If you (or your spouse) are self-employed, then you can submit your form by as late as September 1. It is quite in order for one tax form and a couple with one self employed.

I used to have to ask for the Hilfsblatt A each time, but now I use the downloadable system from the ZH tax website. This has all sorts of extra 'blatts' on it. It's quite good because it reads you details from the last year's form and so fills in page 1 before you start.

I'd write off you computer stuff as soon as possible, Basically it's worthless after 3 years, so write it down quickly or as Swiss Bob says asap...

I finally worked it out after chasing my tail all morning due to a letter that I got this morning from the tax man.


AbFab we had already sent 2008 tax return long time ago and it stated my Net income from self employed work. All computer stuff was already deducted. Then I got a letter from tax office this morning asking me for my 2008 wage slip. I was like wage what? I have invoices from clients but no wage slip!

As there was no Selbständiger form in the 2008 packet and as we knew nothing about such form my wife filled the given normal 2008 form like she had always been doing since 2006. We never had any problem with the tax man because I was sending an additional self made BETRIEBSRECHNUNG sheet detailing client related income and expenditure. Well for 2008 who ever was reviewing our the tax form though I was working full time and wanted my wage slip.

After having my third conversation with the tax office today everything has been cleared and they understand what had happened. From now I will get all the correct forms and more importantly I know that a specific form exists for me.

Well I have sent it all. It's up to them how much they will let me deduct in the end.

do you really want to start a company in switzerland? I have created a company in Switzerland 3 year back and that was not a big issue. if you need more infos i could send you. thanks Asoka

And your connection to this company is??

I have just arrived here this month. I was a self-employed Business English teacher in Spain and hoped to set myself up here in Basel too.

I've got a short term residence L-permit as a spouse, but looking at the Gruenden 2.0 it seems it's not possible for me to become self-employed.

What can I do?

I've read that before becoming self-employed you need to already be in business with at least three clients - could I set myself up, managing my invoices, receipts and book-keeping just as I did in Spain, declaring it on the September tax return? Is that likely to be a joint tax return with my husband?

One other option is to approach language agencies/academies, although my experiences in these institutions have not been positive in the past and I believe most companies contract freelance Business English teachers.

If you have three or more clients, you can be self employed, you can be self employed with fewer, it depends on exactly how you work. Tax is based on households, so, yes, it's a joint tax return.

If you have a B-Bewilligung you can just start as a single trader.

Hi everyone!

Ive been in Zürich for about 1 1/2 year now, working in an Architecture studio. I am a designer and now would like to create my own studio.
I have been reading alot around in the forum but just need some extra advice
I have an L permit and I am from Sweden. (I live my boyfriend who has a permanat contract with a B permit).

Now what would be the best way for me to create my own studio? I already have my business plan more or less finished. But I have no clients in Switzerland yet, I do have some possible ones in Sweden.

I am a little bit lost in all the freelance/einzelfirmas/gmbh/ag/permits/etc
What do yoiu think would be the best way for me to do this?
And if it is even possible for me, cause I only have an L-permit?

Thank you so much for you answers!

can anyone recommend an accountant for tax return preparation for a sole trader? can an accountant from any canton prepare taxes for a taxpayer from another canton?

thanks

Denise Collin worked with me on my business accounting and taxes - she's great!

I'm in Zurich Kanton, she's not - didn't seem to matter.

Denise Collin
Colfina Finanz/Treuhand GmbH
062 875 82 75
denise.collin@colfina.ch

She's very reasonably priced, too.

Hi guys, I need your advice (again ). I've read this thread a couple of times and I've read other sources as well but I still don't know what to do...

I teach English at a language school for some pocket money and slowly but steadily it's becoming a more and more reliable position. But that doesn't bother me any more, I guess I just have to work my way into the system.

On the other hand, I've been approached by an acquaintance to give private classes while their company would be billing me. Now this is a pickle. I guess I have to declare the sum and pay taxes, that I'm quite determined to do. But the question is whether this whole plan can work out if I'm not registered as a freelancer/sole trader/anything? Could you please help me out with this? I don't think it would be worth it to register for around CHF 400 net per month... But I have no idea (even after reading the thread) how it actually works in Geneva...

Thx for any help!

The company you give lessons at will likely insist that you are registered as self-employed and so you pay directly to the authorities your social payment (AHV etc). If you don't do this, your employer could well be liable for the payments, which of course they will not want to pay for you...

Thank you very much for your reply. Now I'm really in a pickle... If I understand correctly in order to be registered I have to show two contracts/bills. So basically I cannot accept this client until I also have another one? Can I accept it and register later when I have more? I've read about people registering at a later date when they could estimate their earnings...

I suggest you write to the AHV (or whatever they are called in Geneva) I mean the social security people & ask to be treated as self employed.

Probably they will write back with some pre-conditions - you show this letter to your new "client" - they must have experience of this situation & will have a solution?

I guess I'll just go and see them personally and take the bill with me. This would be a nice kick for me to start working as a freelancer (I'm willing to pay any deductions, even if it means I'm working for a lot less than I should), because it might get me more work later... I hope this can be done either with one contract or at a later date.

So as far as I can figure out I can register as a freelancer after starting working as one? Because for the two contracts/invoices/what not I'll need to work first... I'm really thinking about going for it, since I want to start working. Could someone please tell me how it works in real life, if I only have a tiny income at the beginning? Say in 2010 I earn like CHF 500. Should I go and register with that? Or I can do it next year when I earn more? Also, for such amounts (CHF 5000 - 10 000 a year) will I need to pay an accountant? Will my tax papers be a mess? You see I really want to work, I just don't know how to get started. I might get more clients soon but I've never done any freelancing in my life.

Thanx loads!

For the Sole trader thing, does it have any restriction? For example, i have to have any permit or i need to be an EU? As now i am back to my home country in Asia, will it still be possible to set up a sole trader business?

Yes. You need to have a valid permit that allows you work authorization.

In your situation you cannot be a sole trader.