Blog: Accounting, Tax & Business Tips

November 12, 2025 | David Merz

Accounting for NGOs in Switzerland: Special Requirements and Standards

Non-profit organizations across Switzerland contribute tremendously through social services, humanitarian aid, and advocacy work. However, given their reliance on public donations, tax exemptions, and donor trust, these organizations face intense scrutiny and complex legal, tax, and financial obligations that often exceed those of for-profit companies. This comprehensive guide explores the key aspects of Swiss NGO accounting, including legal audit thresholds, SWISS GAAP FER 21 reporting standards, fund accounting principles, and effective grant management practices to ensure compliance and maintain transparency.

September 29, 2025 | Nexova AG

The Fiduciary Profession: Transformation in the Digital Era

The fiduciary – a profession that has been one of Switzerland’s most recognised qualifications for over 30 years! A quick glance at their core responsibilities explains why. Today’s fiduciary is far more than just a numbers expert. Instead, they combine competencies from a variety of fields such as financial accounting, tax consulting, and business advisory. For companies, they act as a trusted support in complex matters. Like many other industries, digital transformation has had a major impact on the fiduciary profession. Routine tasks can now be digitised with ease, allowing fiduciaries to focus on in-depth, future-oriented consulting. So what will the fiduciary’s career path look like in the future? And is this the right profession for you?

September 22, 2025 | David Merz

Optimizing Pension Fund Contributions with Voluntary Buy-Ins: A Guide for Swiss Employees

Voluntary buy-ins (also known as “purchases”) are one of the most effective tools to optimize your occupational pension contributions, reducing your tax burden today while strengthening your retirement benefits for the future. If you have a contribution gap in your 2nd pillar, it’s worth taking advantage of this opportunity for significant savings. This article explains how buy-ins work, when they’re allowed, and how to make the most of them — including timing strategies, tax planning tips, and combining them with Pillar 3a. Whether you’re mid-career or nearing retirement, understanding how and when to make a voluntary purchase can make a substantial difference to your long-term financial outcome.

September 16, 2025 | David Merz

Conversion of a sole proprietorship into a GmbH or AG

Many entrepreneurs begin their journey with a sole proprietorship. It's simple to set up, requires no minimum capital, and offers full control. But as the business grows, so do the legal, financial, and reputational demands. At some point, converting your company into another legal form – such as a GmbH or an AG – becomes a logical next step and offers numerous advantages. This article explains when and why converting your sole proprietorship makes sense, the legal mechanisms available for doing so, and how to complete the process correctly while avoiding unexpected tax consequences.

September 10, 2025 | Nexova AG

Value Added Tax Exempt and Zero-Rated Services: Important Information

As a rule, all entrepreneurs in Switzerland are subject to value added tax (VAT) if they meet the legal requirements. This means: Depending on the tax rate (8.1%, 3.8% or 2.6%), they add VAT to the invoice amount. However, this obligation does not apply to all deliveries or services! For you as an entrepreneur, it is essential to know what is included and what is not. In this article, we give you an insight into this topic. Among other things, we explain what VAT actually is, who is subject to it and what billing models exist.

September 3, 2025 | David Merz

Understanding Swiss Withholding Tax: What Is It, Who Pays It, and How do You Reclaim It?

Withholding tax (Verrechnungssteuer) is a distinctive feature of Switzerland’s fiscal system. It is a federal tax that is primarily designed to reduce tax evasion on capital income. Set at a standard flat rate of 35% (with some exceptions), it applies to dividends, interest, lottery winnings, and certain insurance benefits. It is withheld directly at the source and is usually refunded to the taxpayer if they correctly declare their investment income. In this article, we’ll break down how Swiss withholding tax works, which income it affects, how you can reclaim it, and what you should watch out for—whether you're a Swiss resident, an international investor, or a company operating in Switzerland.

August 27, 2025 | David Merz

Best Payroll Software for Swiss SMEs and Startups in 2025

Payroll is one of the most sensitive and complex areas of business administration in Switzerland. With numerous mandatory contributions (AHV, ALV, BVG, etc.), complex withholding tax rules, monthly declarations, and the need for year-end salary certificates, there's a lot to handle—especially for startups and SMEs with limited internal resources. Digital tools have emerged to simplify these tasks, reduce the risk of error, and help businesses stay compliant. But choosing the right software involves much more than simple feature comparisons. Implementation, configuration, and ongoing use all require the right expertise. In this article, we look at the evolution and advantages of digital payroll systems, the most important features these tools offer, common pitfalls and risks when using payroll software, a comparison of leading tools used by Swiss startups and SMEs, and why having the right fiduciary partner matters just as much as the software itself.

August 19, 2025 | David Merz

Best Occupational Pension Funds in Switzerland in 2025: A Practical Comparison for SMEs and Startups

Choosing the right occupational pension fund is an important strategic decision for companies. Swiss SMEs and startups that make smart choices in occupational pensions can reduce costs, enhance employee benefits, and boost long-term satisfaction. But with over 1,300 pension funds in Switzerland, how can you tell which ones stand out? This article compares six major collective pension foundations based on publicly available figures and rankings. Our goal is to provide a simplified but informative snapshot of the most relevant metrics for 2025, while keeping in mind that a deeper comparison is complex and depends heavily on individual company needs.

July 22, 2025 | David Merz

Managing Swiss Payroll in Global Companies: What You Need to Know

Switzerland continues to attract international businesses with its strategic location, political stability, and strong economy. Yet for multinational companies operating in or expanding to Switzerland, one complex issue that regularly proves difficult to handle is payroll accounting. Managing Swiss payroll requires precision, local expertise, and deep understanding of a multi-layered tax and social security system. This article explores why payroll is such a critical topic for international companies with Swiss employees, outlines the various challenges faced, and provides practical solutions to overcome them.

Independence Statement: Nexova AG is an independent private fiduciary firm. We are not a government agency or authority, and we are not affiliated with any government department or official register. All official acts, registrations, and approvals are carried out solely by the competent Swiss authorities and notaries.

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