Everything that matters about QR-bill invoicing for law firms in Gy
Swiss accounting law (art. 957 ff. of the Code of Obligations) sets a precise frame, yet day-to-day practice often stays fuzzy. This guide walks through what actually matters for a business based in Gy.
Digitalising QR-bill invoicing: 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 Gy as everywhere.
An SME in Gy that digitalises gains owner time first: less filing, fewer “where is that receipt?” questions, more attention to the trade — that is the real return of QR-bill invoicing.
The Swiss legal frame for QR-bill invoicing
For an owner in Gy, 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.
The good news: the Swiss frame is stable and predictable. Structure QR-bill invoicing once — chart of accounts, document flow, calendar — and the same organisation pays off for years.
A well-structured SME chart of accounts
The same chart serves three readings: accounting (accuracy), tax (accepted adjustments) and management (margins by activity). Modern software produces all three views without double entry.
Standard numbering also enables automation: stable posting rules (same supplier, same account) make data entry predictable and the audit faster. Avoid changing the chart of accounts mid-year — migrate at the closing date, with a documented mapping table.
QR-bills and friction-free collections
Since 30 September 2022, the QR-bill has fully replaced the old Swiss payment slips. The Swiss QR Code carries the IBAN (or QR-IBAN), the amount, the debtor and a structured reference: enough to match every incoming payment to its invoice automatically.
For QR-bill invoicing, invoicing fast changes everything: a service billed the week it is delivered gets paid noticeably earlier than a month-end batch invoice.
Gy: what changes, what does not
Gy (postal code 1251, canton Geneva) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Gy are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.
For a business in Gy, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Geneva.
Frequently asked questions
Effective VAT method or net tax rate: how to choose?
The effective method deducts actual input VAT and files quarterly; the net tax rate method applies a flat industry rate to turnover, semi-annually, with no separate input VAT deduction. The flat rate suits low-cost structures; as investments grow, the effective method usually wins again. The choice rests on the company's own figures, in Gy as anywhere.
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 Gy, family allowances follow the canton's rates.
How long must records related to QR-bill invoicing 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 Gy can therefore archive fully digitally.
What are the legal obligations for QR-bill invoicing 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 Gy: federal law applies.
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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates QR-bill invoicing for businesses in Gy: 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.