FIRE in Valais

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

Valais ranks 17 of 26 for income tax on a salary of CHF 120’000 (1 = lowest), 23 for wealth tax on CHF 1’000’000 and 22 for tax on a lump sum of CHF 500’000. Figures for Sion, single person, tax year 2026.

Valais follows the Rhône valley between high mountains, French-speaking in the lower part and German-speaking in the upper part. Resorts are expensive; valley towns are often affordable.

Income tax and tax on pensions are around or slightly above the Swiss middle, but wealth tax and the one-off tax on lump sums from the pension fund and 3a are among the higher ones. Plan withdrawals carefully and check what a large portfolio costs in wealth tax each year.

Tax at a glance

CHF, federal, cantonal and communal tax in Sion, 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 9’487	CHF 5’529	15	CHF 9’353
Income tax, gross salary CHF 120’000	CHF 19’814	CHF 12’080	17	CHF 18’330
Income tax, gross salary CHF 200’000	CHF 49’282	CHF 36’656	23	CHF 40’276
Income tax, pensions CHF 40’000	CHF 3’038	CHF 1’251	13	CHF 3’059
Income tax, pensions CHF 60’000	CHF 7’177	CHF 4’031	14	CHF 7’035
Income tax, pensions CHF 100’000	CHF 18’323	CHF 11’080	16	CHF 17’041
Wealth tax, net wealth CHF 500’000	CHF 2’102	CHF 1’894	23	CHF 1’331
Wealth tax, net wealth CHF 1’000’000	CHF 5’014	CHF 4’778	23	CHF 3’094
Wealth tax, net wealth CHF 2’000’000	CHF 12’317	CHF 12’033	23	CHF 7’046
One-off tax, lump sum CHF 100’000 at 65	CHF 4’737	CHF 4’479	16	CHF 4’609
One-off tax, lump sum CHF 500’000 at 65	CHF 43’921	CHF 42’927	22	CHF 36’574
One-off tax, lump sum CHF 1’000’000 at 65	CHF 103’000	CHF 101’400	23	CHF 80’985

What it means for early retirement

An early retiree in Sion with CHF 1’000’000 of savings pays about CHF 5’014 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 7’177 in income tax (12.0%); the median canton takes CHF 7’035.

Taking CHF 500’000 from the pension fund as a lump sum costs about CHF 43’921 once (8.8%). 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 0.8 years, from 47.1 to 47.9.

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 Valais?

For a single person in Sion, about CHF 2’102 a year on CHF 500’000 and CHF 12’317 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 Valais?

Separately from other income and at a reduced rate: about CHF 4’737 on CHF 100’000 and CHF 43’921 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.