Advisor handing a document and pen to a client

LPP pension reporting legal obligations in Grabs explained simply

Whether you run a Sàrl, an SA or a sole proprietorship in Grabs, LPP pension reporting eventually lands on your desk. Here are the practical reference points — legal basis, deadlines and common pitfalls — to decide with a clear head.

The Swiss legal frame for LPP pension reporting

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 LPP pension reporting converges on those three pages, in Grabs too.

Art. 957a CO requires complete, truthful and systematic recording of transactions, each entry backed by a supporting document. For LPP pension reporting, 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.

Outsource LPP pension reporting 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 Grabs can combine the models: internal day-to-day entry, monthly external supervision, closing and taxes with the specialist — LPP pension reporting splits very well.

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 LPP pension reporting, two dates lock themselves in every year: the January salary declaration and the general meeting within six months — everything else is planned around them.

Professional in a suit reviewing documents

Digitalising LPP pension reporting: what actually works

Access for the fiduciary, the auditor and employees is set by roles: view, enter, approve, close. Well-set rights protect the data and speed up collaboration.

For LPP pension reporting, migrating history must not block the start: begin on day one of the current financial year and import the history later if needed.

Grabs: what changes, what does not

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

Federal deadlines do not move in Grabs: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 9470 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a fiduciary for LPP pension reporting, 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 Grabs.

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 Grabs.

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 Grabs as everywhere in Switzerland.

Which social contributions does a Swiss employer pay?

AHV/IV/APG: 5.3% employer share (the same is withheld from the employee); unemployment insurance: 1.1% each up to CHF 148,200 a year; occupational pension (LPP) by age and plan (employer at least 50%); occupational accident insurance paid by the employer; family allowances by canton. For an employer in Grabs, family allowances follow the canton's rates.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates LPP pension reporting for businesses in Grabs: AI-read documents, posting suggestions, VAT and exports ready for your fiduciary. Try the platform or browse our other guides.

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