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Liechtenstein

Taxes, residence and daily life for people moving to Liechtenstein: for a wealthy family, an expat employee and a remote worker. Researched .

Open Liechtenstein in the interactive guide

At a glance

For an EU-citizen family of five living off a €30M portfolio, the guide's default reader. The interactive guide recomputes everything for other passports and situations.

Score for a wealthy family
70 / 100
Can EU citizens live here?
EEA nationals: quota permit without gainful activity · limited places: 16 permits a year for all EEA applicants (some sources say about 20)
Can US citizens live here?
only work or business permits
Other passports
only work or business permits
Tax on a €30M portfolio
€370,250 a year · Lump-sum taxation on expenditure (Besteuerung nach dem Aufwand)
Wealth tax
yes
Children inherit
tax-free
After 60 years
€168,729,000 of €30,000,000 (with no tax at all: €286,928,000)
Living costs, family of five
€356,710 a year
EU member
no
Currency
CHF
Capital
Vaduz

Tax on investments, inheritance and wealth

Liechtenstein taxes wealth instead of investment income. Net wealth (excluding foreign real estate) is converted into a deemed income of 4% (Sollertrag, Art. 5 SteG) and taxed with other income at the progressive state rate (top 8%) plus a municipal surcharge of 150%-250% of the state tax (Art. 75); Vaduz and Schaan kept 150% for 2025, which makes the wealth tax up to 0.8% a year (0.896% at 180%). In return, dividends, interest and gains on shares and other movable private assets are exempt from income tax. There is no inheritance or gift tax. Liechtenstein real estate gains bear a separate tax of up to 24%. Two alternatives are modelled: lump-sum taxation on expenditure (25% of living costs, government minimum CHF 300,000 a year, worse than the ordinary tax below roughly CHF 40 million of wealth) and a private foundation with proxy taxation, which pays about the same wealth tax and brings succession and asset-protection benefits, not a saving. The main obstacle is residence: permits for EEA nationals are limited by quota and partly by lottery, and very limited for others.

How to get residence

Liechtenstein is in the EEA but keeps a quota on residence permits. EU/EEA citizens who work get permits from an annual quota (at least 56, half by lottery), and a separate small quota of 16 a year covers EEA citizens who live on their own capital. US and other citizens can only get a permit if they have a job or real economic significance for the country; residence cannot be bought. A lump-sum tax (25% of living costs) exists for new residents who do not work.

RouteKindWhoStatusIn short
EEA nationals: residence permit within the annual quota (employed)WorkEU citizensopenEEA citizens with a job in Liechtenstein get residence from a yearly quota; the EEA agreement allows Liechtenstein to cap numbers, so there is no free right to move.
EEA nationals: quota permit without gainful activityPassive income / retirementEU citizensopenA small separate quota of 16 permits a year is open to EEA citizens who do not work and live on their own funds.
Non-EEA nationals: permit for employment or economic significanceWorkUS citizens, other passportsopenUS and other citizens are admitted only in small numbers: with a job offer from a Liechtenstein employer or because they are of real economic significance to the country.
Lump-sum taxation for new residentsOtherEU citizens, US citizens, other passportsopenNew residents who do not work in Liechtenstein can agree a tax of 25% of their worldwide living costs. It still needs a residence permit first.

Citizenship: Not researched this session. Earlier practice: long residence (reported about 10 years) plus a municipal vote; not verified.

Inheritance law and trusts

Children and the spouse are guaranteed half of their intestate share, and a will cannot remove it, though a foundation or trust is a common planning route. Liechtenstein has its own trust and foundation law, and the Hague Trusts Convention is in force. A reform to the Pflichtteil is before parliament.

Daily life, scored out of 100

From public indicators (World Bank, UNDP, Transparency International and others); higher is better.

MeasureScore
Safety and personal security57
Political and institutional stability81
Legal system and property rights82
Healthcare quality and access96
Human development and quality of life88
Infrastructure and connectivity98
Cost of living and housing46
Business opportunities and economy81

Research notes

Liechtenstein — family-office tax dossier

Last reviewed: 2026-10-16 Tax year: 2026 Reviewer: research agent (Claude), unreviewed by a tax adviser

Summary

Liechtenstein taxes wealth instead of investment income. Net wealth (excluding foreign real estate) is converted into a deemed income of 4% (Sollertrag, Art. 5 SteG) and taxed with other income at the progressive state rate (top 8%) plus a municipal surcharge of 150%-250% of the state tax (Art. 75); Vaduz and Schaan kept 150% for 2025, which makes the wealth tax up to 0.8% a year (0.896% at 180%). In return, dividends, interest and gains on shares and other movable private assets are exempt from income tax. There is no inheritance or gift tax. Liechtenstein real estate gains bear a separate tax of up to 24%. Two alternatives are modelled: lump-sum taxation on expenditure (25% of living costs, government minimum CHF 300,000 a year, worse than the ordinary tax below roughly CHF 40 million of wealth) and a private foundation with proxy taxation, which pays about the same wealth tax and brings succession and asset-protection benefits, not a saving. The main obstacle is residence: permits for EEA nationals are limited by quota and partly by lottery, and very limited for others.

Residence and eligibility

Resident with a domicile in Liechtenstein (living there with the intention to stay) or a habitual residence of more than six months.

Standard regime eligibility: Domicile (intention to stay permanently) or habitual residence of more than six months in Liechtenstein. Requires a residence permit, which is the main practical barrier.

Capital gains

Capital gains on movable and immovable private assets are exempt from income tax (Art. 15(2)(m) SteG), as are gains on shares (Art. 15(2)(o)) and gains on foreign real estate (Art. 15(2)(l)). Gains on Liechtenstein real estate are taxed separately by the real estate gains tax: the income tax tariff for single persons (top 8%) plus a fixed 200% surcharge, up to 24%. Capital losses are not deductible.

JSON values: headline rate 24% (0.24); listed securities domestic 0% (0.0), foreign 0% (0.0); private business sale 0% (0.0); local real estate 24% (0.24); foreign real estate 0% (0.0).

Dividends

Dividends and profit shares from participations in legal entities are exempt from income tax for private shareholders (Art. 15(2)(n) SteG), as are all returns on wealth subject to wealth tax (Art. 15(1)(a)). The wealth tax (deemed return) replaces dividend tax.

JSON values: headline 0% (0.0); domestic 0% (0.0); foreign gross 0% (0.0); foreign tax relief: not_applicable.

Inheritance and gifts to children

Liechtenstein levies no inheritance, estate or gift tax. Inheritances and gifts are also exempt from income tax (Art. 15(2)(c) SteG). The heirs simply include the assets in their own wealth tax base afterwards.

JSON values: basis none, bracket mode marginal, children fully_exempt, exemption CHF 0, marginal brackets above the exemption: none; other transfer costs 0% (0); gifts same as inheritance: True; tax-free after years: None.

Wealth tax

Wealth tax is levied through the income tax: worldwide net wealth (excluding foreign real estate and foreign permanent establishments) is multiplied by a 4% standard return (Sollertrag, Art. 5 SteG; Art. 14(2)(l)) and taxed together with other income at the progressive state tariff (Art. 19; marginal 1%-8%), plus a municipal surcharge set each year by the municipality between 150% and 250% of the state tax (Art. 75(3)). The surcharge is 150% in Vaduz and Schaan (2025; the 2026 figure was not found). For a married couple whose only income is the deemed return, the effective marginal wealth tax rises to 0.8% at 150% (0.896% at 180%).

JSON type: broad.

Special regimes

Holding structures

Modelled: private foundation with proxy taxation (stiftung_pvs, structure). The family endows an irrevocable Liechtenstein foundation (PGR art. 552) with the portfolio. As a private asset structure (PVS, Art. 64 SteG) it pays only the CHF 1,800 minimum profit tax and is not assessed. The family applies for proxy taxation (Art. 9(3) SteG): the foundation pays the beneficiaries' wealth tax on a 4% deemed return, so no dedication tax arises (Art. 13) and distributions to the beneficiaries are tax-free (Art. 14(2)(k)). The wealth tax is about the same as holding personally (0.8% at the top). The reasons to use the structure are succession planning, asset protection and continuity; nothing is saved in tax. Inheritance tax does not exist either way, so the standard inheritance rules are inherited.

Company taxation (kept separate from personal tax)

Headline CIT rate in JSON: 12.5% (0.125).

Flat 12.5% profit tax on worldwide income; CHF 1,800 annual minimum tax (creditable), waived for small operating companies. Dividends and capital gains on participations generally exempt. Pillar Two 15% top-up for large groups. Private asset structures (PVS) pay only the minimum tax.

Special zones: None.

Cost of living notes

Vaduz.

Open questions

US citizens: No US-Liechtenstein income tax treaty (a TIEA and FATCA IGA exist). Liechtenstein's wealth-based tax is not an income tax on specific items, so US foreign tax credits for it are doubtful; US citizens pay full US tax on gains and dividends.

Sources

Change log

Residence and succession sources

Tax sources are cited in the research notes above.