Sole proprietorship legal obligations in Movelier explained simply
Swiss accounting law (art. 957 ff. of the Code of Obligations) sets a precise frame, yet day-to-day practice often stays fuzzy. This guide walks through what actually matters for a business based in Movelier.
Choosing the structure: Sàrl, SA or sole proprietorship
Chronologically, incorporation follows a precise thread: choose the form and the company name, pay the capital into an escrow account (Sàrl/SA), notarised deed, entry in the commercial register, then AHV affiliation and the VAT check. The Confederation's online desk (EasyGov) walks founders through these steps.
Incorporating in Movelier opens the same toolbox: banks, funds, fiduciaries and online tools work everywhere — the choice of seat is strategic, not technical, for sole proprietorship.
The Swiss legal frame for sole proprietorship
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. Sole proprietorship sits squarely within this frame, including for companies based in Movelier.
Late books show from the outside: poorly calibrated tax instalments, provisional filings, slow answers to the bank. Staying current is also a matter of image.
Swiss VAT: rates, threshold and filings
Since 1 January 2024, Swiss VAT rates are 8.1% (standard), 2.6% (reduced — food, books, medicines) and 3.8% (accommodation). Registration becomes mandatory from CHF 100,000 of worldwide annual turnover. For sole proprietorship, step one is therefore checking the threshold and choosing the right reporting method.
Returns are filed quarterly (effective method) or twice a year (net tax rate method). Either way the rule is identical: file and pay within 60 days after the end of the period. An annual reconciliation with the accounts is required — this is where sloppy data entry gets expensive.
Salaries and social contributions: the rates to know
A Swiss salary reads in three columns: gross, employee social deductions, employer contributions. Confusing them distorts cost prices — and quotes from businesses in Movelier.
For sole proprietorship, the gap between agreed gross and paid net surprises every new employer: simulate it BEFORE hiring to avoid misunderstandings with the future employee.
Movelier: what changes, what does not
Working with a fiduciary from Movelier no longer depends on geography: the documents of a business in Movelier are shared online, while the canton Jura keeps its own deadlines for the tax return.
Movelier requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 2812 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.
Frequently asked questions
Does MyFiducia.ai work for a business based in Movelier?
Yes: the platform runs online, the rules applied are federal (VAT, CO, AHV), and the file can be shared with any fiduciary. A business in Movelier manages its documents, VAT and exports exactly as anywhere 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 Movelier.
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 Movelier, family allowances follow the canton's rates.
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 Movelier.
Also worth reading
In neighbouring municipalities
Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates sole proprietorship for businesses in Movelier: 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.