Two people reviewing numerical reports

Accounting records archiving how to choose in Concise without the stress: how it works

Accounting records archiving how to choose in Concise raises the same questions for most Swiss SME owners: which obligations apply, which deadlines are running, which documents to prepare. This page covers the federal rules in force — without unnecessary jargon.

Digitalising accounting records archiving: what actually works

The classic digitalisation traps are avoidable: scanning without quality control (unreadable records), stacking disconnected tools (double entry in disguise), or neglecting access rights. One single flow from document to entry, with clear roles, beats five shiny apps.

For accounting records archiving, migrating history must not block the start: begin on day one of the current financial year and import the history later if needed.

Outsource accounting records archiving or keep it in-house?

The Swiss fiduciary market is dense and governed by professional practice: industry standards, business secrecy, civil liability. Compare offers on three concrete criteria — exact scope (data entry? closing? payroll? VAT?), a named contact person, and the tools used. It prevents year-end misunderstandings.

For accounting records archiving, a quarterly 30-minute check-in with the fiduciary beats an annual marathon: questions get handled while they are small.

The Swiss legal frame for accounting records archiving

Three documents summarise the health of a Swiss business: the balance sheet (what it owns), the income statement (what it earns) and the notes (what else you should know). All the work of accounting records archiving converges on those three pages, in Concise too.

For accounting records archiving, the classic early mistake remains mixing private and business: a dedicated bank account and documented private withdrawals eliminate half the discussions with the tax office.

Pen pointing at a bar chart on paper

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

Shareholder current accounts demand strict hygiene: every private withdrawal documented, interest at the rates accepted by the tax administration, and a clean-up at closing.

For accounting records archiving, a few well-chosen analytical accounts (by activity, by site) beat a forest of sub-accounts nobody ever reads.

Concise: what changes, what does not

Concise (postal code 1426, canton Vaud) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Concise are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.

Federal deadlines do not move in Concise: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 1426 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.

Frequently asked questions

Which documents should be prepared for the year-end closing?

Bank and cash statements at the closing date, the inventory of stock and work in progress, final AHV/LPP/accident settlements, contracts signed or amended during the year, invoices straddling two years and the detail of accruals. With an up-to-date document archive, most of it is already there. The list is identical in Concise: the CO dictates it, not the commune.

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 Concise, family allowances follow the canton's rates.

How long must records related to accounting records archiving be kept?

Ten years from the end of the financial year concerned (art. 958f CO). Electronic retention is permitted if the integrity and readability of the records are guaranteed — a serious digital archive validly replaces paper binders. A business in Concise can therefore archive fully digitally.

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 Concise too.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates accounting records archiving for businesses in Concise: AI-read documents, posting suggestions, VAT and exports ready for your fiduciary. Try the platform or browse our other guides.

The application is operated in French.