances and insurance? We will show you what advantages getting married can have, as well as how it can have a negative impact on finances.
In Switzerland, there is still a “marriage penalty” for direct federal taxes, which the Federal Court refers to when married couples pay at least 10 percent more tax than cohabiting couples (unmarried couples) in the same economic situation would.
Although the cantons have for the most part eliminated this financial disadvantage by means of relief measures according to SRF, reforms are still under discussion when it comes to direct federal tax. It’s predicted that all taxpayers will in future be taxed individually, irrespective of their marital status. It remains to be seen whether a referendum will be held on the individual taxation system passed by the Federal Parliament, which would give the public the final say.
The reason for the “marriage penalty” is the fact that married couples are taxed jointly. Couples enter both their incomes in their joint tax return, and as these are added together when calculating how much tax they owe, couples end up in a higher progression level than if their salaries were taxed separately. This is because, when it comes to income tax, a higher percentage tax rate is applied to higher incomes. This means that people not only have to pay more tax on higher incomes in absolute terms, but in relative terms as well.
Marriage penalties apply in particular to marriages where both spouses earn a similar income. Compared to an unmarried couple with the same economic circumstances, spouses may incur additional tax burdens on direct federal tax.
In addition to the “marriage penalty”, there is also a “marriage bonus”. Spouses typically benefit if one spouse contributes significantly more to the household’s joint income than the other partner. If the distribution of income is unequal, the common tax bill can be lower than for an unmarried couple with the same economic circumstances.
There are also important differences between married couples and cohabiting couples when it comes to payments towards OASI and OASI pensions, and the biggest difference is only visible upon retirement.
Spouses who are not in employment do not have to pay any OASI/IV/EO contributions if their partners are in employment and pay at least twice the minimum amount in OASI contributions each year.
Married couples are faced with a form of marriage penalty when they reach OASI retirement age: old-age pensions are calculated based on factors including the average income earned. Whereas unmarried couples can draw their pension in full for each person, retired married couples can together receive a maximum of 150 percent of the maximum OASI pension for individuals.
Missing years of contributions can lead to a reduction in the OASI pension at a later date. Make sure you close any gaps in your OASI contributions. However, missing OASI contribution years can only be compensated within the last five years.
In the event of a spouse passing away, married couples are better covered than cohabiting couples. Specifically, the bereaved spouse will receive survivor’s benefits under the 1st pillar (OASI).
The following preconditions apply:
Women are entitled to a widow’s pension if, on the death of their spouse, they have one or more children or are 45 years old and were married for at least five years.
Men receive a widower’s pension if they have one or more children at the time of their spouse’s death.
In the case of female same-sex marriages, the surviving spouse is entitled to a widow’s pension, provided that she satisfies the aforementioned widow’s pension requirements.
In the case of male same-sex marriages, the surviving spouse receives a widower’s pension, provided that he fulfils the aforementioned requirement for a widower’s pension.
Cohabiting couples: the surviving partner is not entitled to a widow(er)’s pension from the 1st pillar.
Widowed persons who have been married receive a widow(er)’s pension from the 2nd pillar (pension fund), provided that the surviving spouse is responsible for paying the maintenance of at least one child at the time of the spouse’s death, or is older than 45 and the marriage lasted at least five years; otherwise, they receive at least a one-off compensation payment, provided this is stipulated in the relevant pension fund regulations.
Whether or not the bereaved cohabiting partner can draw benefits from the pension fund depends on the pension fund. As a rule, certain preconditions must be met, and the insured person must notify their cohabiting partner of a declaration of beneficiary to the pension fund during their lifetime.
The first beneficiary is always the surviving spouse or the surviving registered partner. They receive all the retirement capital (first-place or primary beneficiary). If there are no beneficiaries in first place, the second-place beneficiary moves up a place. These beneficiaries include:
Pension solution holders in second place can select one or more beneficiaries (including cohabiting partners who meet these requirements) and determine their entitlements.
It’s always worth paying into the 3rd pillar, regardless of marital status. This is because you can save with tax benefits, helping provide towards a more financially relaxed old age.
Spouses in Switzerland are also usually at an advantage when it comes to inheritance tax. This is because, depending on the provisions in each canton, inheritance and gift tax are either significantly lower for spouses or non-existent. Generally speaking, the spouses of testators are exempt from inheritance tax, whereas unmarried couples are subject to it.
Both spouses are liable for their own debts alone and only with their own assets. If a spouse signs a car lease contract or rental agreement by themselves, their partner cannot be held liable for the lease payments. Debts for the family’s current needs, such as food, household expenses or health insurance premiums, are excluded by law. In this case, the spouses are jointly liable.
Registered partnership was a legal option that allowed same-sex couples in Switzerland to officially acknowledge their relationship. Following the adoption of “Marriage for all” in a nationwide popular vote, same-sex couples have been able to marry or have their registered partnership converted into a marriage since 1 July 2022. New registered partnerships can no longer be entered into, however.
For registered partnerships, the separation of property regime usually applies, unless a notarized contract of property has been agreed upon. The partners submit their tax returns together and are taxed like married couples. In the event of death, the rights are the same as for spouses – for example, with regard to inheritance law and OASI and pension fund benefits.
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