Our blog

The parliament has increased the cantonal share of the direct federal tax to 21.2% to give the cantons financial leeway. This measure is intended to help prevent corporate relocations.

The USR III newly allows companies to deduct fictitious interest on excess equity for tax purposes, in order to offset losses from tax privileges. There is criticism of the potential "punishment of saving" through the current taxation of excess returns.

Swiss law of obligations primarily protects creditors, with the principle of caution being central. This principle encompasses the principles such as realization and the lower of cost or market principle.

Static balance sheet theory focuses on asset determination to ascertain net assets and profit as an asset increase. Dynamic balance sheet theory aims at a comparable and period-accurate profit determination, where creditor protection is secondary.

The income statement can be presented using the total cost method (production success) or the cost of sales method (sales success). The total cost method recognizes inventory changes as revenues or expenses.

The training to become a Swiss certified public accountant takes four years and requires a specific degree and employment contract at an auditing firm. The part-time training includes modules in Accounting, Finance, Audit, Tax, Legal, and Professional Judgement.

The income statement shows the financial position of a company and can be presented using the cost of sales method, which only considers sold quantities, or the total cost method. In Switzerland, companies can choose between these methods, where the cost of sales method requires detailed product costs and is more elaborate.

Succession planning for SMEs in Switzerland should begin 7-10 years in advance to clarify tax and family law issues. When selling a business, the right valuation and preparation are crucial for success.

New payment slips in Switzerland now uniformly use IBAN and QR codes, simplifying payment transactions and reducing fees. Available from July 2018, they will completely replace the old versions from 2020.