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Real estate accounting deadlines in Chigny without the stress: how it works

Whether you run a Sàrl, an SA or a sole proprietorship in Chigny, real estate accounting eventually lands on your desk. Here are the practical reference points — legal basis, deadlines and common pitfalls — to decide with a clear head.

The Swiss legal frame for real estate accounting

AHV audits and VAT audits follow the same logic: start from the documents, trace to the entries, check consistency. A business in Chigny with a clean audit trail sails through these exercises.

Art. 957a CO requires complete, truthful and systematic recording of transactions, each entry backed by a supporting document. For real estate accounting, 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.

Digitalising real estate accounting: what actually works

Artificial intelligence has changed the economics of real estate accounting: automatic invoice reading reaches recognition rates that make manual entry marginal, and posting suggestions learn from corrections. The accountant does not disappear — the job shifts from data entry to control and advice.

Electronic archiving is fully recognised: Swiss bookkeeping regulation admits electronic retention of records provided integrity and readability are guaranteed for the 10 years of art. 958f CO. A paper binder is no longer an obligation — provided the archiving system is serious.

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

An SME in Chigny that holds its calendar twelve months straight changes its position: fewer official reminders, easier extensions — and real estate accounting stops being a source of worry.

Smiling team looking at a laptop

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

Account labels deserve as much care as numbers: “Third-party fees” says nothing, “Fiduciary fees” and “IT fees” say everything. Meaningful labels cut posting errors and make dashboards readable without a glossary.

For a business in Chigny, the Sterchi/Käfer structure also eases benchmarking: banks and fiduciaries reason on those standard classes to situate an SME's real estate accounting.

Chigny: what changes, what does not

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

Chigny requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 1134 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

What are the legal obligations for real estate accounting 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 Chigny: federal law applies.

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 Chigny.

How long must records related to real estate accounting 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 Chigny can therefore archive fully digitally.

Do you need a fiduciary for real estate accounting, 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 Chigny.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

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

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