Payroll administration for the self-employed in Commugny: rules, deadlines, best practice
Swiss accounting law (art. 957 ff. of the Code of Obligations) sets a precise frame, yet day-to-day practice often stays fuzzy. This guide walks through what actually matters for a business based in Commugny.
The Swiss legal frame for payroll administration
Responsibility for the books is personal: in an SA, organising the accounting is one of the board's non-transferable duties (art. 716a CO); in a Sàrl, the managing directors carry the same duty. Outsourcing the execution never transfers that underlying responsibility, including for a company based in Commugny.
One simple principle drives payroll administration: every franc in or out must be explainable by a document, an entry and an account. All of Swiss accounting law fits inside that traceability requirement.
A Swiss SME's accounting calendar
Three families of deadlines shape the year: federal (VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January), cantonal (tax return, extensions depending on the canton, including in Commugny) and internal (closing, general meeting within six months). Mixing them up is the leading cause of delays.
For a business in Commugny, an isolated delay can be caught up; a structural delay is paid in interest, fines and stress. The difference between the two: a system, not good intentions.
Digitalising payroll administration: what actually works
Access for the fiduciary, the auditor and employees is set by roles: view, enter, approve, close. Well-set rights protect the data and speed up collaboration.
Electronic archiving is fully recognised: Swiss bookkeeping regulation admits electronic retention of records provided integrity and readability are guaranteed for the 10 years of art. 958f CO. A paper binder is no longer an obligation — provided the archiving system is serious.
Salaries and social contributions: the rates to know
Absences are managed upstream: illness, accident, military service or maternity trigger allowances (APG, insurance) that replace part of the salary. Clean absence records are the basis of correct settlements, in Commugny as elsewhere.
An employer in Commugny does well to fix payday on a set day of the month: funds, employees and cash flow organise around it, and payroll administration becomes routine instead of a sprint.
Commugny: what changes, what does not
Working with a fiduciary from Commugny no longer depends on geography: the documents of a business in Commugny are shared online, while the canton Vaud keeps its own deadlines for the tax return.
Commugny requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 1291 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.
Frequently asked questions
When is entry in the commercial register mandatory?
A Sàrl and an SA only come into existence with their registration. A sole proprietorship must register from CHF 100,000 of annual revenue; below that, registration stays voluntary but adds credibility and protects the business name. Registration goes through the canton's commercial register office — for Commugny too.
Which social contributions does a Swiss employer pay?
AHV/IV/APG: 5.3% employer share (the same is withheld from the employee); unemployment insurance: 1.1% each up to CHF 148,200 a year; occupational pension (LPP) by age and plan (employer at least 50%); occupational accident insurance paid by the employer; family allowances by canton. For an employer in Commugny, family allowances follow the canton's rates.
Does MyFiducia.ai work for a business based in Commugny?
Yes: the platform runs online, the rules applied are federal (VAT, CO, AHV), and the file can be shared with any fiduciary. A business in Commugny manages its documents, VAT and exports exactly as anywhere in Switzerland.
Do you need a fiduciary for payroll administration, or can you do it yourself?
Both are defensible. Below CHF 500,000 of revenue, a sole proprietorship may keep simplified accounts itself. As soon as payroll, VAT and a closing with tax stakes are involved, professional support prevents mistakes that cost more than the fees. With a shared platform, the fiduciary does not even need to be in Commugny.
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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates payroll administration for businesses in Commugny: AI-read documents, posting suggestions, VAT and exports ready for your fiduciary. Try the platform or browse our other guides.
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