FIRE in Schaffhausen

What early retirees pay in Schaffhausen: income, wealth and lump-sum tax at sample amounts, ranked against all 26 cantons.

Schaffhausen ranks 8 of 26 for income tax on a salary of CHF 120’000 (1 = lowest), 12 for wealth tax on CHF 1’000’000 and 2 for tax on a lump sum of CHF 500’000. Figures for Schaffhausen, single person, tax year 2026.

Schaffhausen lies north of the Rhine, almost surrounded by Germany, with Zurich about 40 minutes away by train. Housing costs less than in the Zurich area.

The one-off tax on lump sums from the pension fund and 3a is the second lowest of all cantons, and tax on pension income and salaries is below the middle. Wealth tax is around the middle. A good canton to look at if you plan to take your pension money as capital.

Tax at a glance

CHF, federal, cantonal and communal tax in Schaffhausen, without church tax, tax year 2026.
Yearly tax	Single	Married, one income	Rank of 26	Swiss median
Income tax, gross salary CHF 80’000	CHF 7’771	CHF 4’610	4	CHF 9’353
Income tax, gross salary CHF 120’000	CHF 15’726	CHF 10’354	8	CHF 18’330
Income tax, gross salary CHF 200’000	CHF 35’664	CHF 28’394	8	CHF 40’276
Income tax, pensions CHF 40’000	CHF 2’779	CHF 461	7	CHF 3’059
Income tax, pensions CHF 60’000	CHF 5’928	CHF 2’980	6	CHF 7’035
Income tax, pensions CHF 100’000	CHF 14’614	CHF 9’457	8	CHF 17’041
Wealth tax, net wealth CHF 500’000	CHF 803	CHF 652	8	CHF 1’331
Wealth tax, net wealth CHF 1’000’000	CHF 2’647	CHF 2’413	12	CHF 3’094
Wealth tax, net wealth CHF 2’000’000	CHF 7’132	CHF 6’948	14	CHF 7’046
One-off tax, lump sum CHF 100’000 at 65	CHF 3’079	CHF 2’173	3	CHF 4’609
One-off tax, lump sum CHF 500’000 at 65	CHF 26’242	CHF 25’917	2	CHF 36’574
One-off tax, lump sum CHF 1’000’000 at 65	CHF 54’482	CHF 54’482	2	CHF 80’985

What it means for early retirement

An early retiree in Schaffhausen with CHF 1’000’000 of savings pays about CHF 2’647 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 5’928 in income tax (9.9%); the median canton takes CHF 7’035.

Taking CHF 500’000 from the pension fund as a lump sum costs about CHF 26’242 once (5.2%). 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 0.3 years, from 47.1 to 47.4.

Open the calculator with this canton →Gross to net salary in this canton

Compared with the other cantons

Wealth tax on CHF 1’000’000 of net wealth, single person, in each cantonal capital

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 Schaffhausen?

For a single person in Schaffhausen, about CHF 803 a year on CHF 500’000 and CHF 7’132 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 Schaffhausen?

Separately from other income and at a reduced rate: about CHF 3’079 on CHF 100’000 and CHF 26’242 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.