Just so you know it is an offence to work and not have an AHV number and it is an offence to work for yourself at all without being registered for AHV as a self employed person. It is slightly different if you have a "proper" job but then you would be registered anyway... So go get your number ie declare intent to work. Then think of your model.
There are reasons why self employment could be an issue but then really only if your husband is earning just under 120 taxable or if he is working in another canton to where you are living. IF that is the case think very carefully...
Any questions ask now I won't be around much longer...
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| Hi There,
The biggest issue companies have in dealing with a sole trader in Switzerland is the Social Security situation. If you are not registered to handle your own social security and to register you must have several concurrent clients (7 I think). So if you are not registered it will create some hassel when looking for clients.
VAT is another issue, in theory you don't have to register until you reach a certain turn over (can't remeber the figure), so it should not be an issue, but it often is with big companies as they are not used to dealing with it...
Now all this can be avoided if you set up a company, but unless you are doing a fair bit of business, it will be costly and time consuming, as there will be various returns etc that you have to do, plus accounts, tax returns and what not for the company... so this is really not the way to go if you have not a good size turnover.
Concerning the advice your husband got about not getting pulled into the tax system, I don't really see the issue there other than to do the tax return and he has a good salary it may in fact be worth his while as you may get a refund and in any case if you are organised it is really not such a big deal.
I'd suggest the first thing to do is to find out exactly the situation with you husband's taxes. If it is only about submitting the return, then I would not let it stand your way to starting off a business.
Assuming all was OK, get a few clients and start working for them, once you get to 7 or there abouts apply for Social Security registration and go from there.
At the end of the year do a tax return to include the fee income from you consuling and you are on the way. There is a special form in the tax return to handle sole trader type activities.
Once your turnover builds up you can consider setting up a company if is needed.
Good luck,
Jim | |
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