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Real estate accounting for transport companies in Erlinsbach (AG): what every SME should know

Between VAT, social contributions and the year-end close, a Swiss SME juggles dozens of deadlines a year. This page focuses on real estate accounting in Erlinsbach (AG): what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.

The Swiss legal frame for real estate accounting

For an owner in Erlinsbach (AG), the question is never “do we need accounts?” but “at what level of detail?”. The CO sets the floor; the bank, the tax office and the shareholders set the rest.

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.

A Swiss SME's accounting calendar

Extensions exist and can be requested: cantonal deadlines for the tax return, deferral of the VAT filing on a reasoned request. But an extension does not stop interest: on VAT, default interest runs from the ordinary due date even when more time has been granted.

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

Concretely, real estate accounting benefits from three tiers: balance-sheet accounts (classes 1-2) kept spotless for the closing, income accounts (classes 3-6) shaped for steering, and closing accounts (class 9) reserved for year-end entries. Each tier has its rhythm and its owner.

For real estate accounting, the right granularity is decisive: enough accounts to steer the business (margins by activity, expenses by nature), few enough that every entry finds its place without hesitation. The VAT accounts (input VAT, VAT due) deserve special care — they are the basis of the annual reconciliation.

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Digitalising real estate accounting: what actually works

Digitising does not mean hoarding PDFs: without the document-entry link, a digital file is as opaque as a box of archives — true in Erlinsbach (AG) as everywhere.

For an owner in Erlinsbach (AG), 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.

Erlinsbach (AG): what changes, what does not

Sole proprietorship, Sàrl or SA in Erlinsbach (AG): the AHV contact remains the competent compensation office, and taxes follow the scales of the canton Aargau.

Erlinsbach (AG) requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 5017 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

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 Erlinsbach (AG): the CO dictates it, not the commune.

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 Erlinsbach (AG).

Effective VAT method or net tax rate: how to choose?

The effective method deducts actual input VAT and files quarterly; the net tax rate method applies a flat industry rate to turnover, semi-annually, with no separate input VAT deduction. The flat rate suits low-cost structures; as investments grow, the effective method usually wins again. The choice rests on the company's own figures, in Erlinsbach (AG) as anywhere.

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 Erlinsbach (AG) too.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

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

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    Real estate accounting in Erlinsbach (AG)