The answer for Ticino in 2026
A household in Ticino normally registers domestic staff with the cantonal compensation office at the IAS in Bellinzona. The household is the employer. Registration starts from the first franc unless an age based exception applies. Wage, social contributions, accident insurance and tax are separate checks.
Use this guide when you already employ, or plan to employ, a Helper in your home in Ticino. It explains the office, the published contribution rates, the wage rules and the boundary between household assistance and regulated care. For the general registration test, read Register household help. The Ticino canton guide covers the wider cantonal context.
Which office registers household staff in Ticino?
The usual office is the Cassa cantonale di compensazione AVS/AI/IPG at the Istituto delle assicurazioni sociali, known as IAS, in Bellinzona. The competent office follows the canton where the employing household is located. A household that already belongs to a trade association compensation office for other staff may settle there instead.
| Step | What the household does | Official basis |
|---|---|---|
| Choose the procedure | Check whether the ordinary procedure, simplified procedure or simplified Plus procedure fits the employment | IAS and AHV/IV leaflet 2.07 |
| Register the employment | Submit the IAS form for employers of domestic staff. A first employer using the simplified procedure registers within 30 days after work begins | IAS form 111 and AHV/IV leaflet 2.07 |
| Arrange accident insurance | Arrange occupational accident cover from the start of employment. Nonoccupational cover is required from an average of 8 hours a week with the same employer. For irregular hours, confirm the assessment with the insurer | AHV/IV leaflet 2.06 |
| Declare the wage | Submit the annual wage declaration requested by the compensation office | IAS annual wage declaration |
Not registering household staff can lead to criminal penalties. The official leaflets and forms explain the current procedure.
For the special youth exemption up to CHF 750 a year, separate accident insurance rules apply; see the official domestic work leaflet. An AHV exemption does not automatically remove accident protection. Household work is outside Suva's underwriting remit; eligible households can use IAS simplified Plus.
In 2026, the simplified procedure requires no more than CHF 22’680 gross pay per employee and CHF 60’480 for the employer's entire annual payroll. The limits are checked before deducting a reference age allowance. All wages subject to contributions must be declared through it, and payment deadlines must be respected. Limited companies, limited liability companies and cooperatives cannot use it, nor can employers use it for their spouse or children. Plus is for employers of domestic staff.
Cross-border employment needs a separate check with IAS. The leaflet's exclusions for specified French resident frontier workers do not create a general exclusion for Italian residents in Ticino. This does not mean every Italian resident qualifies. Confirm the person's social insurance and tax treatment; compensation office registration does not settle work permit requirements.
Helpore Admin
Already employ a Helper?
The household remains the employer. Compare Helpore Admin Light and Helpore Admin for administration in the household's name.
Your household remains the Helper's legal employer on both plans. Helpore Admin is optional and covers only the administration you authorize. Wages, contributions, insurance premiums and other employment costs remain separate.
The Helpore Admin fee never comes out of your Helper's wage. On the payroll bill it has its own block, and Helpore keeps nothing of the wage or the contributions.
Helpore Admin Light
Helpore records the agreed terms and prepares the payslips, the AHV registration pack and the annual documents. You file and pay yourself; Helpore charges only the Light fee.
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Helpore runs the registrations, the payroll, the accident insurance and the payments under your signed power of attorney.
Choose Helpore AdminWhich contributions does IAS charge in 2026?
The following IAS rates apply to Swiss-insured employees below reference age, within the unemployment insurance salary ceiling, whose full wage is subject to contributions. They are not a net pay calculation. Contributions start on 1 January after the employee's 17th birthday. Until the end of the year in which they turn 25, wages of no more than CHF 750 per employer and calendar year are exempt unless the employee asks to contribute. After reference age, the AHV, IV and EO allowance is CHF 1’400 a month or CHF 16’800 a year per employer unless waived; unemployment contributions cease. Early retirement alone does not trigger this allowance.
| Contribution | Household employer | Employee deduction |
|---|---|---|
| AHV, IV and EO | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Unemployment insurance, up to CHF 148’200 a year | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Family allowances, IAS cantonal fund | 1.6% | None |
| Supplementary family allowances | 0.15% | None |
| Parental allowance | 0.15% | None |
| Vocational training fund, simplified procedure | 0.095% | None |
| Social contribution subtotal, simplified procedure | 8.395% | 6.4% |
| Administration charge | 1.5% of the combined employer and employee AHV, IV and EO contributions | None |
| Simplified procedure tax | None | 5.0% |
| Simplified Plus occupational accident premium | 0.505% | None |
| Simplified Plus nonoccupational accident premium | None | 1.432% when the hours test is met |
These totals exclude accident premiums outside Plus, occupational pension contributions where applicable, holiday and public holiday supplements, any contractual thirteenth month, and tax outside the simplified procedure. The family allowance rate shown is the IAS cantonal fund rate. Another authorised fund may charge a different rate.
What does the CHF 520 example show?
The example assumes 4 hours a week at CHF 30. The monthly gross wage is 4 × 52 ÷ 12 × CHF 30, or about CHF 520. It shows the contribution lines separately so the household can see what it pays and what is deducted from the employee's gross wage.
For this rate comparison, CHF 520 is a fixed AHV-liable gross wage base. It does not calculate the full wage owed under the contract. Holiday pay and any thirteenth month entitlement increase the contribution base when paid.
| Item | Household employer | Employee deduction |
|---|---|---|
| AHV, IV and EO | CHF 27.55 | CHF 27.55 |
| Unemployment insurance | CHF 5.70 | CHF 5.70 |
| CAF, AFI, AP and Lorform | CHF 10.40 | None |
| Administration charge, 1.5% of both AHV, IV and EO shares totalling CHF 55.10 | CHF 0.85 | None |
| Social contributions plus administration | CHF 44.50 | CHF 33.25 |
| Simplified Plus occupational accident premium | CHF 2.65 | None |
| Simplified procedure tax | None | CHF 26 |
The ordinary procedure also needs an accident policy from an authorised insurer. At the example's weekly hours, the nonoccupational accident threshold is not met. Each contribution here is calculated on its own and rounded to 5 rappen. This is not a net pay example and it is not the household's full employment cost.
“A few hours of help a week still make you an employer. In Ticino, the wage, the contract and the registration each need their own check.”
Gilberto de la Fuente, Helpore
Which minimum wage applies to household work in Ticino in 2026?
The table and rule finder concern ordinary adult household employment within the relevant law's scope. Statutory exclusions remain, including qualifying apprenticeships, au pairs and certain youth, training, family and social integration arrangements.
The answer depends on the work and the average weekly hours with the same household. Start with the binding statutory floor. Then check the cantonal standard employment contract because its default wage and thirteenth month can produce a higher contractual amount unless the parties make a valid written variation.
Ticino · IAS · 2026
Check which rule applies
Choose the type of work and weekly hours. The complete rule table remains available below.
The map shows the official Ticino boundary. Surrounding cantons are geographical context only.
Selected situation
Ordinary household work below the federal hours threshold
- Wage rule
- The cantonal statutory floor applies. Also check the Ticino CNL default wage and thirteenth month unless there is a valid written variation.
- Contract check
- Record the agreed wage, hours, holiday pay and any valid written variation. The federal NAV hours threshold is not met.
- Registration check
- The household registers the employment with IAS from the first franc unless an age based exception applies.
- Care boundary
- This result covers ordinary household work. Reclassify the task if personal care is added.
| Situation | Binding floor or default in 2026 | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary domestic work averaging at least 5 hours a week, unskilled | CHF 20.35 | Federal NAV minimum |
| Same scope with at least 4 years of domestic work experience or relevant two-year EBA or CFP training | CHF 22.30 | Federal NAV qualification category |
| Same scope with relevant three-year EFZ or AFC training | CHF 24.55 | Federal NAV qualification category |
| Ordinary domestic work below 5 hours a week | CHF 20 | Cantonal statutory floor. Also check the CNL TI default wage and thirteenth month unless there is a valid written variation |
| Work mainly consisting of childcare | CHF 20 | Cantonal statutory floor. Federal NAV exclusion applies. Also check the CNL TI default rules |
| Sector 97 from 1 January 2027 | CHF 20.50 | Cantonal statutory floor for 2027, set by the decree of 7 October 2026 (official bulletin 34/2026). Inside the federal NAV scope, the NAV minimum prevails until the end of 2028 |
Relevant domestic work experience or vocational training is needed for the higher federal categories; an unrelated qualification is not enough.
Ticino's cantonal CNL covers full-time and part-time domestic work without a minimum hours threshold and expressly includes childminders. Its default wage is CHF 20.35, CHF 22.30 or CHF 24.55 according to category, plus a thirteenth month. A valid written variation may change these defaults, but cannot undercut an applicable mandatory minimum or override mandatory protections.
The wage amounts exclude holiday and public holiday supplements. For hourly pay, the holiday supplement is 8.33% for four weeks, or 10.64% for five weeks; employees under 20 have at least five weeks. Where holiday pay may lawfully be paid as a percentage, it must be identified separately and does not remove the right to take holidays. The Ticino labour inspectorate recommends 3.6% for the canton’s 9 public holidays. Its worked example adds 8.33% and 3.6% separately to CHF 20.35, producing CHF 22.78 an hour. This excludes the thirteenth month and employer contributions.
The cantonal CNL also provides a thirteenth month by default. From 1 January 2027, the sector 97 benchmark is CHF 20.50, set by the decree of 7 October 2026. Under the new regulation, a guaranteed thirteenth month can count towards this minimum. Holiday and public holiday pay cannot. The cantonal CNL remains a separate source of contractual pay entitlements. Read the written contract before treating any one figure as the final hourly amount.
The federal NAV and the Ticino cantonal CNL do different jobs. The federal NAV sets binding minimum wages within its scope. The cantonal CNL supplies default employment terms and can apply more broadly. Its terms may be varied only where the law permits and with the required written agreement. For contract rules, read Employment contract for a cleaner.
When does household assistance become regulated care?
Ticino's cantonal CNL covers a live in carer who lives in the household and provides companionship and help in daily life during continuous assistance. These are its default rules for direct household employment; mandatory protections and any applicable collective agreement remain relevant.
| Point | Ticino CNL default |
|---|---|
| Active work | 44 hours a week, excluding standby time and breaks. The CNL counts at least 7 active hours a day or half the agreed standby period, even when actual assistance is shorter. Employment solely for standby is not permitted |
| Standby with no or exceptional interventions | 25% of the hourly wage, at least CHF 5, with up to three night interventions a week on average |
| Standby with one night intervention per night on average | 35% of the hourly wage, at least CHF 7 |
| Standby with two or three night interventions per night on average | 50% of the hourly wage, at least CHF 10 |
| Weekly time off | One full day of 24 hours plus one half day of 8 hours. The time is not cumulative |
| Board and lodging | For benefits actually supplied and documented, the official component rates apply, up to CHF 33 a day or CHF 990 a month for full board and lodging |
Assess night interventions over the month or pay period using the actual interventions. Active interventions count as fully paid active work, with the applicable supplements. These rules do not create a promise of continuous availability.
Ticino's standard contract covers household assistance and companionship, but excludes medical care under the Health Care Benefits Ordinance, known as OPre. The Ticino health department page on family carers, known as badanti also describes help with getting up, going to bed and dressing among a badante's everyday support tasks. The distinction therefore depends on the actual task and care arrangement.
Independently providing professional nursing or regulated care normally requires the relevant qualification and cantonal authorisation. Before adding personal care tasks, ask the local SACD or Antenna Badanti to clarify which tasks the carer may carry out and which need professional care or supervision.
Young people may not be employed for continuous live in assistance.
Frequently asked questions
Does a minimum wage apply for three hours of household work a week in Ticino?
Yes, for ordinary adult household employment covered by the cantonal minimum wage law. Its floor is CHF 20 an hour in 2026. Ticino's CNL can nevertheless entitle the employee to CHF 20.35, CHF 22.30 or CHF 24.55 according to category, plus a thirteenth month, unless the parties validly agree otherwise in writing. Holiday and public holiday pay are separate. From 1 January 2027, the benchmark is CHF 20.50, set by the decree of 7 October 2026; a guaranteed thirteenth month can count towards it.
Does the household pay family allowance contributions when the Helper has no children?
Yes. For wages subject to the relevant contributions, the IAS cantonal fund rates in 2026 are 1.6% for family allowances, 0.15% for supplementary family allowances and 0.15% for the parental allowance. These employer contributions do not depend on whether the Helper has children.
How much is deducted from a Helper's wage in Ticino?
For a standard Swiss-insured employee below reference age and within the unemployment insurance ceiling, AHV, IV, EO and unemployment contributions total 6.4%. The simplified procedure adds 5.0% tax. Nonoccupational accident cover applies from an average of 8 hours a week with the same employer; the IAS Plus premium is 1.432% in 2026. Ordinary source tax and pension contributions may also apply. Age exemptions change the calculation, so this is not a universal net pay figure.
Must a Ticino household pay a thirteenth month?
The Ticino cantonal CNL provides a thirteenth month, proportionally for an incomplete year. This default applies unless the parties validly agree otherwise in writing. A written variation cannot undercut an applicable mandatory minimum. The federal domestic work NAV does not itself create a thirteenth month entitlement.
Is a live in carer legally household staff?
Companionship and help in daily life can fall under Ticino's rules for live in household assistance. Medical care within OPre is excluded. Some personal support tasks appear in Ticino's information for directly employed badanti, while independently provided professional care can require authorisation. Ask the competent Ticino service to classify the actual tasks before work begins.
Official sources
- AHV/IV Information Centre, leaflet 2.06, Household work, version current from 1 January 2026
- AHV/IV Information Centre, leaflet 2.07, Simplified procedure, version current from 1 January 2026
- IAS Ticino, contribution rates for 2026, ordinary procedure
- IAS Ticino, contribution rates for 2026, simplified procedure
- IAS Ticino, affiliation to simplified procedures
- Canton Ticino, USML, cantonal minimum wage
- Canton Ticino, official bulletin 34/2026, decree of 7 October 2026 on the minimum wage per sector
- Ticino minimum wage regulation, Annex 2, effective from 1 January 2027
- USML, contracts for employees of private households
- Ticino labour inspectorate, guide to the CNL for domestic staff
- SECO, information on the NAV for domestic work
- Ticino Department of Health and Social Affairs, family carers known as badanti
Further reading
- Register household help
- Ticino canton guide and household employment cost in Ticino
- Employment contract for a cleaner
- Cleaner accident insurance
- Registering a cleaner in French speaking Switzerland
- Simplified payroll and source tax and holiday pay on an hourly wage
- Senior care at home in Switzerland
- Glossary: compensation office, NAV and cantonal minimum wage
This article provides general information. It is not legal, tax or insurance advice. Official forms, current legal texts and decisions by the competent authorities apply. Facts checked 11 October 2026.