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In Switzerland, a ten-year retention period for accounting records such as business books and audit reports is legally required, with business books also allowed to be stored digitally. However, digital archiving requires demonstrable immutability of the data to meet legal requirements.

Fixed assets are activated upon purchase and depreciated over their useful life either on a straight-line or declining balance basis. Straight-line depreciation distributes the costs evenly, while declining balance depreciation decreases annually.

Employee gifts under CHF 500 per year are neither subject to VAT nor declarable in the salary certificate. Over CHF 500, they must be declared in the salary certificate and as VAT.

The Federal Council has opened the consultation on individual taxation, which taxes each person individually, regardless of marital status. This measure serves as a counter-proposal to the tax fairness initiative and is intended to improve tax fairness.

The provisional tax bill is a preliminary estimate of the tax liability and is intended to contribute to financial planning. Its issuance and deadlines vary by canton, generally it is due in the first quarter and to be paid by autumn.

The deadline for filing the tax return varies depending on the canton; usually, it is on 03/31 or 04/30 for natural persons. Extensions are usually possible online until November/December.

Shares are portions of a stock corporation and turn buyers into co-owners; they serve companies in raising capital and offer shareholders profit shares. Purchased as investment objects, they carry risks, as stock prices can fluctuate greatly.

The expense regulations create clear guidelines for handling expense expenditures and reduce accounting effort. It must be approved by the cantonal tax office to exclude hidden wage payments.

Bonds are fixed-income securities that serve as a debt investment. They offer fixed interest rates and terms, but vary in price due to market changes.