Federal popular initiative “Family initiative: tax deductions also for parents who look after their children”

The federal popular initiative “Family initiative: tax deductions also for parents who look after their children” was a popular initiative of the Swiss People's Party .

The reason for the initiative was the “Tax relief for families with children” bill passed by the Federal Assembly on September 25, 2009 . This proposal introduced an additional tax deduction for caring for a child outside the home (for direct federal tax up to 10,000 Swiss francs per child up to the age of 14, the cantons set the maximum amount for cantonal taxes).

On December 2, 2009, the SVP Switzerland's board of directors decided to launch an initiative that required parents who look after their children to benefit from at least the same amount of tax deduction. After the assembly of delegates sanctioned this decision, the initiative was submitted on December 18, 2009 and published in the Federal Gazette on January 26, 2010 by the Federal Chancellery . The collection period therefore expired on July 26, 2011. On November 24, 2013, it was rejected in a referendum with a negative percentage of 58.5%. The number of stands was clearly missed: 20½ stands rejected the initiative. The initiative was accepted in 2½ stands (Uri, Schwyz, Appenzell Innerrhoden).

The initiative was rejected by the CVP , the FDP and the SP . She was supported by the SVP and the EDU .

Initiative text

The Federal Constitution of April 18, 1999 is amended as follows:

Art. 129 para. 4 (new)

Parents who look after their children themselves must be granted at least the same tax deduction for childcare as parents who have their children looked after by third parties.