Pillar 3a: the most important deadline of the year
The annual Pillar 3a contribution must be made by December 31. If you have not yet contributed for this year, the window is closing. Any amount up to the annual limit is deductible from your cantonal and federal taxable income. A partial contribution is better than none and still generates a pro-rata tax deduction.
If you do not yet have a Pillar 3a account, most providers allow you to open an account and make the year's contribution within the same transaction online. VIAC and Finpension both allow this and the process takes under 30 minutes.
Health insurance: review for next year
The deadline to switch health insurance providers for January 1 is November 30. If you missed it this year, put a reminder for October next year. Use Priminfo.ch to compare premiums in your canton and identify whether switching would save you money. The savings can be CHF 500 to CHF 2,000 per year for a single adult.
Start gathering tax documents now, not in March
Swiss tax returns are typically due in March or April of the following year. The documentation gathering is where most people lose time. Start collecting now: wage statements from your employer, Pillar 3a confirmation letters, health insurance premium statements, commuting cost documentation, and receipts for any deductible work expenses.
Your annual financial review: three questions
Beyond the deadline items, December is the right time to ask three questions. Is my net worth higher than it was a year ago, and by how much? Am I satisfied with where my investments are held and how they are performing? Is there any financial decision I have been avoiding this year that I should resolve before January?