Swiss Dividend Withholding Tax for UK Residents: How to Reclaim What You’re Owed
by J1 Summer Tax Back
If you’re a UK resident receiving dividends from Swiss investments, you’ll likely face a 35% withholding tax on your earnings.
That’s a significant amount — but the good news is that you may be able to reclaim a large portion of it thanks to the UK–Switzerland tax treaty.
Here’s a quick guide on how Swiss Dividend Withholding Tax (DWT) works for UK residents — and how to reclaim what’s yours efficiently.
🇨🇭 Does Switzerland Have a Tax Treaty with the UK?
Yes. Switzerland and the United Kingdom have a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) designed to prevent individuals from being taxed twice on the same income.
Under this treaty:
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Swiss dividends paid to UK residents are initially subject to a 35% withholding tax.
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However, UK residents can reclaim 20%, reducing the effective rate to 15%.
In some cases — for example, when dividends are paid into a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) account — investors may even be eligible for a full 35% refund.
💰 How Does Swiss Dividend Withholding Tax Apply to UK Residents?
Here’s a simple breakdown:
| Description | Amount (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Gross dividend | 1,000 |
| Withholding tax (35%) | 350 |
| Net amount received | 650 |
With the DTA in place, UK investors can reclaim CHF 200, leaving only 15% (CHF 150) as the final tax withheld.
🔁 How to Reclaim Your Swiss Withholding Tax
Claiming your refund is straightforward — here’s how it works:
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Create an account
Start by creating a profile with J1 Summer Tax Back Dividends to manage your reclaim process online. -
Prepare your refund application
Our platform will estimate your potential refund, prepare your reclaim forms, and guide you through getting them certified by HMRC. -
Submit to Swiss authorities
Once your claim is certified, it’s submitted to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration. After approval, your refund is transferred directly to your nominated bank account.
⏳ Refunds typically take a few months to process, so accuracy and documentation are key.
🌍 Reclaiming Swiss Tax the Easy Way
Handling international dividend taxes can be complex, but reclaiming what’s rightfully yours doesn’t have to be.
At J1 Summer Tax Back, we help UK investors, expats, and nonresidents recover overpaid withholding tax quickly and correctly — ensuring you keep more of your investment returns.