FIRE in Aargau
What early retirees pay in Aarau: income, wealth and lump-sum tax at sample amounts, ranked against all 26 cantons.
Aargau ranks 10 of 26 for income tax on a salary of CHF 120’000 (1 = lowest), 10 for wealth tax on CHF 1’000’000 and 17 for tax on a lump sum of CHF 500’000. Figures for Aarau, single person, tax year 2026.
Aargau sits between Zurich, Basel and Bern, with good train links to all three and housing that usually costs noticeably less than in the big cities. Many people move here for exactly that balance.
For an early retiree the tax picture is unspectacular: income and wealth tax land just below the Swiss middle. The lump-sum tax on pension-fund and 3a withdrawals is above the middle, so spreading withdrawals over several years pays off here.
Tax at a glance
| Yearly tax | Single | Married, one income | Rank of 26 | Swiss median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income tax, gross salary CHF 80’000 | CHF 8’354 | CHF 4’412 | 10 | CHF 9’353 |
| Income tax, gross salary CHF 120’000 | CHF 16’750 | CHF 10’669 | 10 | CHF 18’330 |
| Income tax, gross salary CHF 200’000 | CHF 37’843 | CHF 29’586 | 9 | CHF 40’276 |
| Income tax, pensions CHF 40’000 | CHF 2’832 | CHF 904 | 9 | CHF 3’059 |
| Income tax, pensions CHF 60’000 | CHF 6’374 | CHF 3’021 | 8 | CHF 7’035 |
| Income tax, pensions CHF 100’000 | CHF 15’594 | CHF 9’708 | 10 | CHF 17’041 |
| Wealth tax, net wealth CHF 500’000 | CHF 754 | CHF 424 | 6 | CHF 1’331 |
| Wealth tax, net wealth CHF 1’000’000 | CHF 2’323 | CHF 1’909 | 10 | CHF 3’094 |
| Wealth tax, net wealth CHF 2’000’000 | CHF 5’507 | CHF 5’093 | 10 | CHF 7’046 |
| One-off tax, lump sum CHF 100’000 at 65 | CHF 4’679 | CHF 3’209 | 15 | CHF 4’609 |
| One-off tax, lump sum CHF 500’000 at 65 | CHF 39’899 | CHF 36’749 | 17 | CHF 36’574 |
| One-off tax, lump sum CHF 1’000’000 at 65 | CHF 85’233 | CHF 81’795 | 16 | CHF 80’985 |
What it means for early retirement
An early retiree in Aarau with CHF 1’000’000 of savings pays about CHF 2’323 a year in wealth tax, against a Swiss median of CHF 3’094.
Living on CHF 60’000 a year of pensions there costs about CHF 6’374 in income tax (10.6%); the median canton takes CHF 7’035.
Taking CHF 500’000 from the pension fund as a lump sum costs about CHF 39’899 once (8.0%). Spreading 3a and pension-fund withdrawals over several years usually lowers it.
With the calculator’s default plan, this canton’s taxes instead of Zug’s move the date you could stop by about 0.4 years, from 47.1 to 47.5.
Open the calculator with this canton →Gross to net salary in this canton
Compared with the other cantons
- ZugCHF 917
- NidwaldenCHF 1’197
- ObwaldenCHF 1’387
- SchwyzCHF 1’497
- UriCHF 1’743
- ZurichCHF 2’002
- SolothurnCHF 2’031
- LucerneCHF 2’038
- Appenzell InnerrhodenCHF 2’166
- AargauCHF 2’323
- ThurgauCHF 2’485
- SchaffhausenCHF 2’647
- GraubündenCHF 2’849
- GlarusCHF 3’338
- Appenzell AusserrhodenCHF 3’673
- St. GallenCHF 3’821
- JuraCHF 3’914
- BernCHF 4’027
- Basel-LandschaftCHF 4’278
- TicinoCHF 4’458
- GenevaCHF 4’546
- FribourgCHF 4’932
- ValaisCHF 5’014
- Basel-StadtCHF 5’758
- VaudCHF 6’391
- NeuchâtelCHF 6’804
Swiss median: CHF 3’094
Frequently asked questions
How high is the wealth tax in Aargau?
For a single person in Aarau, about CHF 754 a year on CHF 500’000 and CHF 5’507 on CHF 2’000’000 of net wealth (tax year 2026, without church tax). Rates differ by municipality.
How is a pension-fund lump sum taxed in Aargau?
Separately from other income and at a reduced rate: about CHF 4’679 on CHF 100’000 and CHF 39’899 on CHF 500’000 at 65, federal, cantonal and communal tax together.
Where can I check the current rules?
At the cantonal tax office and with the federal tax calculator, which covers every municipality, children and church tax. Tariffs change every year.
Check the current rules
These are estimates for the cantonal capital. Rates differ between municipalities, change every year, and depend on your family and deductions. The cantonal tax office has the current rules and tariffs; the federal tax calculator covers every municipality, children and church tax.