Pen pointing at a bar chart on paper

Limited statutory audit for medical practices in Greppen: the practical guide

Between VAT, social contributions and the year-end close, a Swiss SME juggles dozens of deadlines a year. This page focuses on limited statutory audit in Greppen: what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.

Year-end closing: how the mechanics work

The income statement reads as a cascade: gross margin, operating result, financial result, extraordinary result. Each level answers a different question — mixing levels blurs the steering.

A well-ordered closing file speeds everything up: bank statements at the closing date, a signed inventory, final AHV/LPP/accident settlements, new or amended contracts, and support for the accruals. Limited statutory audit in Greppen then finishes in days, not weeks.

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

A good chart of accounts tells the story of the business: classes 1 and 2 describe what it owns and owes, class 3 what it sells, classes 4 to 6 what it consumes. Private accounts (sole proprietorships) and shareholder current accounts (Sàrl/SA) must stay spotless: they are the first thing examined in a tax audit.

For a business in Greppen, comparability over time beats sophistication: a chart stable for five years beats a “perfect” one rebuilt every year. Banks and the tax administration read year-on-year movements first.

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 Greppen) and internal (closing, general meeting within six months). Mixing them up is the leading cause of delays.

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.

Team analysing financial charts around a table

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 Greppen.

Late books show from the outside: poorly calibrated tax instalments, provisional filings, slow answers to the bank. Staying current is also a matter of image.

Greppen: what changes, what does not

Sole proprietorship, Sàrl or SA in Greppen: the AHV contact remains the competent compensation office, and taxes follow the scales of the canton Lucerne.

Greppen requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 6404 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 Greppen too.

What is the difference between a limited and an ordinary audit?

The ordinary audit applies to companies exceeding, for two consecutive years, two of three thresholds: CHF 20 million balance sheet total, CHF 40 million revenue, 250 full-time positions. Others fall under the limited audit, and those with no more than ten full-time positions on annual average can opt out with all shareholders' consent. These federal thresholds do not depend on the registered seat — in Greppen as anywhere.

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 Greppen: federal law applies.

When must a business register for VAT?

As soon as its worldwide annual turnover reaches CHF 100,000 (CHF 250,000 for non-profit sports or cultural associations). Below that, voluntary registration remains possible and often makes sense to reclaim input VAT on investments. The threshold is federal: it applies in Greppen as everywhere in Switzerland.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates limited statutory audit for businesses in Greppen: 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 medical practices in Greppen