Professional in a suit reviewing documents

Accounting outsourcing alternatives in Wengi: the practical guide

Whether you run a Sàrl, an SA or a sole proprietorship in Wengi, accounting outsourcing 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 accounting outsourcing

For an owner in Wengi, the question is never “do we need accounts?” but “at what level of detail?”. The CO sets the floor; the bank, the tax office and the shareholders set the rest.

Also worth knowing: accounts may be drawn up in the currency most relevant to the business; if that is not the franc, values must additionally be stated in CHF (art. 958d para. 3 CO). Internationally active companies gain books that match their economic reality.

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 Wengi.

The useful reflex: date every obligation the moment it arises. An employee hired means AHV/LPP deadlines created; VAT registration means a filing cycle set; a closing date fixed means backward planning of the close. Well organised, the accounting outsourcing calendar fills itself.

Year-end closing: how the mechanics work

The closing is prepared all year long: a monthly bank reconciliation and accruals tracked as you go turn the year-end into a formality, for businesses in Wengi too.

For accounting outsourcing, the golden rule is to discover nothing in January: every uncertainty (doubtful receivable, dispute, unsellable stock) must be identified before the closing date, not after.

Team analysing financial charts around a table

Digitalising accounting outsourcing: what actually works

Automation is judged on the exceptions: what happens when the document is unreadable, the supplier unknown, the amount divergent? A good tool isolates those cases and lets a human decide fast — precious for teams in Wengi.

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

Wengi: what changes, what does not

Sole proprietorship, Sàrl or SA in Wengi: the AHV contact remains the competent compensation office, and taxes follow the scales of the canton Bern.

Wengi requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 3251 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

What are the legal obligations for accounting outsourcing in Switzerland?

The foundation is the Code of Obligations: proper bookkeeping (art. 957a CO), annual accounts (balance sheet, income statement, notes) and 10-year retention of books and records (art. 958f CO). VAT applies from CHF 100,000 of turnover, and social insurance settlements from the first employee. Nothing is different in Wengi: federal law applies.

How long must records related to accounting outsourcing 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 Wengi can therefore archive fully digitally.

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 Wengi 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 Wengi.

Also worth reading

In neighbouring municipalities

Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates accounting outsourcing for businesses in Wengi: 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.