Handshake during a business meeting, top view

VAT return for architecture firms in Trub: rules, deadlines, best practice

Delegate, digitalise or do it all yourself? Around VAT return in Trub, 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 VAT return

AHV audits and VAT audits follow the same logic: start from the documents, trace to the entries, check consistency. A business in Trub with a clean audit trail sails through these exercises.

For VAT return, the classic early mistake remains mixing private and business: a dedicated bank account and documented private withdrawals eliminate half the discussions with the tax office.

A Swiss SME's accounting calendar

An accounting calendar only lives if it is shared: owner, in-house bookkeeper and fiduciary must see the same deadlines and the same status — the rule holds for every SME in Trub.

An SME in Trub that holds its calendar twelve months straight changes its position: fewer official reminders, easier extensions — and VAT return stops being a source of worry.

Digitalising VAT return: 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 VAT return: a single inbox (e-mail, scan, photo) and one simple rule — no document sits more than a few days without a proposed entry.

Advisor handing a document and pen to a client

Outsource VAT return or keep it in-house?

Outsourcing VAT return to a fiduciary frees up time and secures compliance; keeping it in-house preserves a continuous view and costs less in fees. The best answer is often hybrid: the company captures and digitises as it goes, the fiduciary supervises, closes the books and represents the company before the authorities.

For VAT return, the internal-external duo works when both sides see the same file: same entries, same documents, same deadlines. Misunderstandings are born from parallel copies.

Trub: what changes, what does not

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

Trub requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 3556 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

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 Trub, family allowances follow the canton's rates.

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 Trub as anywhere.

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 Trub.

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

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 Trub manages its documents, VAT and exports exactly as anywhere in Switzerland.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates VAT return for businesses in Trub: 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.

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