Limited statutory audit legal obligations in Au (SG): the practical guide
Whether you run a Sàrl, an SA or a sole proprietorship in Au (SG), limited statutory audit eventually lands on your desk. Here are the practical reference points — legal basis, deadlines and common pitfalls — to decide with a clear head.
Year-end closing: how the mechanics work
Companies exceeding two of three thresholds for two consecutive years — CHF 20 million balance sheet total, CHF 40 million revenue, 250 full-time positions — move to an ordinary audit. Below that, the limited audit applies, and companies with no more than ten full-time positions on annual average can opt out with the consent of all shareholders.
For limited statutory audit, a closing checklist reused every year transforms the exercise: same steps, same checks, same documents — only the year changes.
Outsource limited statutory audit or keep it in-house?
Splitting roles clearly avoids duplication: the company captures documents and approves payments; the fiduciary checks postings, closes the year and defends the file before the authorities. Each side does what it does best — and nobody keys the same invoice twice.
Three signals say it is time to delegate more: missed deadlines (VAT, AHV), entries running months behind, or an owner spending evenings on receipts instead of the business. Conversely, an SME equipped with modern software can safely take day-to-day entry back in-house.
The Swiss legal frame for limited statutory audit
Swiss accounting law has been unified in the Code of Obligations since 2013: the same bookkeeping rules (art. 957a CO) and retention rules (art. 958f CO — 10 years for books, vouchers and reports) apply regardless of legal form. Limited statutory audit sits squarely within this frame, including for companies based in Au (SG).
One simple principle drives limited statutory audit: 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
Every deadline has an owner: an obligation “of everyone” is kept by no one. Naming one person per deadline family (VAT, payroll, taxes) closes the gaps.
For limited statutory audit, two dates lock themselves in every year: the January salary declaration and the general meeting within six months — everything else is planned around them.
Au (SG): what changes, what does not
Au (SG) (postal code 9434, canton St. Gallen) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Au (SG) are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.
Au (SG) requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 9434 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.
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 Au (SG): the CO dictates it, not the commune.
What are the legal obligations for limited statutory audit in Switzerland?
The foundation is the Code of Obligations: proper bookkeeping (art. 957a CO), annual accounts (balance sheet, income statement, notes) and 10-year retention of books and records (art. 958f CO). VAT applies from CHF 100,000 of turnover, and social insurance settlements from the first employee. Nothing is different in Au (SG): federal law applies.
Can limited statutory audit be automated with AI?
Largely, yes: automatic document reading, posting suggestions, bank reconciliation via QR references and VAT exports. Human approval remains essential — AI prepares, the professional checks. That is exactly how MyFiducia.ai approaches limited statutory audit.
Does MyFiducia.ai work for a business based in Au (SG)?
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 Au (SG) manages its documents, VAT and exports exactly as anywhere in Switzerland.
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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates limited statutory audit for businesses in Au (SG): 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.