Accounting Services in Liechtenstein: Bookkeeping and Tax Filings

Bookkeeping and review for third parties are a trustee activity so far as not reserved to auditors (TrHG Art. 2(e)), and unlicensed practice is an offence (Art. 80(1)). A licensed trustee or a trade-licensed bookkeeper keeps the books; VCS collects and coordinates. The persons entrusted with management sign the accounts (PGR Art. 1056).

The statutes give two routes. A licensed trustee may keep books and review accounts (TrHG Art. 2(e)); a holder of a Trade Act licence for bookkeeping counts as an external bookkeeper (SPG Art. 2(1)(x)). Tax advice cannot be licensed as a trade (GewG Art. 3(f)). We recommend no route; the engagement is set with the partner.

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

The accounts may be in German or English and in Swiss francs, euro or US dollars (PGR Art. 1049(1)). The tax return documents are in German (SteG Art. 94(3)), with annexes that may be in English (SteV Art. 41(3)). Register entries are in German; supporting documents may be in another language (HRV Art. 4).

An AG, KAG or GmbH other than a small company needs an audit by a licensed auditor (PGR Art. 1058(1)). A small company exceeds at most one of: balance sheet total CHF 9.2 million, turnover CHF 18.5 million, 50 employees. Unaudited accounts are reviewed by a Revisor, an audit firm or a licensed trustee (Art. 1058(2)) unless waived.

A micro company running a commercial 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 and entered for CHF 50. Any member may demand a review later. No company is promised to qualify.

Prepared within six months after the financial year ends (PGR Art. 1048(2)). An AG, KAG or GmbH files them, approved and with the report unless the review was waived, no later than twelve months after the balance sheet date (Art. 1122(1)); the Amt für Justiz may extend on a reasoned application. The deposit costs CHF 30 per document.

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)). Electronic books have the same evidential force as paper (Art. 1059(3)). This answer states the rule only and recommends no storage product or archive service.

The return is created in the Tax Administration's eTax programme and filed electronically with the detailed annual accounts (SteV Art. 42a(1)). A representative needs a written power of attorney (SteG Art. 90). The taxpayer signs personally (Art. 94(2)) and confirms in writing that the return is complete and true (SteV Art. 41(2)(f)).

The Tax Administration fixes the filing deadline each year (SteG Art. 95(1)). For the corporate return it may extend by six months on a reasoned written request made at the latest 30 days after the general due date, and the provisional invoice must be paid (SteV Art. 42). We print no calendar date and promise no extension.

Yes. The return documents are written in German (SteG Art. 94(2), (3)); for further documents the authority may require a translation or have one made at the taxpayer's cost. The annexes, such as the detailed annual accounts and the auditor's report, may be in English (SteV Art. 41(3)). The accounts may be German or English.

For the tax return, an intentional or negligent breach of procedural duties after a reminder is fined up to CHF 1,000, up to CHF 10,000 in serious or repeat cases (SteG Art. 135). Without a return or reliable documents, the Tax Administration assesses at its discretion (Art. 102(2)). For the accounts, we state the deadline only.

An opening balance sheet and an inventory of all assets and debts are due at entry in the register (PGR Art. 1047, 1048(1)); annual accounts follow at each year-end. A ready-made company is already entered, so its opening balance sheet fell due then, and the buyer takes over the yearly duties: accounts in six months, filing in twelve.

Liquidators draw it up when they take office, with the board's help and its 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 follows every year (Art. 136(3)). VCS is never the sole liquidator.

No dedicated restoration statute was found; the books are judged by the PGR rule that entries be complete, correct, timely and orderly (Art. 1046). Where the tax base cannot be determined for lack of reliable documents, the Tax Administration assesses at its discretion (SteG Art. 102(2)). The licensed partner rebuilds from vouchers; VCS gathers them.