Pen pointing at a bar chart on paper

Accounting outsourcing for SMEs in Salmsach: rules, deadlines, best practice

Between VAT, social contributions and the year-end close, a Swiss SME juggles dozens of deadlines a year. This page focuses on accounting outsourcing in Salmsach: what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.

The Swiss legal frame for accounting outsourcing

Swiss accounting law has been unified in the Code of Obligations since 2013: the same bookkeeping rules (art. 957a CO) and retention rules (art. 958f CO — 10 years for books, vouchers and reports) apply regardless of legal form. Accounting outsourcing sits squarely within this frame, including for companies based in Salmsach.

For accounting outsourcing, 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.

Year-end closing: how the mechanics work

Companies exceeding two of three thresholds for two consecutive years — CHF 20 million balance sheet total, CHF 40 million revenue, 250 full-time positions — move to an ordinary audit. Below that, the limited audit applies, and companies with no more than ten full-time positions on annual average can opt out with the consent of all shareholders.

For accounting outsourcing, a closing checklist reused every year transforms the exercise: same steps, same checks, same documents — only the year changes.

Digitalising accounting outsourcing: what actually works

Digitising does not mean hoarding PDFs: without the document-entry link, a digital file is as opaque as a box of archives — true in Salmsach as everywhere.

Migrate in stages: supplier invoices first (high volume, immediate gain), then receivables with the QR-bill, finally payroll and the closing. At each stage, comparing one month before/after is enough to prove the gain — no theoretical promises needed.

Meeting in a bright conference room

A Swiss SME's accounting calendar

Three families of deadlines shape the year: federal (VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January), cantonal (tax return, extensions depending on the canton, including in Salmsach) and internal (closing, general meeting within six months). Mixing them up is the leading cause of delays.

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.

Salmsach: what changes, what does not

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

Federal deadlines do not move in Salmsach: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 8599 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.

Frequently asked questions

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 Salmsach as everywhere in Switzerland.

Do you need a fiduciary for accounting outsourcing, 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 Salmsach.

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 Salmsach can therefore archive fully digitally.

How much does accounting outsourcing cost in Salmsach?

It depends on document volume, the number of salaries and VAT complexity — no serious figure can be quoted without examining the file. Two levers cut the bill everywhere: digitised, well-filed receipts and software that prepares entries instead of having them re-keyed.

Also worth reading

In neighbouring municipalities

Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

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