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Accounts receivable for daycare centres in Sevelen: the practical guide

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

The Swiss legal frame for accounts receivable

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. Accounts receivable sits squarely within this frame, including for companies based in Sevelen.

Art. 957a CO requires complete, truthful and systematic recording of transactions, each entry backed by a supporting document. For accounts receivable, that means in practice: no movement without a receipt, and an audit trail that can be reconstructed at any time — including during a VAT or AHV inspection.

Outsource accounts receivable or keep it in-house?

Responsibility stays with the client: the fiduciary executes with care, but the signed accounts bind the company. Understanding what you sign is not optional.

In Sevelen, as everywhere, the right collaboration rhythm follows the activity: monthly for payroll and data entry, quarterly for VAT, yearly for the closing and tax advice.

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

The test of a good chart of accounts is a single question: can the owner find the margins in three clicks? If not, the chart serves the tax office but not the business — even in Sevelen.

For accounts receivable, a few well-chosen analytical accounts (by activity, by site) beat a forest of sub-accounts nobody ever reads.

Professional in a suit reviewing documents

Digitalising accounts receivable: what actually works

The classic digitalisation traps are avoidable: scanning without quality control (unreadable records), stacking disconnected tools (double entry in disguise), or neglecting access rights. One single flow from document to entry, with clear roles, beats five shiny apps.

For an owner in Sevelen, a dashboard only has value if the data is fresh: automating data entry means, first of all, buying up-to-date information about your own business.

Sevelen: what changes, what does not

Sevelen (postal code 9475, canton St. Gallen) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Sevelen are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.

Federal deadlines do not move in Sevelen: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 9475 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.

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 Sevelen as anywhere.

Do you need a fiduciary for accounts receivable, 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 Sevelen.

When is entry in the commercial register mandatory?

A Sàrl and an SA only come into existence with their registration. A sole proprietorship must register from CHF 100,000 of annual revenue; below that, registration stays voluntary but adds credibility and protects the business name. Registration goes through the canton's commercial register office — for Sevelen too.

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 Sevelen as everywhere in Switzerland.

Also worth reading

In neighbouring municipalities

Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates accounts receivable for businesses in Sevelen: 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.

    Accounts receivable for daycare centres in Sevelen