• Opening a UBS account at CERN
  
• Banking for "US persons"
  
• Paying Bills
  
• Travelers Checks
  

• Paying Bills
  
• Travelers Checks
  
• Transferring Money
  

Banking in Switzerland

Opening a UBS bank account at CERN

CERN has a special banking arrangement with UBS. There are onsite branches near Restaurants 1 and 2.
You need to show your contract to set up a new account. You will need a "salary account" to receive your salary payments, expense reimbursements (non-relocation), the monthly COLA, and CERN health insurance reimbursements which will be made directly to your bank account. Check with your home institution to arrange for all or part of your paycheck to be deposited here.

Debit Cards - Checks are not commonly used in Switzerland - instead you can apply for a debit card called an EC Direct - Maestro card. With this you can make payments at most stores in Switzerland (only), withdraw cash from the Bancomats (ATMs) as well as buy bus tickets and pay (some) parking meters. It's an easy way to keep track of your expenses as the purchases appear on your monthly bank statement in detail.

E-banking - It's so convenient and easy to use. To sign up stop by the teller or call UBS at +41 22 783 2174.

Transferring money - is easiest and much less expensive using online e-banking, or by depositing cash directly.
French banks charge approximately 20 euro per wire transfer.

Banking for “US Persons”

Due to upcoming changes to US Govt banking regulations in January 2010, banks all over the world are no longer accepting US persons as clients. American Citizens Abroad is tracking this problem - you can read about it on their website.

La Poste - A special arrangement has been made for "US persons" to open a post account with the Swiss post office in the main building of CERN. It works like a banking account.
The person responsible is Stéphane Baeriswyl,  +41 22 782 71 54,   Email : stephane.baeriswyl@poste.ch

UBS - At this time no new American clients are being accepted. For existing clients a new unit has been created to handle all banking activity for “US Persons", and will be the only one in Geneva entitled to do so. A person is considered a “US Person” if he or she is a US citizen (includes double nationality), has an American “Green Card”, or is for other reasons fiscally taxable in the USA. This service is also available for people living in nearby France.
Address: UBS SA, rue du Rhône 8, Geneva
Mailing address: UBS SA, Case postale 2600, 1211 Genève 2
The following persons can be contacted:

Paying Bills

Bills have to be settled, generally, within 30 days. You can pay them with cash at any Post Office, at your bank using the Multimat with a "Bulletin de Versement" (pink form attached to bills), or by Internet through e-banking. There are several security steps in the process, but it is quick and easy to sign up.

Travelers' Checks

Transferring money

Banking in France

Opening an Account

EU citizens have an easier time opening an account. At most banks foreigners cannot open an account until you have lived in France for 90 days. We have heard of people finding ways around this - one couple's landlord vouched for them.
French banks will ask for proof of residence - a paid utility works best. We've had good results with:

• Credit Agricole at the Prévessin site - even visitors can open an account right away.
  
• LCL (Le Credit Lyonnais) does not require a French card to open an account for foreigners. Alexia Leyva from CERN negotiated special fees for incoming foreign currencies. English speaking contacts are:
  Mr. Galleand, St. Genis-Pouilly branch: +33 450 20 54 10
  Miss Perrineau, Ferney branch: +33 450 40 02 41
  
• BNP-Paribas in St. Genis-Pouilly has Bank of America connection - contact
  Elise Pautrieux at +33 450 40 03 46 - email: elise.pautrieux@bnpparibas.com
• Banque Populaire des Alpes, St. Genis-Pouilly

Paying Bills

You can pay with cash at the post office for a fee (eg, 9 EUR to pay an Orange Internet bill), send a check from your French bank account, or set up automatic payments at your bank - even with your landlord. Most utilities will want a RIB number to set up automatic payments, so ask for a number of extra copies of the RIB sheet from your bank.

Travelers' Checks

Transferring money

Currencies

Switzerland uses Swiss francs: CHF. France uses euro: EUR. French grocery stores accept CHF. Swiss stores do not accept EUR. It is wise to have a wallet with enough pockets for both currencies so you can have both with you at all times.

French Tax

Income Tax
After 1 year you must declare yourself with the Centre des Impôts of your department by filling out the form 2042 - Déclaration des Revenues. There are special tax exemptions for foreign scientists living in France. However, depending on your personal situation and salary you may have to pay taxes.

CERN official instructions in English have been published in this issue of the CERN Bulletin.
The form can be dowloaded (télécharger) at Impots.gouv.fr. Once on that page, follow these easy steps:
1. Under Obtenez rapidment un formulaire, Click on: Téléchargez vos formulaires par internet
2. Choose form Déclaration de revenus 2008(2042). To download click on: Sélectionner la Verson du Formulaire. Choose: 2042 pdf remplissage. Click on Acceder au Formulaire.
3. If you're doing this for the first time check the box: Vous déposez une déclaration pour le primière fois...
4. Fill in your name and French address.
5. Go to page 2 - section E - Renseignements Complémentaires. Fill in: Membre du personnel du CERN assujetti à l’impôt interne du CERN et, à ce titre, exonéré d’impôt sur les traitements et émoluments versés par le CERN
6. Go to the last page point 8, line FV: Revenus exonérés non retenus ...Revenus d'organismes internationaux. Click on this box. Print the form, write CERN next to the check mark, and sign and date the first page.
7. Attach your Attestation Annuelle d'Imposition Interne
8. Mail it to the tax center for your area which can also be found at Impots.gouv.fr. Click on Contacts - go down to Vos service locaux - click Rechercher - fill in your street name, town and postal code - click Centre des impôts.

Personal Residence Tax (tax d’habitation)
In most towns in the Pays de Gex you must pay this tax - the rate varies from town to town. Your landlord will declare you with the tax authorities - so the tax bill will automatically be sent to you.

Property Tax - The property owner (if renting, your landlord) pays this tax.

House Tax - there is a TV tax if you declare that you own one.

Swiss Tax

Income Tax - CERN Human Resources instructions in English on Swiss taxation

US Tax

Americans living abroad are the only citizens who must pay taxes to their Government on money they earn abroad. For this reason we've included some links that will point you in the right direction, but is not to be considered as tax advice.

Mandatory Reporting of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts

If you have more than $10,000 in a foreign bank at any time during the year, you need to fill out form TD F 90-22.1 Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. The mailing deadline is 30 June each year.

US tax info: - click on Forms and Publications. The IRS has developed a new page on its site aimed specifically for Americans living abroad. Also, see Publication 54: Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad that includs a list of publications that may apply to Americans living abroad.

Money earned abroad is considered as Foreign Earned Income. You need to file form 2555 Foreign Earned Income with your 1040 form. The foreign earned income exclusion (eg, $87,600 in 2008) increases yearly. Type 2555 in the search box to get the form and instructions.

In order for your employer to stop withholding tax from your salary (if qualified) fill out Form 673.

You need to pay tax by 15 April. You need to file your tax return by 15 June. Overseas Americans get an automatic 60 day extension for filing (not paying). You may also file an extension, which will give you an additional 60 days to file your tax return – until 15 August.

US Tax specialists - You may want to hire someone at least the first year

• Angloinfo has a list of accountants in the area
  
• Debra Jenkin US Tax Preparation Consulting SARL, Geneva. +41 22 755 3783
• KPMG Specializes in resolving complex tax issues of highly mobile international workforces
• ProTaxConsulting, in New York City specializes in US Expatriates
• American Consulate - call to get the name of someone who volunteers to help during tax season

If you live in France you may get tax preparation assistance from:

United States Embassy/IRS
2 Avenue Gabriel Rm B110, 75382 Paris Cedex 08, France - +33 143 12 25 55
Walk-In assistance 9:00 a.m.- noon. Phone service: M-F 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

If you live in Switzerland you may get tax preparation and legal assistance from:

Embassy of the United States Bern
Sulgeneckstrasse 19, 3007 Bern, Switzerland - +41 31 357 70 11
General business hours: 9:00 am – 12:30 noon and 1:30 pm until 5:30 pm
Monday through Friday; times may vary according to section. Closed on American and Swiss holidays

Consular Agency Geneva
Located at: rue Versonnex 7, 1207 Geneva, Switzerland +41 22 840 51 60
Mailing Address: c/o U.S. Mission, 11, rte. de Pregny, 1292 Chambésy
10:00 until 13:00, Monday through Friday
E-mail: Geneva-CA@state.gov closed on American and Swiss holidays

Legal Assistance

The Expat Exchange - where to find legal advice (in English) in Switzerland
Notaries in France - Notaries give legal advice, file documents, prepare wills, handle real estate transactions
Tom's international office has English speaking staff • Ferney-Voltaire • Tel:+33 450 42 80 77
Embassies or Consular Agencies keep lists of attorneys. Use this searchable database to find your Embassy.

Translators
Documents must be translated by official, certified translators. Search using the Yellow Pages - enter 'traducteurs' in the first box – GE in the second box – it will give you a list of people you can call.