Accounting Services Liechtenstein: Books, Accounts, Tax Return

Keeping the books for third parties is a trustee activity (TrHG Art. 2(e)), or the work of a bookkeeper with a trade licence, so a licensed person does it. ABB collects the vouchers, prepares the file and coordinates. The persons entrusted with management sign the annual accounts (PGR Art. 1056), and the supreme body approves them.

The statutes name two routes: a licensed trustee (TrHG Art. 2(e)) and the holder of a trade licence for bookkeeping, counted as an external bookkeeper (SPG Art. 2(1)(x)). Tax advice stays with trustees (Art. 2(d)). ABB does not recommend one route. The engagement letter names the person who acts.

Yes. An AG, KAG or GmbH keeps proper accounts even when it runs no commercial business (PGR Art. 1045(2)). A bought ready-made company is already in the register, so its opening balance sheet fell due at entry. Accounts follow within six months, filing within twelve, and the minimum income tax is owed for each tax year.

Annual accounts may be in German or English and in Swiss francs, euro or US dollars (PGR Art. 1049(1)). The language rules differ by layer: tax return documents are in German with English allowed for the annexes, and the commercial register makes its own entries in German. They are separate rules, so each is checked separately.

An AG, KAG or GmbH other than a small company must be audited by a licensed auditor (PGR Art. 1058(1)). An unaudited company must be reviewed unless a waiver applies (Art. 1058(2)). Size decides: no more than one of three limits may be exceeded. A micro company running a business may waive the review.

A micro company running a business may waive the review by unanimous decision of the supreme body (PGR Art. 1058a). Segmented legal persons and AGs with bearer shares are excluded. The waiver is declared to the Amt für Justiz with the application for its entry (CHF 50), and any member may later demand a review.

Two deadlines apply. Annual accounts are prepared within six months after the financial year ends (PGR Art. 1048(2)). An AG, KAG or GmbH files the approved accounts with the Amt für Justiz within twelve months after the balance sheet date (Art. 1122(1)), and the Amt für Justiz may extend that on a reasoned application.

Books, vouchers and business correspondence are kept for ten years, counted from the end of the financial year of the last entry (PGR Art. 1059(1), (4)). Electronic books have the same evidential force as paper (Art. 1059(3)). Entries must stay complete, correct, timely and orderly, and may not be altered so that the original content is lost.

The return is created in the Tax Administration's programme and filed electronically with the detailed annual accounts (SteV Art. 42a(1)). A representative needs a written power of attorney (SteG Art. 90), but the taxpayer signs the return personally (Art. 94(2)) and confirms it is complete and true. This page does not say a passcode replaces a company's signature.

The Tax Administration fixes the filing deadline each year (SteG Art. 95(1)), so no calendar date is printed here. For the corporate return it may extend the deadline by six months on a reasoned written request made at the latest 30 days after the general due date, if the provisional invoice is paid (SteV Art. 42).

The return documents are written in German (SteG Art. 94(3)). For further documents the authority asks for, it may require a translation or have one made at the taxpayer's cost (Art. 94(3)). The annexes to the return, such as the detailed annual accounts and the auditor's report, may be written in English (SteV Art. 41(3)).

For the tax return, an intentional or negligent breach of procedural duties after a reminder is fined up to CHF 1,000, in serious or repeat cases up to CHF 10,000 (SteG Art. 135). Without a return the Tax Administration may assess at its discretion (Art. 102(2)). This page states no penalty for a late filing at the register.

An inventory of all assets and debts and an opening balance sheet are due at entry in the register (PGR Art. 1047, 1048(1)). A bought ready-made company is already entered, so the buyer carries on the yearly duties: accounts within six months, filing within twelve. The licensed partner helps prepare the documents.

Liquidators draw up a liquidation balance sheet when they take office, and the board helps and hands over books and papers (PGR Art. 135(1)). Assets are valued at disposal value at the balance sheet date, and hidden reserves may no longer be kept (Art. 135a(2), (4)). A balance sheet is drawn up every year of the liquidation (Art. 136(3)).

No dedicated restoration statute was found, so no method or time limit is stated here. Books are judged under PGR Art. 1046, and the licensed trustee or bookkeeper rebuilds them from bank statements, contracts and vouchers. If no return is filed or the tax base cannot be determined, the Tax Administration assesses at its discretion (SteG Art. 102(2)).