In Switzerland, a tax identification number (TIN) is the AHV/AVS social insurance number for a resident individual and the UID business identification number for a resident company or other entity, in the context of automatic exchange of information. To find yours, start with your Swiss health insurance card or the UID register, depending on your situation.
Has a bank asked for your “TIN”, “tax ID” or “NIF”? The right number depends on whose details the form concerns and their tax residence. This article explains where to find it, how to recognise its format and which reference to use.
Which Swiss tax identification number should you use?
You are an individual
13-digit AHV/AVS number
Format: 756.XXXX.XXXX.XX
Find it on your Swiss health insurance card or AHV/AVS insurance certificate.
You represent a company
UID number: CHE + 9 digits
Format: CHE-XXX.XXX.XXX
Find it in the UID register or on the commercial register extract.
This distinction is explained by the official Swiss TIN information published by the OECD for the automatic exchange of information (AEOI).
What do TIN, tax ID and NIF mean?
TIN stands for “Tax Identification Number”. NIF is the French abbreviation for numéro d’identification fiscale. The term tax ID is also common on international forms.
Switzerland uses existing identifiers for AEOI: the AHV/AVS number for resident individuals and the UID for resident legal entities and other entities. A reference on a cantonal tax letter may serve a different administrative purpose. Always check the exact wording of the field you need to complete.
Where can an individual find their Swiss TIN?
If you are an individual resident in Switzerland, look for your AHV/AVS number. Its format is 756.XXXX.XXXX.XX, with 13 digits. The Xs are placeholders, not a number to copy into a form.
- Swiss health insurance card: look for the AHV/AVS number, which is different from the card number and your insurer’s customer reference.
- AHV/AVS insurance certificate: your social insurance number also appears here.
- If you cannot find either document: contact the residents’ registration office in your municipality or canton of residence.
The Central Compensation Office confirms that the AHV/AVS number appears on Swiss health insurance cards. A separate AHV/AVS card is no longer issued automatically.
Where can you find a Swiss company’s TIN?
For a Swiss LLC (Sàrl/GmbH), a limited company (SA/AG) or another Swiss-resident entity, the TIN used for AEOI is its UID. In French, you will also see the abbreviation IDE. The Swiss format is CHE-XXX.XXX.XXX.
Open the official UID register, search for the registered company name and check the registered office to identify the right entity. The UID also appears on the commercial register extract if the business is registered there.
Which tax ID should a Swiss sole trader use?
A sole proprietorship is linked to its owner, who trades in their own name. The business activity may have a UID. You therefore need to check whether a form identifies the individual or the business activity.
Your personal identification
As an individual tax resident in Switzerland, your personal TIN is your AHV/AVS number.
Identification of your business
For a field labelled “business UID”, use the UID assigned to the activity. For a “VAT number” field, check your VAT registration.
If a business form simply says “TIN” without specifying whose identifier is required, ask the issuer to confirm. Our article on becoming self-employed in Switzerland explains recognition as self-employed for AHV/AVS purposes.
Which TIN should a cross-border worker enter?
Your country of employment and your tax residence can be different. According to the Geneva tax authorities (in French), someone whose tax residence is abroad uses the tax identification number issued by their country of residence for that residence.
If you have multiple tax residences, complete the institution’s relevant fields and provide the corresponding identifiers. If your tax residence is uncertain, clarify it before completing the self-certification.
Swiss TIN, AHV/AVS, UID and VAT numbers: what is the difference?
| Identifier | What does it identify? | Where can you find it? |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss personal TIN | AHV/AVS number for a resident individual | Health insurance card or AHV/AVS certificate |
| Swiss company TIN | The entity’s UID number | UID register or commercial register extract |
| Swiss VAT number | UID followed by TVA, MWST or IVA for a VAT-registered business | VAT section of the UID register |
| Cantonal taxpayer number | Reference used by the cantonal tax authority | Cantonal tax return, correspondence or tax file |
One official VAT number format is CHE-XXX.XXX.XXX TVA. Having a UID does not, by itself, establish that a business is registered for VAT. The official suffix is TVA, MWST or IVA, even on an English-language invoice. The Federal Tax Administration explains the official format and how it differs from an EU VAT identification number.
For the registration requirements, see our article on Swiss VAT registration.
How do you obtain or recover a Swiss TIN?
First check whether the relevant identifier has already been assigned to you. Looking for a TIN usually means finding an existing number, rather than applying for a new one.
For an individual
The AHV/AVS number is assigned through Swiss administrative procedures, including a birth in Switzerland or the registration of a person moving to Switzerland from abroad. For someone starting work in Switzerland, the employer can contact the relevant compensation office. The Central Compensation Office’s official FAQ explains whom to contact in each situation.
For a company or other entity
The Federal Statistical Office manages the UID system. Search its register first. If you cannot find the entity, check the registered name and the status of its registration, then contact the FSO’s UID team. Registration in the official UID register is free; fees for other formalities are separate.
How should you enter your TIN on a form?
Identify the account holder or entity concerned
Check whether the form concerns you personally, your company or your self-employed business activity.
Check the country of tax residence
The number must correspond to the country entered in that field.
Copy the number from a reliable source
Use your AHV/AVS document or the entity’s official entry in the UID register.
Follow the required format
Some fields accept dots and hyphens; others require the number without separators. Follow the form’s instructions.
Why does a bank ask for a TIN?
A TIN identifies the account holder for the automatic exchange of tax information. The institutions concerned collect details of tax residences and the corresponding identification numbers. Official Swiss TIN information for AEOI.
Use the tax ID that matches the person and the purpose
For Swiss AEOI reporting, distinguish your personal AHV/AVS number from a company’s UID. Check the requested tax residence and copy the identifier from an official record. When you start invoicing, use the business and VAT details required for a Swiss invoice; a personal TIN is not a substitute for the supplier’s VAT number.
Frequently asked questions about Swiss tax IDs
Is a Swiss TIN the same as an AHV/AVS number?
For an individual resident in Switzerland, the AHV/AVS number is the TIN used for AEOI. For a resident company, it is the UID.
How many digits does a Swiss TIN contain?
The AHV/AVS number has 13 digits and starts with 756. The UID has the prefix CHE followed by nine digits.
Where can I find my TIN in Geneva or Vaud?
Check your Swiss health insurance card for your AHV/AVS number, or the UID register for a company. A cantonal reference number should be found in your cantonal tax file.
Can I look up a company’s Swiss TIN online?
Yes. Its UID is available in the official UID register. Check the registered company name and registered office to select the right entity.
Do I need a new TIN after moving home?
Your AHV/AVS number normally stays the same. A change in tax residence may, however, require you to update your bank and provide an identifier from your new country of residence.
Are a TIN and a cantonal taxpayer number interchangeable?
They serve different purposes. For a cantonal procedure, use the reference expressly requested. For your personal Swiss TIN on an AEOI self-certification, use your AHV/AVS number.
What should I enter if I do not know my TIN yet?
Tell the institution and ask what supporting documents or deadline it allows. At the same time, seek the identifier from the relevant authority.
Planning to start a business in Switzerland?
Entreprendre.ch helps you set up a Swiss LLC, limited company or sole proprietorship, from choosing the legal structure to completing the administrative steps.
Official sources
- OECD: Switzerland’s official TIN information
- Canton of Geneva: where to find your TIN (in French)
- Central Compensation Office: AHV/AVS number
- Federal Tax Administration: UID and VAT numbers
- Official UID register
English edition reviewed on 21 September 2026. When completing a form, follow the instructions of the institution concerned.
Romain Prieur is a Swiss certified public accountant and the founder of Entreprendre.ch. With over ten years of experience in auditing and advising businesses in Switzerland, he helps entrepreneurs with company formation, accounting and taxation.
