Social security contributions for retail in Thônex: what every SME should know
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 Thônex.
The Swiss legal frame for social security contributions
In Switzerland, the duty to keep accounts stems from art. 957 ff. of the Code of Obligations. Legal entities (Sàrl, SA) and sole proprietorships with at least CHF 500,000 in revenue keep full accounts: balance sheet, income statement and notes. Below that threshold, a simplified record of income, expenses and assets is sufficient.
Art. 957a CO requires complete, truthful and systematic recording of transactions, each entry backed by a supporting document. For social security contributions, that means in practice: no movement without a receipt, and an audit trail that can be reconstructed at any time — including during a VAT or AHV inspection.
Outsource social security contributions or keep it in-house?
The scope goes down in writing: who enters data, who approves payments, who answers the tax office, who keeps the originals. Every “we'll see” at the start becomes a December misunderstanding — in Thônex as elsewhere.
For social security contributions, the internal-external duo works when both sides see the same file: same entries, same documents, same deadlines. Misunderstandings are born from parallel copies.
A Swiss SME's accounting calendar
January: salary declaration to the compensation office and salary certificates. End of February, May, August, November: quarterly VAT returns (effective method), each to be filed and paid within 60 days after the quarter ends. Within six months of year-end: approved annual accounts. Then: the tax return under cantonal deadlines, with extensions possible.
For social security contributions, two dates lock themselves in every year: the January salary declaration and the general meeting within six months — everything else is planned around them.
Digitalising social security contributions: 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.
For an owner in Thônex, a dashboard only has value if the data is fresh: automating data entry means, first of all, buying up-to-date information about your own business.
Thônex: what changes, what does not
Thônex (postal code 1226, canton Geneva) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Thônex are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.
For a business in Thônex, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Geneva.
Frequently asked questions
Does MyFiducia.ai work for a business based in Thônex?
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 Thônex manages its documents, VAT and exports exactly as anywhere in Switzerland.
How long must records related to social security contributions 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 Thônex can therefore archive fully digitally.
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 Thônex: the CO dictates it, not the commune.
What are the current Swiss VAT rates?
Since 1 January 2024: 8.1% (standard), 2.6% (reduced — for example food and medicines) and 3.8% (accommodation). Returns must be filed and paid within 60 days after the period ends (quarterly under the effective method, semi-annually under the net tax rate method). These federal rates apply unchanged in Thônex.
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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates social security contributions for businesses in Thônex: 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.