What Is the Net Tax Rate Method?
The net tax rate method (in German: Saldosteuersatzmethode, or SSS) is a simplified VAT accounting method for small Swiss businesses. You still charge your clients the standard VAT rate of 8.1%, but you only pay the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) a lower net tax rate — based on your industry — on your gross turnover. In return, you cannot deduct input VAT.
The logic: the net tax rate is calculated to already include the average input VAT for your industry. You skip the tedious tracking of every single input-VAT receipt — and you file only twice a year instead of quarterly.
Net Tax Rate vs. Effective Method
| Effective method | Net tax rate method | |
|---|---|---|
| VAT on invoices | 8.1% (standard rate) | 8.1% (standard rate) |
| Payment to FTA | output VAT − input VAT | gross turnover × net tax rate |
| Input VAT deduction | Yes, every receipt | No |
| Filing | quarterly | semi-annually |
| Admin effort | high | low |
The core: with the effective method you pay the VAT you collected minus the input VAT you paid. With the saldo method you pay a flat rate — no matter how much input VAT you actually had.
Eligibility: Who Can Use the Saldo Method?
To use the net tax rate method, you must stay within both limits (as of 2026):
- Annual turnover: maximum CHF 5'024'000 (incl. VAT)
- Tax liability: maximum CHF 108'000 per year (turnover × net tax rate)
If you exceed either limit, you must use the effective method. You apply for the saldo method through the FTA portal. Foreign companies have been excluded from the method since 2025.
Net Tax Rates by Industry (2026)
The FTA assigns each activity a fixed net tax rate. The most common ones:
| Industry | Net tax rate |
|---|---|
| Consulting, trustee, lawyer, architecture, IT, psychology | 6.2% |
| Marketing, web design, graphic design, photography, journalism | 5.9% |
| Hair salon, beauty, massage, physiotherapy, taxi, building cleaning | 5.3% |
| Electrician, carpenter, painter, landscaping, freight transport | 4.5% |
| Hotel, non-food retail, online shop, bookstore | 2.0% |
| Café/bakery, food retail, kiosk | 0.6% |
Trustee, consulting, and IT services sit at the top with 6.2% — exactly where the saldo method saves the most, because these industries have almost no input VAT.
Cost Calculation: A Concrete Example
Let's take three businesses with the same net turnover of CHF 150'000. All charge 8.1% VAT (CHF 12'150), giving a gross turnover of CHF 162'150.
| Scenario | Input VAT | Effective to FTA | Saldo to FTA | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consultant (6.2%), low costs | CHF 700 | CHF 11'450 | CHF 10'053 | Saldo: −CHF 1'397 |
| Carpenter (4.5%), normal year | CHF 3'240 | CHF 8'910 | CHF 7'297 | Saldo: −CHF 1'613 |
| Carpenter (4.5%), investment year | CHF 9'720 | CHF 2'430 | CHF 7'297 | Effective: −CHF 4'867 |
What the table shows:
- Consultant (6.2%): Low costs = low input VAT. The saldo method saves CHF 1'397 per year.
- Carpenter, normal year (4.5%): Even with material costs, the saldo method wins — CHF 1'613 cheaper.
- Carpenter, investment year: A new machine and a delivery van (CHF 80'000) add CHF 6'480 of extra input VAT. Now the effective method is CHF 4'867 cheaper — because the saldo method ignores the investment entirely.
The Rule of Thumb
Compare your annual input VAT with the gap between the VAT you collect and the saldo amount:
- Consultant: 12'150 − 10'053 = CHF 2'097 break-even
- Carpenter: 12'150 − 7'297 = CHF 4'853 break-even
As long as your actual input VAT stays below this break-even, the saldo method is cheaper. Once it rises above — typically in an investment year — the effective method wins.
When Does the Saldo Method Pay Off?
- You're a service provider with low material costs (consulting, coaching, IT, trustee, agency).
- Your input VAT is low relative to turnover.
- You want to save time — no input-VAT tracking, only two filings per year.
- You have no major investments planned in the near future.
When Does It Not Pay Off?
- You have high goods or material costs with a lot of input VAT (retail, manufacturing).
- You're planning a large investment (machinery, vehicles, renovation, IT infrastructure).
- You have high upfront investments when starting your business.
- A large share of your turnover is VAT-exempt or zero-rated (e.g. exports).
In an investment year, switching back to the effective method often pays off — but watch out: lock-in periods apply (see below).
Pros and Cons at a Glance
Pros
- Less administrative effort
- Only semi-annual filing
- No input-VAT tracking needed
- Real money saved when input VAT is low
Cons
- No input-VAT deduction — investments get expensive
- Lock-in periods when switching
- You pay more when input VAT is high
- When switching to the saldo method, previously deducted input VAT must be partly repaid
Switching: How to Apply for the Saldo Method
- Check: Are you under the turnover and tax limits? Run both methods for a typical year.
- Determine your industry: Which net tax rate does the FTA assign you?
- Apply: Submit the request through the FTA portal.
- Mind the deadlines: You must use the saldo method for at least one year. If you switch back to the effective method, you can only return to the saldo method after three years.
The Saldo Method in LumaBill
LumaBill combines invoicing with Swiss QR codes and full bookkeeping — and takes the method choice off your plate, with real numbers instead of guesswork:
- Pick your industry: In the bookkeeping settings you choose your industry, and LumaBill sets the official net tax rate (or you enter your own rate).
- Automatic booking: Invoices and revenue are booked correctly under the saldo method.
- Both methods side by side: The VAT report shows the saldo and effective amounts next to each other — including the difference in francs. You instantly see which method is cheaper for this period.
- Eligibility check: LumaBill warns you if your projected turnover exceeds the FTA limits.
That way you know, year after year, whether the saldo method is still the right choice.
Conclusion
The net tax rate method is a powerful tool for service providers with low input VAT: less effort, semi-annual filing, and often a lower tax burden. But as soon as you buy a lot or invest heavily, the effective method quickly becomes cheaper.
The only reliable answer comes from running the numbers with your own data. That's exactly what LumaBill does for you — automatically, in every VAT report.
Start your 14-day free trial — and compare both methods directly.