Have your letters read aloud – Lesefee for Switzerland
If you live in Switzerland but do not speak German as your first language, your post can be a real challenge. Letters from the Gemeinde, the tax office or a utility company are written in formal German, often in small print and with long sentences.
Lesefee helps. Hold the letter up to your phone camera. Lesefee reads it aloud and explains in simple English what it is about and what you need to do. It is free and you do not need an account.
Why Swiss letters are hard to understand
Official Swiss letters use words you rarely hear in everyday conversation, such as «Veranlagung», «innert 30 Tagen» or «Rechtsmittelbelehrung». Even people who speak good German sometimes struggle with them.
This is especially true for older parents who moved to Switzerland to be near their children, or who have lived here for years but never needed formal German. Many families end up translating letters over the phone, which takes time and can be stressful for everyone.
How Lesefee helps in English
1. Take a photo
Open lesefee.ch on your phone, switch the language to English and tap «Scan letter». Hold the phone steady over the letter in good light, or choose a photo from your gallery.
2. Listen
Lesefee recognises the German text, shows it on screen and gives you a short explanation in English. You can pause, repeat a sentence or slow the voice down.
3. Ask questions
Ask in English, by voice or by typing: «What do I have to do?» or «When is the deadline?». Lesefee answers only from what is written in the letter and says so when information is missing.
Typical letters Lesefee can explain
- Letters from your Gemeinde (municipality), for example about waste fees, voting or registration.
- Letters from the tax office (Steueramt), such as a tax return reminder or a tax bill.
- Bills from shops, utilities or other companies, including the Swiss QR bill.
- Letters from the AHV compensation office about pensions or contributions.
If Lesefee notices typical warning signs of a scam, such as payment by gift card or heavy time pressure, it shows a clear warning. It cannot guarantee whether a letter is genuine.
What happens to your letter
To read the letter, the photo is sent to an AI service. Lesefee asks for your permission before this happens for the first time. Your letter is used only to read and explain it.
Lesefee does not save your letter in an account or a database. The text stays in the open page only as long as you need it. When you tap «Delete letter» or close the page, it is gone from Lesefee. Only if you choose «Remember deadline» are the date, amount and a short label kept on your device.
Limits
Lesefee is a helper, not a professional translator, and it does not give legal or financial advice. Handwriting, poor light or creased paper can lead to mistakes.
For important deadlines, amounts and account numbers, please double-check with someone you trust, or call the sender using the phone number on their official website. If you are unsure about an official decision, contact the office that sent it.