Swiss Voters Reject Inheritance Tax and Compulsory Civic Service

An analysis of the decisive national vote where Swiss citizens overwhelmingly rejected a 50% tax on large inheritances and a proposal for a mandatory civic service for all.

Key Takeaways

Swiss voters rejected the Civic Duty initiative by 84 percent, one of the worst results in a quarter-century.
The Inheritance Tax initiative was rejected by 78 percent of voters.
Voter turnout for the double referendum was approximately 43 percent.
The Swiss Abroad rejected the inheritance tax by nearly 67%, compared to 78% domestically.
The inheritance tax proposal aimed to raise 6 billion CHF annually for climate projects.

By The Numbers

84%

Rejection rate

78%

Rejection rate

50 million CHF

Tax threshold

12 percentage points

Voting gap

They Said

"The idea of a civic duty is not dead with today's vote. It will continue and I think it will win out in coming decades."
— Noemie Roten

"This would have been a bad signal to wealthy people wanting to come to Switzerland and settle down in Switzerland."
— Karin Keller-Sutter

A Crushing Defeat for Radical Reform

Wealth Tax: The 'Super-Rich' Stay Put

Civic Service: A Historic Misfire

The Diaspora Divide: A Softer 'No'

Government Hails Stability

Sources & References

Swiss reject compulsory civic duty and climate tax for super-rich

The Local Switzerland

Swiss Abroad were less harsh on the inheritance tax initiative

SWI swissinfo.ch

Swiss president: ‘We already have a fair tax system’

SWI swissinfo.ch

Swiss voters deliver a double “no” on inheritance tax on super rich and universal civic service