When a Typo Costs $1,000: The Swiss Tax Authority’s Bahamas Blunder

Imagine this: you’ve just printed 100,000 flyers with a web address for filing taxes online. You’re feeling good, ready to roll. But then… disaster strikes. Someone spots a typo. The Swiss country code “.ch” is missing, leaving only “.bs” — the domain suffix for the Bahamas. Oops.

What do you do? Panic? Cry? Nope. If you’re the Swiss canton of Basel-Stadt, you buy the Bahamas domain and create a redirect. That’s right — they turned a typo into a power move.

The $100,000 Dilemma

According to Swiss news outlet SRF, the Basel tax administration faced a tough choice:

• Option 1: Spend $100,000 to reprint and resend 100,000 flyers.
• Option 2: Spend $1,000 to buy the Bahamas domain and redirect it to the correct Swiss URL.

Guess which one they picked? Yep, the $1,000 solution. A spokesperson for Basel-Stadt’s finance department called it a “no-brainer.” And honestly, who can blame them?

“It’s a classic case of turning lemons into lemonade. Why waste $100,000 when $1,000 can solve the problem?”

— Swiss Tax Authority Spokesperson

Why This Matters

This isn’t just a funny story about a typo. It’s a lesson in quick thinking and resourcefulness. Instead of panicking, the Swiss tax authority found a creative, cost-effective solution. And let’s be real — it’s also a reminder to double-check your URLs before hitting print.

What’s Next?

The new URL with the redirect isn’t live yet — domain registration takes time. But when it’s up, it’ll be a shining example of how to handle a crisis with grace (and a little bit of humor).

So, next time you’re staring down a costly mistake, remember the Swiss tax authority. Sometimes, the best solution is the simplest one.