Days 1–30: establish the foundation
Register with the local commune as required and confirm that the employment relationship is being reported for Swiss social security. Review the first payslip for AHV/OASI, disability, unemployment and occupational-pension deductions. Ask the employer when the pension certificate will be available and who insures death and disability benefits.
Keep your permit, employment contract and registration confirmation together. If you are arriving from an EU/EFTA country or another state with a social-security agreement, clarify which system applies to any temporary assignment or cross-border working pattern.
Days 31–60: read the pension certificate
The certificate should show insured salary, employee and employer contributions, accumulated retirement capital, projected benefits and risk benefits. Distinguish the mandatory and extra-mandatory rules. Check whether the investment or conversion assumptions are guarantees or illustrations.
If you previously worked in Switzerland, identify any vested-benefits accounts. Eligible balances normally need to transfer to the new employer pension fund. Update beneficiary information after marriage, divorce, partnership or the birth of a child.
Days 61–90: consider pillar 3a and tax
Employees with income subject to AHV/OASI can generally contribute to restricted pillar 3a, subject to statutory conditions and annual limits. Use the Federal Tax Administration's live maximum-deductions page for the current amount; do not rely on a figure copied from an old article. Compare bank and insurance structures, investment risk, fees, liquidity restrictions and beneficiary consequences.
Tax outcomes depend on canton, municipality, civil status, income and whether tax is withheld at source. If you expect deductions not reflected in payroll, obtain advice on filing requirements and deadlines.
Special warning for US persons
US citizens and other US taxpayers generally retain US filing obligations while resident in Switzerland. Swiss accounts can trigger FBAR or Form 8938 reporting, and non-US collective investments may create PFIC reporting. Obtain US-Swiss specialist advice before selecting funds or pension-linked investments.
At day 90, keep a short pension inventory: AHV/OASI record, employer certificate, transferred assets, pillar 3a decision, beneficiaries and the next review date.
A better next step
Before acting, bring the pension, tax and investment decisions into one cross-border review. Hansa Perpetual can help structure the questions and coordinate the planning process with appropriately qualified tax and legal specialists where required.