How long do I have to keep receipts and accounts?
Last checked: 27.10.2026 · Responsible: Nicolas Christen
In short
You must keep business ledgers, accounting vouchers, the annual report and the audit report for ten years (Art. 958f CO). The period starts at the end of the financial year. You may keep the documents on paper or electronically if they can be made readable at any time. For documents relating to real estate, longer VAT periods apply.
What exactly do I have to keep for ten years?
Under Art. 958f CO, these are the business ledgers, accounting vouchers, the annual report and the audit report. Documents that serve as vouchers also count, such as social insurance declarations and salary certificates. The ten years start when the financial year ends, so for the 2026 financial year from 1 January 2027.
Can I keep everything digitally only?
Yes. Ledgers and vouchers may be kept on paper, electronically or in a comparable way. However, the data must match the business transactions and be made readable at any time. The details are set out in the Accounting Records Ordinance (GeBüV). With online accounting, make sure you can export your data even after cancelling.
Where do longer periods apply?
For VAT: documents on input tax corrections and own use of real estate must be kept for 20 years (Art. 70 para. 3 VAT Act). Experts even recommend keeping real estate documents for 26 years.
Which accounting programs store data in Switzerland?
Checked solutions by starting price. «Data in Switzerland» shows whether the provider names servers in Switzerland.
| Solution | Prices | Score | Data in Switzerland | Access for accountants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banana Buchhaltung | from CHF 0 / month | 71Good | Ask the provider | ✓ Yes |
| CashCtrl | from CHF 0 / month | 71Good | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Magic Heidi | from CHF 0 / month | 86Very good | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Run my Accounts | from CHF 0 / month | 86Very good | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| SoloDesk | from CHF 0 / month | 71Good | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Swiss21 | from CHF 0 / month | 86Very good | ✓ Yes | Ask the provider |
| Pfeffersack | from CHF 60 / year | 71Good | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Crésus | from CHF 15 / month | 57Satisfactory | Ask the provider | Ask the provider |
| Exxas | from CHF 19 / month | 43Adequate | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Infinity | from CHF 24 / month | 86Very good | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| MILKEE | from CHF 24.90 / month | 57Satisfactory | Ask the provider | ✓ Yes |
| Blond.swiss | from CHF 25 / month | 86Very good | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| bexio | from CHF 35 / month | 100Excellent | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| CustomerCore | from CHF 39 / month | 43Adequate | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| KLARA | from CHF 55 / month | 100Excellent | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Proffix Px5 | from CHF 62.10 / month | 14Weak | Ask the provider | Ask the provider |
| Winbiz | from CHF 64 / month | 29Weak | Ask the provider | Ask the provider |
| Abacus | Price depends on project scope, quote via partner | 86Very good | Ask the provider | ✓ Yes |
| Accounto | Monthly fee per company, price on request | 43Adequate | ✓ Yes | Ask the provider |
| AdmiCash | Price not online, on request from the provider | 14Weak | Ask the provider | Ask the provider |
| Infoniqa ONE 50 (früher Sage 50) | Price not online, on request from the provider | 0Weak | Ask the provider | Ask the provider |
| mySORBA | Price depends on plan and users, quote from the provider | 43Adequate | ✓ Yes | Ask the provider |
| Odoo | Prices on odoo.com, not stated in CHF | 0Weak | Ask the provider | Ask the provider |
| PiNUS21 | Annual plan, price in the provider's configurator | 43Adequate | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| SelectLine | Price not online, on request from the provider | 29Weak | Ask the provider | Ask the provider |
| Topal | Rental or licence, prices in the provider's price lists (PDF) | 71Good | ✓ Yes | Ask the provider |
From our checked data, excl. VAT. The order does not depend on commissions.