Commercial accounting

Since 1 June 2002, it has no longer been mandatory for business records, business correspondence and transaction records to be held on paper. They may now also be maintained and preserved in electronic form. This new principle, laid down in the Swiss Code of Obligations, is described in greater detail in its implementing ordinance. The ordinance governs only the essential points and is characterized by its openness to new data processing, communication and storage technologies. This revision of the law has eliminated legal uncertainty and questions of interpretation that have come about owing to the increasing conduct of business by electronic means, especially e-mail.

Swiss Code of Obligations. Commercial Accounting Amendment of 22 December 1999, in force since 1 June 2002

Ordinance on the maintenance and preservation of business records of 24 April 2002, in force since 1 June 2002

Note

For the complete documentation see the pages in German, French or Italian.

Press releases

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To the Federal Administration News Portal

Last modification 24.04.2002

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Contact

Federal Commercial Registry Office
Secretariate
Bundesrain 20
CH-3003 Bern
T +41 58 462 41 97
F +41 58 462 44 83
ehra@bj.admin.ch

Print contact

https://www.sem.admin.ch/content/bj/en/home/wirtschaft/gesetzgebung/archiv/buchfuehrung.html