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Annual accounts for construction companies in Satigny: the practical guide

Between VAT, social contributions and the year-end close, a Swiss SME juggles dozens of deadlines a year. This page focuses on annual accounts in Satigny: what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.

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.

A company in Satigny that presents clean, punctual annual accounts gains credibility — with its bank, its suppliers and the tax administration.

Outsource annual accounts or keep it in-house?

A good test before choosing: ask the fiduciary HOW it wants to receive the documents. A precise answer (formats, frequency, platform) says more than any brochure — including in Satigny.

A business in Satigny can combine the models: internal day-to-day entry, monthly external supervision, closing and taxes with the specialist — annual accounts splits very well.

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.

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

Advisor handing a document and pen to a client

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 annual accounts, deadline discipline is worth real money: default interest on late VAT, AHV adjustments, tax fines. A shared deadline calendar — fed by up-to-date figures — remains the simplest safeguard.

Satigny: what changes, what does not

Satigny (postal code 1242, canton Geneva) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Satigny are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.

Satigny requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 1242 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

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 Satigny 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 Satigny: the CO dictates it, not the commune.

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 Satigny as anywhere.

Do you need a fiduciary for annual accounts, 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 Satigny.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates annual accounts for businesses in Satigny: 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.

    Annual accounts for construction companies in Satigny