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Accounting software for e-commerce in Arlesheim: 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 software in Arlesheim: what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.

Digitalising accounting software: what actually works

Access for the fiduciary, the auditor and employees is set by roles: view, enter, approve, close. Well-set rights protect the data and speed up collaboration.

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

QR-bills and friction-free collections

Instalments and partial payments are handled cleanly with distinct references per tranche: each collection finds its share, and the remaining balance stays correct at all times.

For accounting software, the share of collections matched automatically is a metric worth watching: when it drops, it is almost always a matter of misused references.

The Swiss legal frame for accounting software

AHV audits and VAT audits follow the same logic: start from the documents, trace to the entries, check consistency. A business in Arlesheim with a clean audit trail sails through these exercises.

The good news: the Swiss frame is stable and predictable. Structure accounting software once — chart of accounts, document flow, calendar — and the same organisation pays off for years.

Meeting in a bright conference room

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

Concretely, accounting software 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 Arlesheim, the Sterchi/Käfer structure also eases benchmarking: banks and fiduciaries reason on those standard classes to situate an SME's accounting software.

Arlesheim: what changes, what does not

Sole proprietorship, Sàrl or SA in Arlesheim: the AHV contact remains the competent compensation office, and taxes follow the scales of the canton Basel-Country.

Arlesheim requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 4144 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

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 Arlesheim, family allowances follow the canton's rates.

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 Arlesheim as everywhere in Switzerland.

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 Arlesheim too.

How long must records related to accounting software 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 Arlesheim can therefore archive fully digitally.

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates accounting software for businesses in Arlesheim: 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.