Handshake during a business meeting, top view

Real estate accounting for masonry contractors in Realp: the practical guide

Delegate, digitalise or do it all yourself? Around real estate accounting in Realp, 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.

The Swiss legal frame for real estate accounting

Whether a business sits in Realp or elsewhere in Switzerland, the same federal law applies — one of the strengths of the Swiss system for real estate accounting. Cantonal differences concentrate on taxation (rates, filing deadlines); bookkeeping itself follows art. 957 ff. CO everywhere.

Also worth knowing: accounts may be drawn up in the currency most relevant to the business; if that is not the franc, values must additionally be stated in CHF (art. 958d para. 3 CO). Internationally active companies gain books that match their economic reality.

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 real estate accounting, year-end is prepared in October: last invoices, investment decisions, provisions to assess — December is too late to act, January is for recording.

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

A chart of accounts gets documented: one description line per account (what, when, VAT) is enough for two people to post the same way. It is the quality manual of real estate accounting, valid in Realp as anywhere.

In an SME in Realp, the chart of accounts is also a delegation tool: clear posting rules let a non-accountant prepare most entries without error.

Meeting in a bright conference room

Digitalising real estate accounting: what actually works

A serious accounting document archive links every record to its entry, timestamps versions and logs access — exactly what Swiss bookkeeping regulation expects from probative electronic retention. Chronological filing by financial year becomes an automatic by-product.

The winning pair for real estate accounting: a single inbox (e-mail, scan, photo) and one simple rule — no document sits more than a few days without a proposed entry.

Realp: what changes, what does not

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

Federal deadlines do not move in Realp: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 6491 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.

Frequently asked questions

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 Realp can therefore archive fully digitally.

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 Realp as everywhere 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 Realp.

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 Realp too.

Also worth reading

In neighbouring municipalities

Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates real estate accounting for businesses in Realp: 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.

    Real estate accounting for masonry contractors in Realp