costs. The changes will come into force in 2028 at the earliest. Furthermore, the amendments will also give cantons the green light to tax holiday homes – a concession to the Alpine regions, which had consistently opposed abolishing the homeowner tax until now. mann, who noted that nearly half of voters rejected e-ID. Parliament, the Federal Council, and public authorities must apply the brakes, he added. Monica Amgwerd, who headed the no campaign and is the general secretary of the Digital Integrity party, also wants guarantees on data privacy and security to be enshrined in law. “These would go some way to placating the other 50 per cent who voted no,” she says. Still a lot to do On 28 September 2025, voters approved a system that provides a trustworthy technical and organisational platform for data sharing. This infrastructure will also enable public authorities and the private sector to issue other electronic credentials, such as driving licences, residence certificates, criminal records excerpts, and degree certificates. E-ID should be available from the third quarter of 2026. There is still a lot to do until then, says Rolf Rauschenbach, who is the e-ID information officer at the Federal Office of Justice. The federal government must work to ensure that the infrastructure operates in accordance with the law. All stakeholders that use e-ID or wish to issue their own electronic credentials will then have to fulfil their responsibility. Rauschenbach: “At the end of the day, we need to convince the general public of the everyday benefits of using e-ID.” Homeowner tax to be abolished There was less opposition to the second voting proposal on 28 September, with 57.7 per cent of the electorate approving the abolition of a tax that homeowners must pay on property they live in (imputed rental-value tax). Majorities in German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland favoured a reform of home ownership taxes, while voters in French-speaking Switzerland saw it differently. This divide had already become apparent during the voting campaign. Conservative federal parliamentarians in French-speaking Switzerland were also against abolishing the tax – unlike their colleagues from other parts of the country. People would invest less in their properties and the construction industry would suffer, they warned. It was more the principle behind the tax itself that came under debate in German-speaking Switzerland, where there was disagreement over whether the levy was fair. Ultimately, the majority of voters decided that it was not. The Swiss Abroad emphatically agreed, with 61.3 per cent supporting the amendment, which also abolishes tax deductions on mortgage interest payments and maintenance Homeowner tax to be abolished 0 5 1015202530354045 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 57.7% Anyone who owns a house or apartment will no longer have to pay tax on hypothetical income from their property, after 57.7 per cent of the electorate voted to abolish the concept of imputed rental value. Swiss Abroad supported the change, with 61.3 per cent voting yes. Swiss Abroad “Homeowner tax to be abolished” – yes votes in percent Digital identity (e-ID) scheme to go online in 2026 0 5 1015202530354045 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 66.35% A razor-thin majority – 50.34 per cent – approved e-ID. The Swiss Abroad emphatically agreed with this verdict, with 63.93 per cent voting yes. Rural voters, on the other hand, were particularly sceptical. Swiss Abroad “Digital identity (e-ID)” – yes votes in percent Swiss Review / December 2025 / No.5 25
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