Your home, your assets, your tax advantages. FIN makes complex tax rules easy to understand — and shows you what really matters. Here's everything you need to know about mortgages, property maintenance, and eco-friendly investments.
What you should know as a homeowner
Mortgage interest
Every franc you pay in interest counts. You can deduct mortgage interest in your tax return — reducing your taxable income immediately.
Imputed rental value (Eigenmietwert)
Even if you live in your own home, the so-called imputed rental value is taxable. However, the interest payments you make are deductible and help reduce your tax burden.
Debt principle
Your mortgage debt lowers not only your taxable income but also your wealth tax — a double benefit.
Indirect amortisation
Many homeowners repay their mortgage through Pillar 3a (tied pension savings). This creates real tax optimisation — the mortgage officially remains, and you continue benefiting from interest deductions.
Cantonal differences
Each canton applies its own rules. Check the details with your cantonal tax office or use our Swiss Tax Calculator for a quick first estimate.
Property maintenance: what counts — and what doesn't?
Ongoing maintenance expenses that preserve your property's value (servicing, repairs, insurance, upkeep) are tax-deductible. You can choose between:
- a flat-rate deduction (based on your imputed rental value), or
- the actual deduction for your maintenance and investment costs.
Tip: For major renovations or conversions, the actual deduction usually pays off.
Investments that improve energy efficiency or environmental protection enjoy special tax benefits: they are deductible in the year incurred and, if not fully credited, in the two following years.
Examples of deductible investments
- Thermal insulation, improved windows, roof upgrades, modern heating systems
- Demolition costs for a replacement building
- Unused deductions can be carried forward to subsequent years
Value-preserving vs. value-enhancing investments
Value-preserving: Serves to maintain existing structures (repairs, painting) — fully deductible.
Value-enhancing: Creates permanent added value (extensions, luxury upgrades) — not deductible for income tax, but relevant for property gains tax when selling.
Mixed cases: Keep your records transparent and allocate costs clearly. That ensures clarity in your tax case. Planning to sell? See our guide on reducing capital gains tax when selling property.
How to keep proper documentation
Maintain a clear, ideally digital, overview of all expenses. Each entry should include:
- Date
- Purpose or type of work
- Indication if energy-efficient
- Contractor
- Amount
Checklist: keep invoices, receipts and supporting documents (digital or physical), attach all relevant documentation to your tax return, and keep records up to date throughout the year. Need help separating value-preserving from value-enhancing investments? Request a personalised assessment or get an instant tax return quote below.