Annual accounts step by step in Bassins: the practical guide
Annual accounts step by step in Bassins raises the same questions for most Swiss SME owners: which obligations apply, which deadlines are running, which documents to prepare. This page covers the federal rules in force — without unnecessary jargon.
Year-end closing: how the mechanics work
The CO's accounting principles frame the closing: regularity, prudence and consistency of presentation (art. 958c CO), on the going-concern assumption (art. 958a CO). In practice, that means valuation methods kept constant from one year to the next — and documented whenever they change.
For annual accounts, the golden rule is to discover nothing in January: every uncertainty (doubtful receivable, dispute, unsellable stock) must be identified before the closing date, not after.
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.
The chart of accounts is also the hinge to VAT: every revenue account carries its rate (8.1%, 2.6%, 3.8% or exempt), every expense account its input-tax right. Set those attributes once in the tool and every subsequent return becomes reliable.
A Swiss SME's accounting calendar
An accounting calendar only lives if it is shared: owner, in-house bookkeeper and fiduciary must see the same deadlines and the same status — the rule holds for every SME in Bassins.
For annual accounts, year-end is prepared in October: last invoices, investment decisions, provisions to assess — December is too late to act, January is for recording.
The Swiss legal frame for annual accounts
A small business does not mean small obligations: from the first salary or the first VAT return, mistakes get expensive — in Bassins as anywhere.
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.
Bassins: what changes, what does not
Bassins (postal code 1269, canton Vaud) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Bassins are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.
Federal deadlines do not move in Bassins: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 1269 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.
Frequently asked questions
Which social contributions does a Swiss employer pay?
AHV/IV/APG: 5.3% employer share (the same is withheld from the employee); unemployment insurance: 1.1% each up to CHF 148,200 a year; occupational pension (LPP) by age and plan (employer at least 50%); occupational accident insurance paid by the employer; family allowances by canton. For an employer in Bassins, family allowances follow the canton's rates.
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 Bassins as anywhere.
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 Bassins.
How long must records related to annual accounts 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 Bassins can therefore archive fully digitally.
Also worth reading
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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates annual accounts for businesses in Bassins: 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.