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Bank reconciliation required documents in Fideris: rules, deadlines, best practice

Bank reconciliation required documents in Fideris rests on three pillars: federal law that applies across Switzerland, cantonal deadlines worth knowing, and tools that eliminate re-keying. This guide puts it all in order, fact by fact.

Digitalising bank reconciliation: what actually works

Digitising does not mean hoarding PDFs: without the document-entry link, a digital file is as opaque as a box of archives — true in Fideris as everywhere.

The winning pair for bank reconciliation: a single inbox (e-mail, scan, photo) and one simple rule — no document sits more than a few days without a proposed entry.

The Swiss legal frame for bank reconciliation

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. Bank reconciliation sits squarely within this frame, including for companies based in Fideris.

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.

A well-structured SME chart of accounts

A good chart of accounts tells the story of the business: classes 1 and 2 describe what it owns and owes, class 3 what it sells, classes 4 to 6 what it consumes. Private accounts (sole proprietorships) and shareholder current accounts (Sàrl/SA) must stay spotless: they are the first thing examined in a tax audit.

For bank reconciliation, a few well-chosen analytical accounts (by activity, by site) beat a forest of sub-accounts nobody ever reads.

Advisor handing a document and pen to a client

Outsource bank reconciliation or keep it in-house?

Responsibility stays with the client: the fiduciary executes with care, but the signed accounts bind the company. Understanding what you sign is not optional.

A business in Fideris can combine the models: internal day-to-day entry, monthly external supervision, closing and taxes with the specialist — bank reconciliation splits very well.

Fideris: what changes, what does not

Fideris (postal code 7235, canton Grisons) applies the same federal rules as the rest of the country: what changes in Fideris are the cantonal counterparts — tax administration, compensation office, commercial register.

Fideris requires no special bookkeeping: the Code of Obligations applies at postal code 7235 as everywhere else, and a well-kept digital file transfers smoothly to any auditor in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

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 Fideris.

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 Fideris too.

Effective VAT method or net tax rate: how to choose?

The effective method deducts actual input VAT and files quarterly; the net tax rate method applies a flat industry rate to turnover, semi-annually, with no separate input VAT deduction. The flat rate suits low-cost structures; as investments grow, the effective method usually wins again. The choice rests on the company's own figures, in Fideris as anywhere.

What are the legal obligations for bank reconciliation 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 Fideris: federal law applies.

Also worth reading

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Switch to accounting that keeps itself up to date

MyFiducia.ai automates bank reconciliation for businesses in Fideris: 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.

    Bank reconciliation required documents in Fideris