Translation - art & business » Business issues »
Tips on VAT registration in Switzerland
Thread poster: zerolina
zerolina
zerolina
Italy
Local time: 09:14
English to Italian
+ ...
Aug 2, 2013

Hello everybody,

I am a new member in this forum, though I knew it for a long time.

I am just starting as a freelance translator but I have some doubts about the VAT registration. I currently live in Switzerland but I am still resident in Italy and I'd like to live in Switzerland for a while.

I just found a client who asked me for a VAT registration but I don't know how to do it and if it is really necessary to do it at this stage of my carrier.

... See more
Hello everybody,

I am a new member in this forum, though I knew it for a long time.

I am just starting as a freelance translator but I have some doubts about the VAT registration. I currently live in Switzerland but I am still resident in Italy and I'd like to live in Switzerland for a while.

I just found a client who asked me for a VAT registration but I don't know how to do it and if it is really necessary to do it at this stage of my carrier.

Is there any Swiss resident who has already been passed through the VAT registration procedure in Switzerland? How can I get info about the amount of taxes I should pay?

If I register for a VAT in Switzerland and obtain a work permit there, should I change my place of residence in order to pay my taxes only in one country or would it be more convenient to register in Italy and maintain all my privileges of Italian citizen?

I would be very very grateful if someone can help me! Thank you in advance.

Cheers,

Raffaella ▲ Collapse
 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 08:14
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
You may be confusing separate issues here Aug 2, 2013

I don't think I can help much, because (a) I don't know either of your countries, and (b) I know very little about tax etc. However, I do know that "tax domiciliation" and "country of residence" don't have to be one and the same. And there are bound to be agreements between those two countries to avoid you paying tax twice on the same earnings (although that doesn't mean it will be the cheapest tax bill).

You need to set up as an official independent worker in ONE of these countrie... See more
I don't think I can help much, because (a) I don't know either of your countries, and (b) I know very little about tax etc. However, I do know that "tax domiciliation" and "country of residence" don't have to be one and the same. And there are bound to be agreements between those two countries to avoid you paying tax twice on the same earnings (although that doesn't mean it will be the cheapest tax bill).

You need to set up as an official independent worker in ONE of these countries. Are you currently able to issue a legal invoice in Switzerland? If you are, then I'm sure another Swiss-registered freelancer can help you regarding the pros and cons of VAT registration, if indeed there's a free choice. But if you aren't, I really think you ought to get expert advice so that your business stays both legal and financially sound. ▲ Collapse
 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Margarita[Call to this topic]
James Heppe-Smith[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Tips on VAT registration in Switzerland







CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »
Trados Business Manager Lite
Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio

Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.

More info »