Switzerland VAT applies to Upwork services at a 7.7% rate. Learn why it’s collected, who must pay, and how residence or VAT ID affects your tax obligations.
In this article
- What is Switzerland VAT, and why does Upwork collect it?
- What does Switzerland VAT apply to for freelancers on Upwork?
- What's the Switzerland VAT rate?
- Am I required to provide my VAT ID to Upwork?
- Does Switzerland offer any VAT exemptions?
- What if I move from Switzerland to another country?
- Who does Upwork collect VAT from in Switzerland?
- Will you collect VAT if I'm only residing in Switzerland temporarily?
Disclaimer:
This article is for general information only and should not be considered tax advice. It may not be updated in real time and may not reflect recent changes. We strongly encourage you to consult your country’s tax authority or your tax advisor with questions related to your specific situation.
What is Switzerland VAT, and why does Upwork collect it?
Value-added tax, or VAT, is a tax on goods or services, including our services to you.
Switzerland requires Upwork to collect VAT and send it to the government of Switzerland, and we’re required to comply with the tax laws of countries where we do business.
What does Switzerland VAT apply to for freelancers on Upwork?
Examples of what VAT applies to:
- Membership fee
- Connects purchases
- Freelancer Service Fee
Since we charge tax when your government requires it, this tax may change or apply to additional services in the future.
What's the Switzerland VAT rate?
It's 7.7% of the cost of the service being taxed.
Example: If you pay $100 USD in Freelancer Services fees, you'll pay $7.70 in tax, for a total of $107.70.
You’ll see the estimated amount of tax when you check out and the final charge on your invoices and in your transactions.
Am I required to provide my VAT ID to Upwork?
No. You're not required to provide a VAT ID. Switzerland does not require us to have it, and providing one does not exempt you from paying the tax.
If you want your VAT ID to display on your invoices, you can enter it in your account’s tax Information. The VAT ID starts with CHE, followed by nine numbers and one of three alphabet combinations: MWST (German), TVA (French), or IVA (Italian) — like this, for example: CHE-999999999MWST.
To learn more, visit the Switzerland tax authority website.
Does Switzerland offer any VAT exemptions?
No, Switzerland does not offer any applicable exemptions to VAT for services Upwork provides, and there's no exemption for providing your VAT ID.
What if I move from Switzerland to another country?
If you update your tax residence in your account's tax information, we'll automatically adjust your VAT to correspond with the tax rates in your new country of residence, if any. You may have to enter a new VAT ID or similar ID, if applicable.
Who does Upwork collect VAT from in Switzerland?
Switzerland’s VAT applies to services we provide to both freelancers and clients if they reside, have a permanent address, or are established in Switzerland.
Will you collect VAT if I'm only residing in Switzerland temporarily?
Yes. As long as your tax residence is set to Switzerland, we’re required to collect this tax. If you move, update your tax information — we’ll adjust accordingly.