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LPP pension reporting for tradespeople in Gams: the practical guide

Delegate, digitalise or do it all yourself? Around LPP pension reporting in Gams, 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.

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 Gams too.

The good news: the Swiss frame is stable and predictable. Structure LPP pension reporting once — chart of accounts, document flow, calendar — and the same organisation pays off for years.

Salaries and social contributions: the rates to know

Hiring the first employee triggers everything at once: affiliation to AHV and LPP funds, accident insurance, family allowances, working-time rules. A complete payroll file from day one avoids catch-ups.

For LPP pension reporting, the monthly payslip is only the visible part: instalments to the funds, annual settlements and certificates form the real cycle, January to January.

Digitalising LPP pension reporting: what actually works

Accounting digitalisation always follows the same path: capture documents at the source (photo or PDF upload), let automatic recognition extract supplier, amount, date and VAT, approve the proposed entries, then archive each document linked to its entry. Every step removes a re-keying — and therefore an error source.

The winning pair for LPP pension reporting: a single inbox (e-mail, scan, photo) and one simple rule — no document sits more than a few days without a proposed entry.

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Outsource LPP pension reporting or keep it in-house?

A fiduciary's cost depends first on the quality of the data received: digitised, filed, reconciled documents are processed fast; a box of loose receipts is billed by the hour. Improving the internal preparation of LPP pension reporting lowers fees more surely than any negotiation.

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

Gams: what changes, what does not

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

For a business in Gams, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton St. Gallen.

Frequently asked questions

Can LPP pension reporting be automated with AI?

Largely, yes: automatic document reading, posting suggestions, bank reconciliation via QR references and VAT exports. Human approval remains essential — AI prepares, the professional checks. That is exactly how MyFiducia.ai approaches LPP pension reporting.

What is the difference between a limited and an ordinary audit?

The ordinary audit applies to companies exceeding, for two consecutive years, two of three thresholds: CHF 20 million balance sheet total, CHF 40 million revenue, 250 full-time positions. Others fall under the limited audit, and those with no more than ten full-time positions on annual average can opt out with all shareholders' consent. These federal thresholds do not depend on the registered seat — in Gams as anywhere.

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 Gams.

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 Gams.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates LPP pension reporting for businesses in Gams: 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.

    LPP pension reporting for tradespeople in Gams — Swiss guide