AHV settlement for the self-employed in Cartigny: the practical guide
AHV settlement for the self-employed in Cartigny 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.
The Swiss legal frame for AHV settlement
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 Cartigny.
The good news: the Swiss frame is stable and predictable. Structure AHV settlement once — chart of accounts, document flow, calendar — and the same organisation pays off for years.
Outsource AHV settlement 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 Cartigny as elsewhere.
A business in Cartigny can combine the models: internal day-to-day entry, monthly external supervision, closing and taxes with the specialist — AHV settlement splits very well.
Salaries and social contributions: the rates to know
Family allowances are financed by the employer through a cantonal compensation fund — rates and amounts vary from canton to canton, including in Cartigny. They come on top of the federal social insurances and appear on every payslip.
A thirteenth salary, where agreed, is accrued month by month — forget it and December reveals a charge of one-twelfth of the payroll, in Cartigny as everywhere.
A Swiss SME's accounting calendar
The typical annual cycle: monthly or quarterly AHV instalments, VAT returns (quarterly under the effective method, semi-annual under the net tax rate), the final salary declaration in January, closing in the first half-year, then the tax return and the annual VAT reconciliation. Each link depends on the quality of the previous one.
Handing deadline monitoring to a tool is no luxury: automatic reminders, a status per obligation, and an “all green” view that clears the mind. What matters is not who ticks the box — but that the box exists and everyone can see it.
Cartigny: what changes, what does not
Cartigny (postal code 1236, canton Geneva) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Cartigny are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.
For a business in Cartigny, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Geneva.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a fiduciary for AHV settlement, 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 Cartigny.
When must a business register for VAT?
As soon as its worldwide annual turnover reaches CHF 100,000 (CHF 250,000 for non-profit sports or cultural associations). Below that, voluntary registration remains possible and often makes sense to reclaim input VAT on investments. The threshold is federal: it applies in Cartigny as everywhere in Switzerland.
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 Cartigny.
Does MyFiducia.ai work for a business based in Cartigny?
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 Cartigny manages its documents, VAT and exports exactly as anywhere in Switzerland.
Also worth reading
In neighbouring municipalities
Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates AHV settlement for businesses in Cartigny: 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.