Tax laws provide for deductions and exemptions for various reasons. If these do not correspond to the tax norm, they are referred to as tax reliefs. This study examines the most important tax reliefs at federal and cantonal level in terms of their possible impact on the climate. It estimates the extent of additional CO2 emissions and the budgetary costs of the tax reliefs. The study thus makes an important contribution to climate policy and to the current debate on how to combat the structural deficits in the federal budget.
Study shows that tax reliefs are harmful to the climate
The study concludes that abolishing tax reliefs that have an impact on the climate would reduce CO₂ emissions by a total of 2.5 million tonnes per year. Of this, 1 million tonnes are included in the national emissions inventory of 42 million tonnes in 2022. The savings would therefore account for 2.4% of these emissions. At the same time, additional tax revenues in the billions would be generated: 4.6 billion francs, of which the largest share – 2.9 billion francs – would benefit the federal government.
Strong effects of international aviation
International aviation benefits from a highly climate-relevant subsidy in the form of exemption from mineral oil tax and VAT. Abolishing these tax reliefs would reduce CO₂ emissions by almost 1.5 million tonnes per year. In addition, there is the potential for over CHF 1.3 billion in additional tax revenue. Of the tax reliefs examined, these would generate the second-highest additional revenue for the federal government and the largest reduction in CO2 emissions.
Job-related mobility by car is tax-favoured
In the area of job-related mobility, tax reliefs for commuting by car, company cars and free parking have a harmful effect on the climate. The analysis shows that these tax reliefs influence user behaviour and thus lead to an increase in CO2 emissions. A complete abolition of the commuting cost deduction and of the tax reliefs for company cars and workplace parking spaces would reduce CO2 emissions by over 600,000 tonnes and generate additional income tax revenue of over CHF 2 billion.
Road freight transport is only partially taxed
In the case of heavy goods vehicles, the external costs are not fully offset by the performance-related heavy vehicle fee (HVF). Light commercial vehicles are even completely exempt from the HVF. These tax reliefs increase demand, which leads to significantly higher CO2 emissions. If heavy goods vehicles had to cover their non-climate-related external costs in full, their CO2 emissions would fall by over 100,000 tonnes and the HVF would generate an additional half a billion francs. If light commercial vehicles were also required to cover their non-climate-related external costs, this would further reduce CO2 emissions by over 100,000 tonnes and generate more than half a billion francs.
Of course, there are other aspects to be considered when deciding whether to change, reduce or abolish a tax relief. Tax reliefs usually serve a specific purpose, and changing them can have a range of economic and social impacts. It is the role of politicians to weigh these up.
Policy brief: Download
Main study: Download