Tax and Legal February 2, 2023 | David Merz Maximising tax benefits: The choice between a company car and a private car In this article, we examine the tax implications of using a car for private and business purposes, covering scenarios of using a company car for private purposes and a private car for business purposes. We discuss calculating private share, social security contributions, and VAT for a company car. We also highlight the importance of recording mileage, possible cost savings, and restrictions when using a private car for business purposes. Read more
August 7, 2022 | Marco Schoch What to do when your tenant doesn’t pay their rent? Rent payments are firmly planned income for landlords. Therefore, as well as being frustrating, missing rent payments can cause significant financial harm. When tenants fail to pay their rent, many property owners suddenly face major challenges, such as paying mortgage interest out of their own pocket. Unfortunately, most landlords are faced with missing rent payments sooner or later. When this happens, it is vital to quickly take the right steps while acting in a legally compliant manner. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to quickly remove tenants who are unwilling to pay their rent. Read more
July 25, 2022 | Marco Schoch Tax optimisation for companies: How can you save taxes as the owner of an AG or GmbH? Legislators assume that taxpaying companies and individuals exhaust all legal means for deductions and optimisations in their tax return, and this practice is perfectly acceptable. Therefore, it is also worthwhile following the guidelines of the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) carefully so as to benefit from all possible tax optimisations. In this article, you will learn more about how you can optimise your taxes as an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur in Switzerland can optimise their taxes at two levels: at the level of the company and at the level of the private individual. Follow these tips to easily optimise your taxes: Read more
July 24, 2022 | David Merz Outsourcing accounting: advantages of outsourcing accounting to an external trustee Proper accounting is essential for a start-up or an SME, companies are therefore faced with the decision to keep their accounting in-house or outsource it. For many startups and small business owners, keeping their accounting in-house is a big cost driver that has nothing to do with their core business and also ties up resources unnecessarily. So what are the exact benefits of outsourcing accounting to an external accounting firm? Read more
July 20, 2022 | David Merz Comparison of legal forms: How to make the right choice for your company Choosing the right legal form for your company is crucial when starting a new business or working as a freelancer. The choice of legal form depends on several factors, such as liability, initial capital needed, decision-making power and taxes to be paid. Choosing the right form is not always easy. We help you by presenting the most important legal forms and comparing their advantages and disadvantages. Read more
July 16, 2022 | Marco Schoch Tax comparison for companies: Which is the most tax-efficient canton in 2022? Companies in Switzerland pay two different corporate taxes: a profit tax and a capital tax, which is a tax on equity. The profit tax is levied at the federal, cantonal, and municipal levels. Due to the federal system, there is tax competition between the cantons and the communes. The assessment is carried out by the canton, which means that certain tax deductions vary from canton to canton. The tax burden varies significantly in Switzerland. In this article, you will find out which location is particularly tax-favourable for your company. Read more
June 16, 2022 | David Merz Daily sickness allowance insurance: What employers should consider? We all get ill sooner or later. This is an unfortunate fact that we prefer to not think too much about, but is important to consider when running a business. Employees can and do get ill, which affects their ability to work. This article discusses what employers can and must do in such a situation. We explore the subject of daily sickness allowance insurance and all its aspects. We look at whether such insurance is mandatory, and what obligations the employer has in terms of covering an employee’s wages in the case that there is no insurance. Read more
June 16, 2022 | David Merz Remote work and home office abroad – What do Swiss employers need to consider? Since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly common for employees to work with limited or no physical attendance time. Employees want freedom of location and more flexibility in their day-to-day work. As such, companies are increasingly enabling their employees to relocate their jobs abroad with remote work arrangements. This can offer many advantages, but it also presents employers with complex organizational and legal challenges. So, what do you have to consider as a Swiss employer to give your employees the opportunity to work remotely abroad? In this article, we answer this important question and more. Read more
June 14, 2022 | Marco Schoch Value-added tax (VAT) in Switzerland – How does it work and when does voluntary registration make sense? Anyone who buys something in Switzerland pays VAT. In most cases, this amounts to 8.1% of the product price. The rate is lower for everyday goods and some services are exempt from VAT. Once a business has registered for VAT, it can claim input tax deductions on the services and products it buys, which means the business is reimbursed for the VAT it incurs. In this article, we explain more about VAT and discuss the cases where voluntary subordination makes sense for businesses. Read more