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Annual accounts for engineering firms in Aeschi (SO) explained simply

Delegate, digitalise or do it all yourself? Around annual accounts in Aeschi (SO), 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.

Year-end closing: how the mechanics work

Accrual accounting is the technical heart of the closing: every income and every expense belongs to the year it economically concerns, regardless of the payment date. Rents paid in advance, insurance premiums straddling the date, supplier invoices arriving in January: all flow through accrual accounts.

The notes complete the figures: valuation principles, liabilities towards pension institutions, contingent liabilities, or the number of full-time positions. Careful notes reduce questions from the auditor and the banks.

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 Aeschi (SO).

Three signals say it is time to delegate more: missed deadlines (VAT, AHV), entries running months behind, or an owner spending evenings on receipts instead of the business. Conversely, an SME equipped with modern software can safely take day-to-day entry back in-house.

The Swiss legal frame for annual accounts

Responsibility for the books is personal: in an SA, organising the accounting is one of the board's non-transferable duties (art. 716a CO); in a Sàrl, the managing directors carry the same duty. Outsourcing the execution never transfers that underlying responsibility, including for a company based in Aeschi (SO).

For annual accounts, the classic early mistake remains mixing private and business: a dedicated bank account and documented private withdrawals eliminate half the discussions with the tax office.

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A well-structured SME chart of accounts

Shareholder current accounts demand strict hygiene: every private withdrawal documented, interest at the rates accepted by the tax administration, and a clean-up at closing.

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

Aeschi (SO): what changes, what does not

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

Federal deadlines do not move in Aeschi (SO): VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 4556 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.

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 Aeschi (SO): the CO dictates it, not the commune.

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 Aeschi (SO).

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 Aeschi (SO) can therefore archive fully digitally.

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 Aeschi (SO).

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    Annual accounts for engineering firms in Aeschi (SO)