Switzerland sets 29 November 2026 as the referendum date on its VAT rate rise
This change is proposed and is not law. The rules below describe what would change if it is adopted.
- Jurisdiction
- Switzerland
- Tax
- VAT
- Change type
- Rate change
- Status
- Proposed
- Impact
- Watch
- Announced
- 24 June 2026
- Effective
- 1 January 2028
- Instrument
- CH-BBL-2026-1757
- Authority
- Bundeskanzlei (Swiss Federal Chancellery)
- Verified
- Fetched from official source · high confidence
Nobody yet. Every business subject to Swiss VAT — and, via the customs union, Liechtenstein VAT — would be affected only if voters approve the Federal Decree of 19 June 2026 on 29 November 2026.
No action — monitoring only. The Swiss standard-rate rise depends on the 29 November 2026 referendum.
Switzerland's Federal Council has scheduled a mandatory national referendum for 29 November 2026 on the Federal Decree of 19 June 2026 (BBl 2026 1757) on additional financing of the AHV old-age pension system through an increase in VAT; both chambers of the Federal Assembly already approved the decree on 19 June 2026, and it will only take effect if voters approve it.
What changed in detail
Nothing has changed yet — this is subject to a popular vote. Both chambers of Switzerland’s Federal Assembly approved the Federal Decree of 19 June 2026 (BBl 2026 1757), which would raise the standard VAT rate to fund additional financing of the AHV old-age pension system. Because the decree is a constitutional amendment, it is subject to a mandatory referendum. On 24 June 2026 the Federal Council scheduled that referendum for 29 November 2026. The decree takes effect only if voters approve it, with the rate change planned to take effect from 1 January 2028.
What it means
Liechtenstein applies Swiss VAT rates under the terms of the customs union between the two countries, so the 29 November 2026 ballot effectively decides the VAT rate in both jurisdictions at once. Nothing needs to change in either country’s systems before the vote — but 29 November is now the date to diarise, and 1 January 2028 is the date the new rate would take effect if approved.
Proof
Der Bundesrat hat an seiner Sitzung vom 24. Juni 2026 beschlossen, die folgenden Vorlagen am 29. November 2026 zur Abstimmung zu bringen: 1. Bundesbeschluss vom 19. Juni 2026 über die Zusatzfinanzierung der AHV durch eine Erhöhung der Mehrwertsteuer (BBl 2026 1757);At its meeting of 24 June 2026, the Federal Council decided to put the following proposals to a vote on 29 November 2026: 1. Federal Decree of 19 June 2026 on additional financing of the AHV through an increase in value added tax (BBl 2026 1757);
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