Everything that matters about tax advisory deadlines in Bettenhausen
Between VAT, social contributions and the year-end close, a Swiss SME juggles dozens of deadlines a year. This page focuses on tax advisory in Bettenhausen: what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.
The Swiss legal frame for tax advisory
Three documents summarise the health of a Swiss business: the balance sheet (what it owns), the income statement (what it earns) and the notes (what else you should know). All the work of tax advisory converges on those three pages, in Bettenhausen too.
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.
Swiss VAT: rates, threshold and filings
Exports, services abroad, acquisition tax: as soon as anything international enters the picture, VAT gets demanding (place of supply, acquisition tax on services). Better to set the rules once with a professional than to correct three financial years.
A business in Bettenhausen that crosses the threshold mid-year must register without delay: retroactive registration with interest always costs more than signing up on time.
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 tax advisory, a closing checklist reused every year transforms the exercise: same steps, same checks, same documents — only the year changes.
Outsource tax advisory or keep it in-house?
Responsibility stays with the client: the fiduciary executes with care, but the signed accounts bind the company. Understanding what you sign is not optional.
A business in Bettenhausen can combine the models: internal day-to-day entry, monthly external supervision, closing and taxes with the specialist — tax advisory splits very well.
Bettenhausen: what changes, what does not
Working with a fiduciary from Bettenhausen no longer depends on geography: the documents of a business in Bettenhausen are shared online, while the canton Bern keeps its own deadlines for the tax return.
For a business in Bettenhausen, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Bern.
Frequently asked questions
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 Bettenhausen.
Do you need a fiduciary for tax advisory, 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 Bettenhausen.
How long must records related to tax advisory 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 Bettenhausen can therefore archive fully digitally.
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 Bettenhausen.
Also worth reading
In neighbouring municipalities
Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates tax advisory for businesses in Bettenhausen: 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.