VaudTax is experiencing its last year as software

The General Directorate of Taxation (DGF) expects to experience a pivotal year in 2025, which will lead to the abandonment of the VaudTax software, after twenty years of good and loyal service. From 2026, the latter will be replaced by the online service of the same name.

“It’s a natural transition. We wanted to give the population time to get up to speed,” Séverine Siegenthaler, Deputy Director General, declared this Monday in front of the media gathered in Lausanne. She spoke in the presence of the Minister of Finance, Valérie Dittli.

More declarations online than through the software

Successor to the VaudTax software, the online service was launched in 2020 for “simple situations” then opened in 2021 to all taxpayers. The number of declarations filed through it increased from 27,000 in 2022 to 183,000 in 2024, a figure higher than the approximately 178,000 declarations filed with the software. This was the signal the DGF was waiting for.

“Not only is the software expensive to maintain, but its technology is outdated, which makes it unsatisfactory,” explained Tax Director General Marinette Kellenberger. Unlike the online service, the software is not available at all times on a tablet or smartphone, does not include automatic updating, does not allow the calculation of the half-share of the family quotient and is not not accessible to visually impaired people.

Turn the page smoothly

However, numerous support measures are planned to enable software enthusiasts to make a smooth transition. The number of “discovery sessions” devoted to online delivery will thus increase to 41 across the canton (compared to 27 last year), while the duration of the sessions will be extended.

Such presentations will also take place in gymnasiums, vocational schools and even prisons. “One might believe that prisoners are not interested in taxation, but it is quite the opposite: this year we will go to 7 penitentiaries instead of 2 last year,” explained Ms. Siegenthaler. The approximately 20,000 taxpayers who received automatic taxation last year will also be invited to these sessions.

Note that if the software will no longer be available from 2026, it will still be possible to complete a handwritten declaration. However, this option is in marked decline since it was used in just over 29,000 cases in 2018, 16,000 in 2023 and 14,000 in 2024.

Support for the energy transition

Among the tax changes awaiting taxpayers in 2025, the DGF mentions the additional reduction of 0.5% in cantonal income tax, which is in addition to that of 3.5% announced last year. Provided that this additional 0.5% is not the subject of a referendum, taxpayers will be able to benefit from this total reduction of 4%, as long as they adjust their installments themselves, underlines the DGF.

Tax changes also come into force in 2025 to support the commitments of the Council of State for the energy transition. The time limit for deducting costs for energy savings has thus been shortened, including for new buildings, while employers wishing to encourage the soft mobility of their employees will be able to benefit from a tax-free allowance. in this matter.

Focus on tax deductions

In addition, an event intended for all interested taxpayers will take place on March 25 at the Palais de Beaulieu. It will be devoted in particular to the theme of tax deductions.

As a reminder, tax revenues (6.983 billion) represent nearly 60% of revenues in the 2025 budget of the State of Vaud. The canton has more than 530,000 taxpayers. As of January 1, 82.07% of 2023 tax returns had been subject to taxation.

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