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SME tax return for bars and cafés in Dully: 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 SME tax return in Dully: what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.

The Swiss legal frame for SME tax return

Swiss accounting law has been unified in the Code of Obligations since 2013: the same bookkeeping rules (art. 957a CO) and retention rules (art. 958f CO — 10 years for books, vouchers and reports) apply regardless of legal form. SME tax return sits squarely within this frame, including for companies based in Dully.

Art. 957a CO requires complete, truthful and systematic recording of transactions, each entry backed by a supporting document. For SME tax return, 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

Tax instalments are steered: too low, they set up a salty final bill; too high, they tie up cash. Adjusting them on current figures is a profitable reflex, in Dully as anywhere.

For SME tax return, two dates lock themselves in every year: the January salary declaration and the general meeting within six months — everything else is planned around them.

Swiss VAT: rates, threshold and filings

The most frequent VAT mistakes are well known: the wrong rate among 8.1%, 2.6% and 3.8%, forgotten self-supplies, and a rushed annual reconciliation. Corrections are due at the latest in the return for the period containing the 180th day after the year-end — the earlier you correct, the less default interest runs.

For an SME in Dully, electronic filing of VAT returns has been mandatory since 1 January 2025; the tax administration's online portal is also where extensions are requested and past periods consulted. Combined with accounts that prepare the return automatically, SME tax return stops being a quarterly chore.

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Outsource SME tax return or keep it in-house?

The scope goes down in writing: who enters data, who approves payments, who answers the tax office, who keeps the originals. Every “we'll see” at the start becomes a December misunderstanding — in Dully as elsewhere.

A business in Dully can combine the models: internal day-to-day entry, monthly external supervision, closing and taxes with the specialist — SME tax return splits very well.

Dully: what changes, what does not

Working with a fiduciary from Dully no longer depends on geography: the documents of a business in Dully are shared online, while the canton Vaud keeps its own deadlines for the tax return.

Dully requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 1195 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

Does MyFiducia.ai work for a business based in Dully?

Yes: the platform runs online, the rules applied are federal (VAT, CO, AHV), and the file can be shared with any fiduciary. A business in Dully manages its documents, VAT and exports exactly as anywhere in Switzerland.

Do you need a fiduciary for SME tax return, 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 Dully.

How long must records related to SME tax return 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 Dully can therefore archive fully digitally.

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 Dully as anywhere.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates SME tax return for businesses in Dully: 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.