Financial advice for US citizens and green-card holders in Switzerland
US persons in Switzerland live under two tax systems and a minefield of fund rules. We help you invest, save and plan in a way that does not blow up your US return.
US citizens and green-card holders living in Switzerland must continue to file a US federal tax return on worldwide income (plus FBAR and, where relevant, FATCA Form 8938) on top of their Swiss taxes. The biggest practical issue is investing: most non-US mutual funds and ETFs - including many fund-based pillar 3a solutions - are classed by the IRS as PFICs (Passive Foreign Investment Companies) and taxed punitively. As of 2025, a workable setup usually means PFIC-safe investments (often US-domiciled or direct securities), a carefully chosen pillar 3a, a Swiss bank that accepts US persons, and coordinated US + Swiss tax advice.
What US persons in Switzerland have to figure out
- 01
Two tax systems, one income
You owe Swiss tax where you live and continue to file a US 1040 on worldwide income. Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, foreign tax credits and the US-Swiss treaty interact in non-obvious ways - small mistakes get expensive.
- 02
FBAR & FATCA reporting
If your non-US accounts exceed USD 10,000 in aggregate at any point in the year, you must file an FBAR (FinCEN 114). Higher balances also trigger FATCA Form 8938 with your US return. Penalties for missed filings are severe.
- 03
The PFIC problem
Most Swiss and European mutual funds and ETFs are PFICs for US tax purposes. Default PFIC taxation is punitive (highest marginal rate plus an interest charge), and the reporting (Form 8621) is heavy. We help you build a portfolio that is PFIC-aware from day one.
- 04
Pillar 3a as a US person
Pillar 3a is still attractive for the Swiss tax deduction, but the underlying solution matters: fund-based 3a products can be PFICs, while insurance-wrapped or bank-account 3a have their own US treatment. The choice should be deliberate, not default.
- 05
Swiss bank access
Since FATCA, some Swiss banks restrict or decline US persons, and offerings are narrower. We know which banks and platforms in Switzerland actively work with US clients and on what terms.
- 06
Pillar 2, exit planning and the green card
If you leave Switzerland, your pillar 2 pay-out interacts with US taxation. Green-card holders also need to think about the expatriation tax rules before giving up status. These decisions are best mapped years in advance.
- 07
Coordinating with a US tax specialist
We are Swiss-side independent advisors - not US tax preparers. For the US return itself we work alongside a qualified US tax professional and make sure the Swiss setup we build fits the US filing, not the other way round.
One US-aware conversation can save you years of tax pain
In a 30-minute call we map the three highest-risk items in your Swiss setup as a US person - typically your investment account, your pillar 3a choice and your bank - and tell you straight what to fix first.
How we help US persons
Investments (PFIC-aware)
Build a long-term portfolio in Switzerland that avoids the PFIC trap - typically using US-domiciled funds or direct securities where access allows, with a clear, documented approach.
Plan PFIC-safe investments as a US person in SwitzerlandTaxes & pillar 3a
Pillar 3a strategy, deduction planning and Swiss tax filing - coordinated with your US preparer so nothing on the Swiss side undermines your 1040.
Coordinate Swiss tax and pillar 3a with your US filingHealth insurance
Choose the right KVG / LAMal fund, model and franchise. International private cover when it actually makes sense - and when it doesn't.
Set up Swiss health insurance as a US expatFinance & mortgage
Independent mortgage and affordability advice for US persons - including how pillar 2 / 3a equity use interacts with US tax considerations.
Plan a Swiss mortgage as a US personHow we work with US persons
A clear three-step process, designed to fit alongside your US tax preparer.
1 · Free discovery call
30 minutes on video. We map your US status, your Swiss situation and the highest-risk decisions - investments, 3a, banking - and tell you honestly if we can help.
2 · Your US-aware Swiss roadmap
A written plan covering portfolio structure, pillar 3a choice, banking and protection - explicitly built to be friendly to your US return.
3 · Implementation with your US specialist
We implement the Swiss side - account opening, 3a, insurance, mortgage - and coordinate with your US tax preparer so nothing falls between the chairs.
Run the numbers yourself
Calculators are estimates for planning, not formal tax or investment advice.
Pension gap
Estimate the gap between your expected Swiss pension and the retirement income you actually want - useful when planning US-side savings too.
Open calculator →Mortgage check
See what a Swiss bank would realistically lend you - before you talk to your US tax advisor about the implications.
Open calculator →Health insurance premium comparison
Compare KVG / LAMal premiums by canton, age, deductible and model.
Open calculator →US-person questions we hear most often
Do I still have to file US taxes if I live in Switzerland?
What is a PFIC and why does it matter as a US person in Switzerland?
Can I use pillar 3a as a US citizen or green-card holder?
Can US persons invest from Switzerland at all?
Will Swiss banks accept me as a US person?
Do you prepare my US tax return?
Let's design a Swiss setup that respects your US return
A 30-minute call with an independent Hello Expats advisor - no obligation, no fees. We sanity-check your investments, pillar 3a and banking as a US person in Switzerland.
Book a free US-person consultation →