Sole proprietorship comparison in Amriswil: what every SME should know
Sole proprietorship comparison in Amriswil 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.
Choosing the structure: Sàrl, SA or sole proprietorship
A Sàrl requires CHF 20,000 of fully paid-in capital; an SA CHF 100,000 of which at least CHF 50,000 paid in. Both require a notarised deed and entry in the commercial register. A sole proprietorship arises from mere activity — registration only becomes mandatory from CHF 100,000 of annual revenue.
From day one, three administrative tracks open: affiliation to an AHV compensation office, review of VAT liability (CHF 100,000 threshold) and setting up the accounts. Handling sole proprietorship from the first month costs far less than reconstructing a whole year in December.
The Swiss legal frame for sole proprietorship
Three documents summarise the health of a Swiss business: the balance sheet (what it owns), the income statement (what it earns) and the notes (what else you should know). All the work of sole proprietorship converges on those three pages, in Amriswil too.
The annual accounts (art. 958 CO) consist of the balance sheet, the income statement and the notes; they must be drawn up within six months of the year-end so the general meeting can approve them. A delay here cascades into the tax return and the final social insurance settlements.
Swiss VAT: rates, threshold and filings
Charging VAT is not a matter of style: the number, the correct rate, the tax amount — the tax administration checks the form as closely as the substance, including at SMEs in Amriswil.
For businesses in Amriswil, VAT is in practice the most audited tax: punctual returns consistent with the books markedly reduce the odds of a deep audit of sole proprietorship.
Salaries and social contributions: the rates to know
Family allowances are financed by the employer through a cantonal compensation fund — rates and amounts vary from canton to canton, including in Amriswil. They come on top of the federal social insurances and appear on every payslip.
For sole proprietorship, the monthly payslip is only the visible part: instalments to the funds, annual settlements and certificates form the real cycle, January to January.
Amriswil: what changes, what does not
Working with a fiduciary from Amriswil no longer depends on geography: the documents of a business in Amriswil are shared online, while the canton Thurgau keeps its own deadlines for the tax return.
For a business in Amriswil, that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Thurgau.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a fiduciary for sole proprietorship, 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 Amriswil.
How long must records related to sole proprietorship 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 Amriswil can therefore archive fully digitally.
What is simplified bookkeeping and who can use it?
Sole proprietorships and partnerships under CHF 500,000 of revenue may limit themselves to recording income, expenses and assets (art. 957 para. 2 CO). Once over the threshold — or upon founding a Sàrl or an SA — full accounts with balance sheet, income statement and notes become mandatory. The CHF 500,000 threshold is assessed the same way in Amriswil.
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 Amriswil.
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