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Limited statutory audit for bars and cafés in Pfungen: rules, deadlines, best practice

Delegate, digitalise or do it all yourself? Around limited statutory audit in Pfungen, every SME draws its own line. The reference points below — federal law, cantonal practice and lessons from the field — help you place the cursor well.

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.

The timetable is tight: accounts drawn up and approved by the general meeting within six months of the year-end. For limited statutory audit, chasing missing documents from January (bank statements, contracts, insurance settlements) avoids the last-minute sprint and auditor reservations.

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 Pfungen.

The good news: the Swiss frame is stable and predictable. Structure limited statutory audit once — chart of accounts, document flow, calendar — and the same organisation pays off for years.

A Swiss SME's accounting calendar

An accounting calendar only lives if it is shared: owner, in-house bookkeeper and fiduciary must see the same deadlines and the same status — the rule holds for every SME in Pfungen.

For limited statutory audit, year-end is prepared in October: last invoices, investment decisions, provisions to assess — December is too late to act, January is for recording.

Advisor handing a document and pen to a client

Outsource limited statutory audit or keep it in-house?

Responsibility stays with the client: the fiduciary executes with care, but the signed accounts bind the company. Understanding what you sign is not optional.

For limited statutory audit, the internal-external duo works when both sides see the same file: same entries, same documents, same deadlines. Misunderstandings are born from parallel copies.

Pfungen: what changes, what does not

Working with a fiduciary from Pfungen no longer depends on geography: the documents of a business in Pfungen are shared online, while the canton Zurich keeps its own deadlines for the tax return.

For a business in Pfungen, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Zurich.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a fiduciary for limited statutory audit, 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 Pfungen.

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 Pfungen?

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 Pfungen manages its documents, VAT and exports exactly as anywhere in Switzerland.

What is simplified bookkeeping and who can use it?

Sole proprietorships and partnerships under CHF 500,000 of revenue may limit themselves to recording income, expenses and assets (art. 957 para. 2 CO). Once over the threshold — or upon founding a Sàrl or an SA — full accounts with balance sheet, income statement and notes become mandatory. The CHF 500,000 threshold is assessed the same way in Pfungen.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates limited statutory audit for businesses in Pfungen: 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.

    Limited statutory audit for bars and cafés in Pfungen