Everything that matters about SA incorporation in Switzerland in Epsach
SA incorporation in Switzerland in Epsach 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
Articles and internal organisation are written to last: circle of shareholders, transfer of shares, signature rights. Templates do the job at first, but every missing clause gets renegotiated later from a weaker position.
First accounting reflex for SA incorporation: open the document numbering with the very first expense, even before registration. Founding costs are deductible — if documented.
Digitalising SA incorporation: 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 SA incorporation, migrating history must not block the start: begin on day one of the current financial year and import the history later if needed.
The Swiss legal frame for SA incorporation
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. SA incorporation sits squarely within this frame, including for companies based in Epsach.
Also worth knowing: accounts may be drawn up in the currency most relevant to the business; if that is not the franc, values must additionally be stated in CHF (art. 958d para. 3 CO). Internationally active companies gain books that match their economic reality.
Swiss VAT: rates, threshold and filings
Exports, services abroad, acquisition tax: as soon as anything international enters the picture, VAT gets demanding (place of supply, acquisition tax on services). Better to set the rules once with a professional than to correct three financial years.
Input VAT deduction is the flip side of VAT charged: tax paid on purchases and investments comes back through the return, receipt in hand. Rigorous entry of supplier invoices therefore translates directly into cash.
Epsach: what changes, what does not
Sole proprietorship, Sàrl or SA in Epsach: the AHV contact remains the competent compensation office, and taxes follow the scales of the canton Bern.
Epsach requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 3272 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.
Frequently asked questions
How long must records related to SA incorporation 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 Epsach can therefore archive fully digitally.
What are the legal obligations for SA incorporation in Switzerland?
The foundation is the Code of Obligations: proper bookkeeping (art. 957a CO), annual accounts (balance sheet, income statement, notes) and 10-year retention of books and records (art. 958f CO). VAT applies from CHF 100,000 of turnover, and social insurance settlements from the first employee. Nothing is different in Epsach: federal law applies.
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 Epsach too.
What is the difference between a limited and an ordinary audit?
The ordinary audit applies to companies exceeding, for two consecutive years, two of three thresholds: CHF 20 million balance sheet total, CHF 40 million revenue, 250 full-time positions. Others fall under the limited audit, and those with no more than ten full-time positions on annual average can opt out with all shareholders' consent. These federal thresholds do not depend on the registered seat — in Epsach as anywhere.
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