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Fiduciary services for e-commerce in Frenkendorf: rules, deadlines, best practice

Fiduciary services for e-commerce in Frenkendorf rests on three pillars: federal law that applies across Switzerland, cantonal deadlines worth knowing, and tools that eliminate re-keying. This guide puts it all in order, fact by fact.

The Swiss legal frame for fiduciary services

Responsibility for the books is personal: in an SA, organising the accounting is one of the board's non-transferable duties (art. 716a CO); in a Sàrl, the managing directors carry the same duty. Outsourcing the execution never transfers that underlying responsibility, including for a company based in Frenkendorf.

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

The professionals' trick: handle every deadline at D-30, not D-1. A VAT return prepared a month early leaves time to chase a missing document without penalty.

For fiduciary services, two dates lock themselves in every year: the January salary declaration and the general meeting within six months — everything else is planned around them.

Outsource fiduciary services or keep it in-house?

Outsourcing fiduciary services 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.

A business in Frenkendorf can combine the models: internal day-to-day entry, monthly external supervision, closing and taxes with the specialist — fiduciary services splits very well.

Collaborative desk with laptops and documents, top view

Digitalising fiduciary services: 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 Frenkendorf.

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

Frenkendorf: what changes, what does not

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

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

Frequently asked questions

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 Frenkendorf.

Which documents should be prepared for the year-end closing?

Bank and cash statements at the closing date, the inventory of stock and work in progress, final AHV/LPP/accident settlements, contracts signed or amended during the year, invoices straddling two years and the detail of accruals. With an up-to-date document archive, most of it is already there. The list is identical in Frenkendorf: the CO dictates it, not the commune.

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 Frenkendorf as anywhere.

How long must records related to fiduciary services 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 Frenkendorf can therefore archive fully digitally.

Also worth reading

In neighbouring municipalities

Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates fiduciary services for businesses in Frenkendorf: 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.

    Fiduciary services for e-commerce in Frenkendorf