Everything that matters about sole proprietorship for transport companies in Céligny
Between VAT, social contributions and the year-end close, a Swiss SME juggles dozens of deadlines a year. This page focuses on sole proprietorship in Céligny: what the law requires, what can be automated, and when to delegate.
Choosing the structure: Sàrl, SA or sole proprietorship
Contributions in kind (vehicle, equipment, client portfolio) are possible when founding a Sàrl or an SA, but they follow strict valuation and disclosure rules. Cash contribution remains the simple route, in Céligny as elsewhere.
First accounting reflex for sole proprietorship: open the document numbering with the very first expense, even before registration. Founding costs are deductible — if documented.
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 Céligny.
The right reflex for sole proprietorship: file every supplier invoice with its VAT on receipt. Forgotten input VAT is money definitively lost once the limitation period runs out.
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 Céligny.
Withholding tax applies to foreign employees without a C permit: the employer deducts tax at the cantonal rate and remits it. The annual salary certificate remains mandatory for all staff — it is the linchpin connecting payroll accounting, tax returns and AHV audits.
Digitalising sole proprietorship: what actually works
Accounting digitalisation always follows the same path: capture documents at the source (photo or PDF upload), let automatic recognition extract supplier, amount, date and VAT, approve the proposed entries, then archive each document linked to its entry. Every step removes a re-keying — and therefore an error source.
For sole proprietorship, migrating history must not block the start: begin on day one of the current financial year and import the history later if needed.
Céligny: what changes, what does not
Sole proprietorship, Sàrl or SA in Céligny: the AHV contact remains the competent compensation office, and taxes follow the scales of the canton Geneva.
Federal deadlines do not move in Céligny: VAT within 60 days, salary declaration in January, 10-year record retention — postal code 1298 changes nothing about those rules, only the sender's address.
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 Céligny, family allowances follow the canton's rates.
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 Céligny.
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 Céligny as everywhere in Switzerland.
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 Céligny: the CO dictates it, not the commune.
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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates sole proprietorship for businesses in Céligny: AI-read documents, posting suggestions, VAT and exports ready for your fiduciary. Try the platform or browse our other guides.
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