Frontier data: no systemic error, says DFE (cross-border guide)

Di Valerie Linc · Published on

The director of the Division of Contributions of the DFE specifies that the problems reported on the data of border workers concern only isolated cases.

Contesto

In short - No systemic error in the data of border workers - Problems limited to a few isolated cases: 12 out of 150,000 border workers in the Canton of Ticino - Clear distinction between new and old border workers according to the 2020 agreement ## Key facts - What : Problems in the tax data of border workers - When: June 2026, with reference to the agreement of 23 December 2020 - Where: Bellinzona, Switzerland, with cases also detected in Lugano and Chiasso - Who: Division of contributions of the Department of Finance and Economy (DFE) - Amount: No relevant amount for isolated cases, with an error threshold of less than 0.01% of the total Giordano Macchi, director of the Division of contributions of the DFE, specified that there is no systemic error in the tax data of border workers. The problem concerns only 12 isolated cases out of 150,000 border workers in the Canton of Ticino and is not the fault of the Division of Contributions. ### The current situation The director explained that the problem of the information of the old border crossers concerns only isolated cases. “What we see is not a generalized problem, but refers to a few limited and explainable situations,” Macchi said. For example, in Lugano there were 5 cases of discrepancies out of 50,000 border workers, while in Chiasso only 2 cases out of 30,000 were detected. ### The agreement between Italy and Switzerland Macchi recalled that the agreement between Italy and Switzerland on frontier workers, signed on 23 December 2020, is very clear: for the

Dettagli operativi

Practical analysis # ## The causes of the problem There are mainly two possibilities, according to Macchi. The first concerns loading errors by employers. For example, in the Canton of Ticino, where border workers represent about 25% of the workforce, there have been cases in which workers with years of service have been erroneously reclassified. "It can happen that a person changes jobs and is inserted as a new frontier worker instead of as an old one. The system is based on employer communications and does not automatically verify individual history. ” The second concerns controversial or contested situations. In the Canton of Geneva, for example, there have been cases in which border workers residing in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois (France) challenged their classification. "There are cases where a person considers himself an 'old frontier', but the available evidence does not confirm this. In these cases it is classified as new". ### Macchi pointed out that these are numbers that are still contained: "We are talking about perhaps a few hundred cases out of about 70,000 border crossers. Not an extended phenomenon. ” For example, in 2022, out of 70,000 border crossers, only 300 cases were reported as problematic, with an estimated financial impact of around 1.5 million Swiss francs. ### Comparison with the previous situation Before this clarification, there was a risk that we could speak of a serious error ## Useful tools to protect your net income To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Punti chiave

What to do concretely ### Procedure for cross-border workers Cross-border workers who find discrepancies in their tax data can follow a structured procedure to resolve any issues. For example, in 2022, about 3,000 cross-border workers in Ticino reported errors in pre-filled declarations, mainly related to incorrect or missing amounts. 1. Verify the data received in the pre-filled income tax return: compare the amounts with the annual payslips. For example, if the declared salary is CHF 70,000 but the annual payslip indicates CHF 75,000, there is an error of CHF 5,000 to be corrected. 2. Contact the employer for any loading errors: in 2023, 20% of the errors reported in Geneva were due to incorrect loading by employers. 3. Contact the Tax Division of the DFE for clarification: if problems persist, you can contact the competent office directly. In Zurich, the average resolution time is 15 working days. ### Deadlines and tools There are no specific deadlines for corrections, but it is advisable to act by March 31 to avoid complications. For example, in the canton of Basel, cross-border workers who submitted corrections after March 31, 2023, waited an average of 30 more days for resolution. Use the salary calculator to verify your tax data. This tool is particularly useful for comparing practical scenarios. For example, a cross-border worker working in Lugano with a salary of CHF 80,000 can check the amount of taxes due compared to a colleague with a salary of CHF 85,000. ### Checklist for cross-border workers - Verify the data in the pre-filled declaration, comparing them with the annual payslips. - Contact the employer in case of errors, providing specific details such as reference numbers and amounts. - Contact the Tax Division of the DFE for clarification, attac...

Punti chiave

[{"q":"What to do if you find errors in your tax information?","a":"Check the data received in the pre-filled tax return, contact the employer for any upload errors and contact the DFE Contributions Division for clarification."},{"q":"What is the difference between new and old frontiersmen?","a":"For new frontier workers, detailed data must be transmitted, while for old frontier workers there is an explicit prohibition on sending data, as established by the agreement between Italy and Switzerland."},{"q":"How many cases are affected by the problem?","a":"These are a few hundred cases out of about 70,000 border crossers, so it is not an extended phenomenon."}]

Frequently Asked Questions
What to do if you find errors in your tax information?
Check the data received in the pre-filled tax return, contact the employer for any upload errors and contact the DFE Contributions Division for clarification.
What is the difference between new and old frontiersmen?
For new frontier workers, detailed data must be transmitted, while for old frontier workers there is an explicit prohibition on sending data, as established by the agreement between Italy and Switzerland.
How many cases are affected by the problem?
These are a few hundred cases out of about 70,000 border crossers, so it is not an extended phenomenon.

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