Reimbursement of environmental taxes to the general public
The Federal Government levies incentive taxes on environmentally harmful substances. This money flows back to the general public via health insurers. By this means, 545 million francs – or 61.20 francs per person or 5.10 francs per person/month – will be distributed from environmental taxes in 2023. This amount will be deducted from customers’ 2023 premium invoices.
Details on environmental taxes
Since 2008, the Federal Government has imposed a CO2 levy on fossil fuels such as heating oil and natural gas. This is not a new tax, but an incentive tax designed to promote the economical use of fossil fuels. Rather than being kept in the state treasury, the revenue from this is redistributed to the general public and the economy after the deduction of financial support for building programmes and technology funds. The CO2 levy will provide CHF 465 million for the people of Switzerland in 2023.
A further CHF 80 million will come from the VOC (volatile organic compounds) levy. These are the gases produced when solvents are used. They are partly responsible for the high ozone levels in the summer.
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