Accounting for independent therapists: VAT, expenses, balance sheet

Published March 29, 2026 · 9 min read

You practice as an independent therapist in Switzerland and accounting is not your specialty? You are not alone. Between VAT, social contributions, deductible expenses, and legal obligations, it is easy to get lost.

This guide covers the essential accounting aspects for an independent therapist in 2026: choice of legal form, VAT rules, deductible expenses, social contributions, and annual balance sheet preparation.

Sole proprietorship or LLC?

The vast majority of therapists in Switzerland operate as sole proprietors (RI). It is the simplest form, but not always the most advantageous.

Criterion	Sole proprietorship	LLC (Sàrl)
Creation	Simple, RC from CHF 100k revenue	Min. capital CHF 20,000, notary
Liability	Unlimited	Limited to capital
Accounting	Simplified (< CHF 500k)	Full (balance sheet required)
Taxation	Profits = personal income	Corporate tax + salary tax
Social charges	AHV 10.6% on net income	AHV ~12.8% on salary (50/50)

Recommendation: for most therapists generating less than CHF 150,000 in revenue, sole proprietorship remains the simplest choice. Beyond that, an LLC can offer tax advantages and personal asset protection.

VAT: CHF 100,000 threshold

The main rule is simple: you are subject to VAT if your annual turnover exceeds CHF 100,000 (art. 10 LTVA).

Exemption for therapeutic services

Good news: recognized complementary medicine services are VAT-exempt under art. 21 para. 2 no. 3 LTVA. Even if your revenue exceeds CHF 100,000, you do not charge VAT on your sessions.

Warning: this exemption applies only to recognized medical services. Sale of products (dietary supplements, essential oils) or training courses may be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 8.1%.

Settlement methods

Effective method: VAT actually collected minus VAT paid
Net tax rate method (TDFN): simplified flat rate on turnover

Deductible expenses

As a self-employed person, you can deduct all expenses necessary for your professional activity:

Current expenses

Office rent (or professional share of private rent)
Professional insurance (professional liability, loss of income)
Supplies and therapeutic equipment
Management software (billing, scheduling, accounting)
Phone and internet (professional share)
Continuing education (required by ASCA/RME)
Professional association fees
Vehicle expenses (professional share, 0.70 CHF/km)

Therapist-specific expenses

Annual ASCA/RME membership fee
Supervision costs (mandatory for some disciplines)
Specialized equipment (massage table, needles, oils)
SASIS registry subscription (RCC number)

Depreciation

Equipment valued over CHF 1,000 must be depreciated over several years (5 years for furniture, 3 years for IT). Below CHF 1,000, the expense is fully deductible in the year of purchase.

Social contributions

Contribution	Rate	Calculation base
AVS/AI/APG	10.6% (degressive below CHF 58,800)	Net income
Family allowances	Variable by canton	Net income
2nd pillar (LPP)	Optional	Per chosen plan
Accident insurance (LAA)	Mandatory if employees	—
Loss of income insurance	Recommended	—

Pillar 3a: as a self-employed person without a 2nd pillar, you can deduct up to CHF 35,280 per year (2025 amount; check the 2026 amount with the FSIO) in pillar 3a.

Preparing the annual balance sheet

Even with simplified accounting, you must produce a statement of income and expenses for your tax return.

Practical tips:

Separate your accounts: open a separate professional bank account
Digitize your receipts: keep them for a minimum of 10 years (art. 958f CO)
Categorize your expenses: rent, equipment, training, etc.
Set aside for taxes: reserve approximately 25-30% of your net profit
Plan your installments: quarterly AHV contributions and tax payments

Key dates:

January 31 — AHV contribution certificate for the previous year
March 31 — Tax return (standard deadline, extension possible)
May 31 — VAT return for Q1 (if subject, effective method)
Quarterly — Tax installments and AHV contributions

The right accounting tool

For an independent therapist, the ideal is a tool that combines practice management and financial tracking: compliant Tarif 590 billing, payment tracking, accounting export, and financial dashboard.

Therago integrates a simplified accounting module specially designed for Swiss therapists: revenue tracking, unpaid invoices, export for your fiduciary, and financial dashboards.

Simplify your accounting with a tool designed for Swiss therapists.

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