Keeping receipts: 10 years, but how exactly?
Swiss law requires keeping business records for 10 years. Here's what that means in practice — which receipts to keep, whether digital copies are sufficient, and how to organize your archive.
The 10-year rule
According to Article 958f of the Swiss Code of Obligations, business records must be kept for 10 years. This period begins at the end of the financial year in which the last entry was made. For 2026, that means you need to keep records from 2016 onward.
Which receipts must be kept?
Everything that documents a business transaction: invoices issued, invoices received, bank statements, payment confirmations, expense receipts, payroll records, contracts, and correspondence related to your business. When in doubt, keep it — missing a receipt that the tax office asks for is far more expensive than keeping one too many.
Are digital copies sufficient?
Yes. The Ordinance on the Keeping and Retention of Business Records (GeBüV) explicitly allows digital storage — provided the documents are stored in a way that they cannot be altered, are accessible at all times, and can be read for the entire retention period. A photo of a receipt with your phone is sufficient, as long as it's clearly legible and stored securely.
Practical organization
The simplest approach: assign every business transaction a consecutive number and store the corresponding receipt digitally with that number. Anything you process in MILQ gets a number automatically and the receipt is filed with it. For everything else (bank statements, contracts), create a folder per financial year.
Accurate as of: The rates and amounts mentioned in this article reflect the state as of 7 August 2026. They are for information only and do not replace tax or legal advice. For binding information, contact the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (ESTV), your cantonal tax office, or a fiduciary.
Frequently asked questions
- What happens after 10 years?
- You can delete the records. But be careful: if a tax audit is underway, the retention period is extended until the audit is completed. And for real estate transactions, different rules may apply.
- Do I have to keep paper copies?
- No. Digital copies are legally equivalent — provided they meet the GeBüV requirements (unalterable, accessible, readable for the entire period). A PDF scan or a clear photo is perfectly sufficient.