Invoice scanning step by step in Lengnau (BE) 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 Lengnau (BE).
Digitalising invoice scanning: what actually works
Security is part of digitalisation: named access, tested backups, encryption of sensitive data. A digital accounting file is protected like a safe — because it is one.
For invoice scanning, migrating history must not block the start: begin on day one of the current financial year and import the history later if needed.
Outsource invoice scanning or keep it in-house?
The scope goes down in writing: who enters data, who approves payments, who answers the tax office, who keeps the originals. Every “we'll see” at the start becomes a December misunderstanding — in Lengnau (BE) as elsewhere.
A business in Lengnau (BE) can combine the models: internal day-to-day entry, monthly external supervision, closing and taxes with the specialist — invoice scanning splits very well.
QR-bills and friction-free collections
The QR-bill is generated from the accounts, not the other way round: the document is born with its reference, amount and due date already linked to the receivable entry — a clear win for SMEs in Lengnau (BE).
A business in Lengnau (BE) can collect by QR-bill even without sophisticated software: what matters is that every incoming payment finds its invoice, manually or automatically.
The Swiss legal frame for invoice scanning
Responsibility for the books is personal: in an SA, organising the accounting is one of the board's non-transferable duties (art. 716a CO); in a Sàrl, the managing directors carry the same duty. Outsourcing the execution never transfers that underlying responsibility, including for a company based in Lengnau (BE).
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.
Lengnau (BE): what changes, what does not
Sole proprietorship, Sàrl or SA in Lengnau (BE): the AHV contact remains the competent compensation office, and taxes follow the scales of the canton Bern.
For a business in Lengnau (BE), that means VAT returns identical to anywhere in Switzerland, but a tax return and family allowances governed by the canton Bern.
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 Lengnau (BE), family allowances follow the canton's rates.
Can invoice scanning be automated with AI?
Largely, yes: automatic document reading, posting suggestions, bank reconciliation via QR references and VAT exports. Human approval remains essential — AI prepares, the professional checks. That is exactly how MyFiducia.ai approaches invoice scanning.
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 Lengnau (BE).
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 Lengnau (BE).
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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date
MyFiducia.ai automates invoice scanning for businesses in Lengnau (BE): 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.