Audit and accounts for a Swiss company

Updated 7 October 2026

The type of audit depends on company size, and the smallest companies can opt out. We decide which audit applies, prepare the accounts and file the returns with the canton.

In Switzerland the audit depends on the company's size, and the rules are lighter than they seem: large companies have an ordinary audit, medium and small ones a limited review, and the smallest can opt out of the review entirely if all shareholders agree. Everyone prepares annual accounts, however, and tax returns are filed for both federal and cantonal tax. Below: the thresholds from the Code of Obligations, taxes for 2026 and how we work.

Who the service suits

• Limited liability companies and joint-stock companies in Switzerland: every company prepares annual accounts, even without turnover.
• Holding companies with stakes in other companies: the participation reduction, which almost exempts dividends from tax, and proper documentation of shareholder loans matter most for them.
• Small companies without staff that want to opt out of the review and avoid audit fees.
• Growing companies approaching the ordinary audit thresholds that want to know in advance when it will be required.

Which audit is required

The audit is carried out by an audit firm licensed by the Federal Audit Oversight Authority. Opting out of the limited review suits small holding companies and companies without staff, it requires the consent of all shareholders and continues to apply in later years as long as the company meets the conditions.

Deadlines

• Approval of the accounts. The general meeting approves the annual accounts no later than 6 months after the end of the financial year.
• Tax returns. The company files one return with the canton, which also serves as the basis for federal tax. The canton sets the deadlines and forms, so we plan the work around the company's canton.
• VAT. Registration is mandatory if turnover from taxable and exempt supplies in Switzerland and abroad is at least CHF 100,000 a year, about $130,000. This also applies to foreign companies providing services in Switzerland.

Profit taxes

The federal corporate profit tax is 8.5% of net profit (Article 68 of the Federal Direct Tax Act). Cantonal and communal taxes are added, at rates that vary by canton, so the total burden depends on where the company is registered. We calculate it for your canton before starting, and when choosing a location for a new company we compare cantons.

Documents required

• statements for all company accounts for the financial year;
• sales and purchase invoices, contracts and delivery notes;
• payroll and social insurance calculations if there are employees;
• loan agreements with shareholders and the interest calculation;
• an inventory of stock and fixed assets at year end;
• minutes of the general meeting approving the accounts;
• to opt out of the review, the written consent of all shareholders and confirmation of no more than 10 full-time positions on average.

Accounting records and accounts are kept for 10 years.

Mandatory taxes and payments each year

Dollar amounts use a rate of about 1.2 dollars per franc, rounded up.

Restrictions for certain nationalities

Switzerland has adopted the EU sanctions against Russia. Providing accounting, audit, tax and management consulting services to the Russian government and to entities established in Russia is prohibited. The ban does not cover a Swiss company with Russian shareholders, but the auditor and the bank check its owners and the source of funds especially carefully.

Banks may not accept deposits above CHF 100,000, about $130,000, from Russian nationals or people living in Russia unless they hold citizenship or a residence permit of Switzerland, the EU or the EEA. This matters for a company that needs to keep a balance, for example for capital or a reserve.

How we work

1. Determining the audit type. We look at the balance sheet, revenue and headcount for two years and decide on an ordinary audit, a limited review or opting out.
2. Bookkeeping and accounts under Swiss rules, billed by the hour, with the workload estimated in advance.
3. Arranging the audit with a licensed audit firm or preparing the shareholders' opt-out resolution.
4. Filing returns for profit tax and VAT with the canton and the Federal Tax Administration.
5. Supporting tax audits: we draft replies to requests, gather documents and handle correspondence with you.

Common mistakes

• Opting out without all shareholders' consent. Without a unanimous decision the company must have a limited review.
• A missed VAT threshold. Worldwide turnover counts, not just sales in Switzerland.
• Judging size on one year. An ordinary audit is needed only if the thresholds are exceeded two years running.
• Holding the meeting after 6 months. The accounts are not approved on time, and without them the tax return cannot be filed.

Swiss company accounts and the owner's home-country rules

Many countries have controlled foreign company (CFC) rules: if the owner is tax resident there and holds a large stake, the company's profit may be taxed in the owner's hands and the company must be reported every year, usually together with its annual financial statements. Thresholds, deadlines and penalties differ from country to country.

So the Swiss accounts are prepared with the owner's home-country reporting in mind. We handle CFC notifications and profit calculations as part of our CFC notifications and reporting service.

What we do

We prepare and file the accounts, arrange the audit, handle VAT returns, advise and support tax audits. We bill by the hour from $101 an hour, and estimate the workload before starting so the budget stays predictable. The full price list is in the table below. If you need a new company, see company registration in Switzerland, and for foundations in the country see Swiss private foundation.

Fees

FAQ