Halbtax PLUS vs GA vs Halbtax only: which pays in 2026?
Updated · 2 sources
Direct answer
Keep a plain Halbtax if you spend under about CHF 1,000 a year on half-fare tickets. Add Halbtax PLUS if you spend CHF 1,000–3,800: the packages turn CHF 800/1,500/2,100 of deposit into CHF 1,000/2,000/3,000 of ticket credit (a 20–30% bonus), and unused deposit is refunded after a year. Above roughly CHF 3,805 a year in half-fare tickets, the GA at CHF 3,995 is cheaper and removes every ticket decision.
Key facts
- PLUS 1000/2000/3000: deposit CHF 800/1,500/2,100, bonus CHF 200/500/900 (adults)
- PLUS credit buys personal tickets in digital channels only; the Halbtax itself is not included
- Unused PLUS deposit is refunded after one year; the bonus expires
- GA 2nd class (CHF 3,995) beats Halbtax above CHF 3,805/yr of half-fare ticket spend
The three options at adult prices (2026)
| Option | You pay | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Halbtax only | CHF 170/yr renewal + half-fare tickets | Ticket spend under ~CHF 1,000/yr |
| Halbtax + PLUS 3000 | CHF 170 + CHF 2,100 deposit for CHF 3,000 credit | CHF 1,000–3,800/yr, buys digitally |
| GA 2nd class | CHF 3,995/yr, no tickets | Over ~CHF 3,805/yr or daily commuting |
Worked example: CHF 2,400 of half-fare tickets a year
Plain Halbtax costs CHF 170 + 2,400 = CHF 2,570. With PLUS 3000, your CHF 2,400 of tickets consume credit you bought at 70 centimes per franc, so the same travel costs about CHF 170 + 1,680 = CHF 1,850, provided you buy in the app or online and use the credit within the year (leftover deposit comes back, so the realistic risk is only the unused bonus). The GA at CHF 3,995 is CHF 1,400 more than the Halbtax for this travel level, so it only wins if you value never buying a ticket, or your spend grows past CHF 3,805.
The trap is class and spontaneity: PLUS does not cover tickets you buy at the counter or for other people, and neither PLUS nor Halbtax removes the check-in friction on short hops the way a GA does. Price the travel you actually took last year, from your SBB account history, not the commute you plan to take.
FAQ
- Is the Halbtax included in Halbtax PLUS?
- No. Halbtax PLUS is a credit balance on top of a Halbtax (CHF 190 first year, CHF 170 on renewal). Without a valid Halbtax the credit still buys tickets, but at full fare the bonus is rarely worth it.
- What happens to unused Halbtax PLUS credit?
- After the one-year package term, the unused part of your own deposit is refunded; the bonus portion expires. So the downside of oversizing a package is small, but not zero if you counted on the bonus.
- When is the GA cheaper than Halbtax PLUS?
- Once your half-fare ticket spend passes about CHF 3,805 per year (CHF 7,610 at full fare). Below that, Halbtax plus the largest PLUS package you will actually consume is cheaper; run your exact spend in the calculator.
- Can I buy tickets for my partner with Halbtax PLUS?
- No. PLUS credit is personal and non-transferable and only valid for your own tickets in digital channels (SBB app and web, ZVV and other linked shops).