Archive «In focus»

The Federal Finance Administration has determined the cantons' equalization payments for 2026. Overall, the payments are up by CHF 227 million year on year to CHF 6.4 billion.

On average, 74,7% of the cantons' and communes' costs in four selected task areas were financed by fees in 2023.

The Federal Council took note of the current end-September extrapolation on 29 October 2025. The Confederation is reckoning on a financing deficit of CHF 0.6 billion for this year. The expected deficit is thus likely to be CHF 0.4 billion higher than forecast in the June extrapolation. However, the deficit is smaller than originally budgeted.

At its meeting on September 19, 2025, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the 2027 budget relief program. This program is essential to restore the balance between the Confederation’s revenues and expenditures in the coming years.

Effective immediately, the 2026 budget is available in electronic format on the website of the Federal Finance Administration (FFA). The hard copy will be released in mid-September.

According to this first extrapolation, the Confederation is anticipating a financing deficit of CHF 200 million for this year.

A FFA's new working paper shows how systemic importance can be analysed.

Based on the results of the consultation, the Federal Council adjusted the key elements for the dispatch on relief package 27. The relief package is necessary to balance federal receipts and expenditure in the years ahead.

The FFA has determined the cantons' equalization payments for 2026. Overall, the payments are up by CHF 227 mio. year on year to CHF 6.4 billion. The sharp rise in equalization payments is due to the strong growth in resource equalization.

The federal consolidated financial statements provide a comprehensive overview of the situation of the Confederation as a group in terms of finances, assets and revenue. The federal financial statements recorded a surplus of 11.3 billion for 2024.

As of 24 March 2025, the state financial statements for 2024 are available in electronic format on the website of the FFA. The figures are also available in the federal budget data portal.

The brochure issued by the FFA provides at a glance information on the budgets of the Confederation, cantons, communes and social insurance, as well as an international comparison.

The public sector's financial development differs depending on the level of government. The latest forecasts of the FFA through to 2028 show that the Confederation's financial situation will depend heavily on the relief package in particular.

For the first time since 2019, the Confederation achieved an almost balanced financial result, with a financing deficit of CHF 80 million. Both receipts (+5.8%) and expenditure (+4%) rose sharply year on year.

During its meeting on 29.1.2025, the Federal Council adopted the consultation draft for RP27. The proposal is intended to reduce the burden on the federal budget by between CHF 2.7 and 3.6 bn from 2027 onwards and bring it back into balance. More than half of the 59 measures proposed overall require a legislative amendment.

The Federal Assembly adjusted and approved the 2025 budget on 19.12.2024. Overall, there is a financing deficit of CHF 800 mio. Nevertheless, the debt brake requirements will be met.

The debt brake was introduced in Switzerland in 2003, and since then, it has served as an anchor for the federal government's fiscal policy. At an event to mark this fiscal rule's 20th anniversary, the FFA, together with prominent figures from political, administrative and academic circles, took a look at its past, present and future. A new FFA working paper also provides an overview of the effectiveness of fiscal rules based on international research literature.

Covid-19: Impact on federal finances

There have been four growth phases in the development of federal debt. The debt burden had been trending downwards since the introduction of the debt brake in 2003, but now it is rising again.

The Federal Council has approved the dispatch on the reduction of the Corona-related debt. The additional debt accumulated as a result of the high extraordinary expenditure to cushion the corona pandemic is to be reduced again with future financing surpluses. Five questions on the topic.