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QR-bill invoicing for carpenters in Collonge-Bellerive: the practical guide

QR-bill invoicing for carpenters in Collonge-Bellerive raises the same questions for most Swiss SME owners: which obligations apply, which deadlines are running, which documents to prepare. This page covers the federal rules in force — without unnecessary jargon.

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 Collonge-Bellerive as everywhere.

For QR-bill invoicing, migrating history must not block the start: begin on day one of the current financial year and import the history later if needed.

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

Concretely, QR-bill invoicing benefits from three tiers: balance-sheet accounts (classes 1-2) kept spotless for the closing, income accounts (classes 3-6) shaped for steering, and closing accounts (class 9) reserved for year-end entries. Each tier has its rhythm and its owner.

For a business in Collonge-Bellerive, comparability over time beats sophistication: a chart stable for five years beats a “perfect” one rebuilt every year. Banks and the tax administration read year-on-year movements first.

QR-bills and friction-free collections

Supplier invoices benefit from the same standard: the QR code is read on receipt, the payment is staged in e-banking with the desired due date, and the expense entry is proposed with the correct VAT. The purchase-payment-posting chain takes three moves.

Used properly, the QR reference removes most manual debtor ticking. For QR-bill invoicing, that means reminders triggered on reliable data and continuously readable cash flow — no more waiting for month-end to know who has paid.

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The Swiss legal frame for QR-bill invoicing

In Switzerland, the duty to keep accounts stems from art. 957 ff. of the Code of Obligations. Legal entities (Sàrl, SA) and sole proprietorships with at least CHF 500,000 in revenue keep full accounts: balance sheet, income statement and notes. Below that threshold, a simplified record of income, expenses and assets is sufficient.

One simple principle drives QR-bill invoicing: every franc in or out must be explainable by a document, an entry and an account. All of Swiss accounting law fits inside that traceability requirement.

Collonge-Bellerive: what changes, what does not

Collonge-Bellerive (postal code 1222, canton Geneva) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Collonge-Bellerive are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.

For a business in Collonge-Bellerive, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Geneva.

Frequently asked questions

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 Collonge-Bellerive 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 Collonge-Bellerive 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 Collonge-Bellerive.

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 Collonge-Bellerive as anywhere.

Also worth reading

In neighbouring municipalities

Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates QR-bill invoicing for businesses in Collonge-Bellerive: 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.

    QR-bill invoicing for carpenters in Collonge-Bellerive