Voters in the municipality of Belp have approved the federal proposal to abolish the imputed rental value tax, with 57.1% casting their ballots in favor. In a separate vote on the same day, a narrow majority in Belp rejected the introduction of a national electronic identity (E-ID) system.
Key Takeaways
- Imputed Rental Value: 57.1% of Belp voters supported its abolition, aligning with the cantonal and national majorities.
- Electronic ID (E-ID): 52.5% of voters in Belp rejected the E-ID proposal, contrasting with the narrow national approval.
- Voter Turnout: At 51.9%, participation in Belp was higher than both the cantonal average (47.8%) and the national average (49.5%).
- National Trends: The results highlight significant regional divides across Switzerland on both key issues.
Belp Supports Major Overhaul of Property Tax
On September 28, 2025, residents of Belp joined a majority of Swiss voters in supporting the initiative to eliminate the imputed rental value tax. The final tally in the municipality showed 57.1% voted 'Yes' to the proposal. This result is slightly higher than the 55.3% approval recorded across the Canton of Bern.
Nationally, the measure passed with a clear 57.7% majority. The vote signals a significant shift in Swiss tax policy, ending a long-standing system where homeowners pay tax on the theoretical rental income of their primary residence.
What is Imputed Rental Value?
Imputed rental value, or Eigenmietwert, is a uniquely Swiss tax. It requires homeowners to declare the potential income they could earn from renting out their property as part of their taxable income, even if they live in it themselves. In return, they can deduct mortgage interest and maintenance costs from their taxes. The recent vote aimed to abolish this system for primary residences.
A Nation Divided by Language
The national results for the imputed rental value vote revealed a stark linguistic and cultural divide, often referred to as the "Röstigraben." While the German-speaking parts of Switzerland overwhelmingly supported the abolition with 63% voting 'Yes', the French-speaking region (Romandie) strongly opposed it, with 63% voting 'No'.
This 26-percentage-point difference highlights fundamentally different perspectives on property taxation and homeownership between the regions. The Italian-speaking areas of Switzerland were more aligned with the German-speaking cantons, approving the measure with a 57% majority.
Implementation Timeline
According to federal analyses, the complex legislative changes required to implement this tax reform mean it will not take effect immediately. Experts predict the new system will be in place by 2028 at the earliest, as cantons must adapt their own tax laws accordingly.
E-ID Proposal Fails to Win Over Belp Voters
While one federal proposal found strong support in Belp, the initiative to create a national electronic identity (E-ID) was narrowly rejected. A majority of 52.5% of voters in Belp cast their ballots against the E-ID system. This local outcome reflects the sentiment across the Canton of Bern, where 51.5% also voted 'No'.
The local and cantonal rejection stands in contrast to the national result. Across Switzerland, the E-ID was approved by a razor-thin margin of just 50.4%, demonstrating widespread division on the topic of digital identity and data privacy.
Urban and Rural Split on Digital Identity
The vote on the E-ID also exposed a clear divide between urban and rural populations. Major urban centers tended to support the proposal, with 54% voting in favor. In contrast, rural areas showed strong opposition, with 58% voting against it.
The Federal Statistical Office classifies Belp as an "intermediary" area—neither distinctly urban nor rural. The voting pattern in Belp, with its 52.5% 'No' vote, closely mirrored the overall trend in these intermediary zones, where 53% rejected the E-ID proposal. This suggests that concerns about the E-ID extended beyond purely rural communities into suburban and mixed-density regions.
"The close national vote on the E-ID indicates that while there is an appetite for digital modernization, significant concerns about data security and government oversight remain unresolved for a large portion of the population."
Voter Participation and Broader Context
Voter turnout in Belp was notably robust for this federal vote. At 51.9%, participation surpassed both the cantonal average of 47.8% and the national figure of 49.5%. This higher engagement suggests that the issues of property taxation and digital identity were of significant interest to local residents.
The approval to end the imputed rental value tax now shifts the focus to the cantons. They will be tasked with adjusting their tax codes to compensate for the changes. Some political analysts have suggested that this could lead to new forms of taxation, such as a specific tax on second homes or holiday properties, to offset potential revenue losses.
For homeowners, the change will simplify their tax returns but may also reduce deductions for mortgage interest and maintenance, altering the financial landscape of homeownership in Switzerland for decades to come.
