Tax and VAT in Geneva

Delegate the formalities. Keep a clear view.

Sarah and the Karpeo team support SMEs and self-employed professionals with VAT and tax. Your formalities are handled, deadlines monitored and questions explained simply.

VAT registration and returns
Tax support for your business
Advice from Swiss certified accountants

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No-obligation introductory discussion · Services quoted individually

Sarah Prieur, Swiss certified accountant at Karpeo in Geneva — **Sarah Prieur**Swiss certified accountant
Accounting, tax and VAT
Explore my background ↗

A team in Geneva

Route de Chêne 5, Eaux-Vives

Personal support with digital tools

Document sharing and a dedicated contact

Choices explained

Understand your obligations and next steps

What we handle

Your VAT management.
Practical services.

Starting out, approaching the registration threshold or wanting to delegate your returns? We define the scope your business needs.

VAT liability and registration

Review of your activity and relevant turnover, assessment of mandatory or voluntary registration, then formalities with the Federal Tax Administration (FTA).

Method selection and setup

Comparison of the effective method and net tax rates, depending on eligibility. Review of VAT codes and invoicing principles.

Returns and annual reconciliation

Preparation and submission of returns according to the engagement, consistency checks against the accounts and annual reconciliation of figures.

Input tax and specific transactions

Review of recoverable VAT on purchases, evidence and necessary adjustments. Analysis of international transactions and acquisition tax according to your needs.

Takeover and regularisation

Review of prior periods, identification of missing documents and correction of returns where needed. Catch-up work is quoted separately.

Support during a VAT audit

Preparation of documents, analysis of FTA requests and assistance with correspondence. An assignment defined according to the audit’s scope.

Our clients’ experience

Their business. Our team.
Their reviews.

Advice, accounting and ongoing support: discover their experience with Karpeo.

Organised support

Your VAT in 3 steps

We review your situation

Activity, turnover, current method, latest returns and deadlines: we identify your needs and any takeover work.

We organise communication

We agree the documents, access rights and responsibilities. You know when to submit documents and who to contact.

We prepare your returns

We check the data, flag points to clarify and submit returns according to the engagement. You receive the information needed for payment.

Your role remains essential: provide complete documents within agreed deadlines and pay the amounts due to the FTA. We agree this timetable together from the outset.

A clear scope before starting

VAT management in Geneva: your tailored quote

The cost depends on transaction volume, the state of the accounts, the VAT method and the complexity of your transactions. We specify included services before starting.

For ongoing support

VAT management

On quotation

Preparation of agreed returns
Consistency checks and deadline monitoring
Questions about transaction treatment
Scope of annual reconciliation specified

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For coordinated administration

Accounting and tax

Tailored proposal

Bookkeeping and closing according to the engagement
VAT management coordinated with your accounts
Tax return according to your structure
Support suited to your activity

Explore accounting support →

Need one-off advice? Book a consultation with Sarah for CHF 89 incl. VAT for a specific accounting or tax question. The introductory discussion about a future engagement remains free. Choose my appointment →

VAT and business tax

Two obligations.
One coherent view.

VAT falls under the Federal Tax Administration. Tax on profits, capital or income follows other rules. These formalities draw on the same accounts but require separate analyses.

For an LLC or corporation, we can coordinate year-end closing and the tax return. For a self-employed person, we examine business profit and how it feeds into the personal tax return, according to the agreed engagement.

Understand your decisions

An investment, overseas activity or a new income source: we help identify the consequences and points to check before acting.

You receive practical explanations suited to your knowledge. You know what is handled and what needs further analysis.

Speak with Sarah →

Points to check

Your business evolves.
Your VAT does too.

You are approaching CHF 100,000

Assess registration requirements early. The threshold concerns relevant turnover in Switzerland and abroad, with exceptions depending on supplies and structure.

You invest or sell abroad

Input tax entitlement, place of supply and evidence affect VAT treatment. We examine your actual transactions before applying a rate or exemption.

Official guidance: VAT at the FTA and rates applicable in Switzerland.

Understand Swiss VAT

Principles and obligations for your business.

Read the guide →

VAT accounting methods

Understand net tax rates.

Compare the methods →(in French)

Prepare for a VAT audit

Documents and points to plan ahead for.

Prepare for the audit →(in French)

Your questions

Tax and VAT: let us get practical.

When must I register for VAT?

For an ordinary business, the threshold is generally CHF 100,000 in relevant annual turnover from supplies not exempt without input tax credit, in Switzerland and abroad. Liability may start at launch if the threshold will clearly be reached. The nature of supplies and exceptions must be examined: turnover alone is not enough.

Can I register voluntarily below CHF 100,000?

Yes, voluntary registration is possible subject to conditions. It may be beneficial for significant investments or business clients. Its effects on prices, margins and administration also need assessing. We compare the implications before advising you.

Which VAT rates apply in Geneva?

VAT is federal: Geneva applies the same rates as the rest of Switzerland. Current rates are 8.1% standard, 2.6% reduced and 3.8% for accommodation. The rate depends on the supply. A sale to a foreign customer is not automatically VAT-free.

Effective method or net tax rates?

The effective method allows input tax deduction within legal limits. Under net tax rates, the amount due is calculated using the rates authorised for your activities; VAT on purchases is not deducted separately. We assess eligibility, investments, expenses and margins. The rate charged to customers remains the applicable statutory rate.

How often must VAT returns be submitted?

Frequency depends on the method and FTA authorisations: generally quarterly under the effective method and half-yearly under net tax rates. Annual reporting has been available on application since 2025, subject to conditions and advance payments. We organise support according to your situation.

Can you take over overdue returns?

Yes. We first examine the periods involved, available documents and FTA correspondence. We then define the regularisation work and cost. Taking over does not automatically remove interest or other consequences of late filing.

Is the tax return included in VAT management?

These are separate services. VAT concerns your transactions and falls under the federal FTA. For an LLC or corporation, the tax return concerns, in particular, profit and capital; for a self-employed person, business profit forms part of the personal return. The quote specifies the services entrusted to Karpeo.

How does changing accountants work?

We review the latest returns, access rights and powers of attorney, accounts and upcoming deadlines. The takeover scope is agreed before the handover. Up-to-date accounts facilitate the transition; any catch-up work is identified separately.

Is the first appointment free?

The introductory discussion to present your business and discuss future support is free. For personalised advice on a specific tax or accounting question, book a paid consultation for CHF 89 including VAT. Choose Sarah on our appointment page.

Let us discuss your business

Your VAT deserves
clear follow-up.

Provide your contact details. We will contact you to understand your activity, accounting organisation and the support you need.

To prepare for our discussion: your approximate turnover, current VAT method if registered, and any periods requiring catch-up work.

No-obligation enquiry. Scope and fees are agreed before the engagement begins.

Prefer a free introductory call

Would you prefer to call?
022 355 05 71

Tell us what you need

If the form does not appear, contact our team.

Protecting your data(in French)

VAT management
Tailored quoteRequest my quote

Sebastien Hugues

21 days ago

Romain answered all my questions clearly and precisely. His advice helped me make the right decisions for my business. I highly recommend him.

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Caroline Steinfeld

53 days ago

I am truly impressed by my consultation with Sarah Prieur. Her professionalism and impeccable approach were evident from the very first minutes of our meeting. Sarah listened attentively, precisely identified my needs, and provided me with concrete and directly applicable information. Every piece of advice was relevant and tailored to my situation, without any unnecessary digressions or rambling. A consultant who is both thorough and attentive—I highly recommend Karpeo to anyone seeking high-quality support.

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Sarah Maresca

247 days ago

I was very satisfied with my appointment. I had the opportunity to speak with Romain, who was extremely helpful and readily available. I highly recommend him!

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Bahar Popal

255 days ago

Many thanks to José Flores for his work.

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Arnaud Saj

260 days ago

An efficient team, available at all times...the Dream Team of companies

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Arnaud Busch

274 days ago

Karpeo has been our accounting firm since the beginning of our business. We are completely satisfied with the services provided and the quality of their work. The tools implemented by Karpeo save us valuable time. We highly recommend them. Top-notch.

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Claire Thiercelin

276 days ago

After a year of service, I am very satisfied. Smooth management, efficiency, and responsiveness characterize Romain Prieur and his Karpeo team. I recommend them.

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Laurent Pavia

341 days ago

During a half-hour consultation, Ms. Sarah Prieur met all my expectations. She had prepared thoroughly for our video call following an explanatory email from me. Ms. Prieur is highly competent, concise, precise, friendly, attentive, and dedicated to helping others. A rare find! Thank you, Karpeo.

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Eben “Ebenonix” Onix

492 days ago

We had a wonderful meeting with Romain Prieur, who met us to advise us and offer us various solutions for our business creation project. I highly recommend him.

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Laurie Géniaux

550 days ago

I had an appointment with Sarah to help me set up my business and I am extremely satisfied with the support I received. The team is very professional, attentive, and was able to answer all my questions clearly and precisely.

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Tax and VAT in Geneva