You're sitting at your desk, the next VAT deadline is approaching, and really only the last step is missing. Then you realize it's not the form that's the problem, but everything before it: setting up your login, linking your company, assigning receipts correctly, and preparing your accounting data so nothing goes wrong in the portal. That's where most time is lost in practice — not the actual click on submit.

Since May 11, 2026, only «MWST-Abrechnung pro» is available for submitting VAT returns in Switzerland via the ESTV portal. The previous online solution «MWST-Abrechnung easy» has been replaced for submissions. For solo self-employed, this is a significant change — digital submission is now not just the standard but the only permissible digital route in the federal portal. The ESTV refers directly to its portal for online VAT filing.

Table of Contents

• Why preparation takes longer than filling out the form
  • What needs to be ready before the first login
  • Why the deadline isn't just a date question
• Setting up AGOV and myESTV for your first submission
  • Why the technical setup shouldn't wait until the last minute
  • How to check if your authorization is properly set
• Effective method vs. flat-rate method compared
  • Three typical profiles from practice
  • Comparison of the two methods
• Filling out the online form correctly
  • Separating revenue by tax rates
  • The workflow that works in practice
• Exporting VAT data from your accounting software
  • What good software should deliver upfront
  • How the export simplifies submission
• Deadlines, payment and audit-proof archiving

Why preparation takes longer than filling out the form

A freelancer calls two days before the deadline because the VAT return is still open. The form is online, he says, so it should be quick. Then it turns out the government login isn't active yet, the UID hasn't been linked to the ePortal, and the accounting for the period hasn't been finalized. In that moment, the portal isn't the problem — the missing preparation is.

What needs to be ready before the first login

For the VAT return, the ESTV requires specific information, including company name and business address, the UID number or commercial register number, for sole proprietorships the natural person's details, as well as the tax period and filing interval (monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually). If you don't have this information ready, you hold up the process before it even begins.

Why the deadline isn't just a date question

The VAT return deadline depends on the filing interval. For quarterly filing, the deadline runs 60 days after the end of each quarter. If you miss the deadline, you risk a formal assessment notice and, in case of repetition, a substitute assessment by the ESTV. That's why the deadline shouldn't just be in your calendar — it should come with a buffer of at least one week for preparation work.

Setting up AGOV and myESTV for your first submission

Access to the VAT return is via the federal portal, specifically through AGOV (General Government Online Procedure) and the myESTV platform. If you've never submitted online before, you first need to create an account, link your company, and verify the appropriate authorizations.

Why the technical setup shouldn't wait until the last minute

Setting up the AGOV login can take several days, especially if identity verification is done by mail. Waiting until the deadline is looming creates unnecessary pressure that could have been avoided. The right time for setup is immediately after founding your business, or at the latest upon becoming VAT-liable.

How to check if your authorization is properly set

After logging into the myESTV portal, you'll see under "My Procedures" whether the "MWST-Abrechnung pro" procedure is activated and correctly assigned to your company. If this assignment is missing, you need to request authorization — a step that also takes processing time.

Effective method vs. flat-rate method compared

In Switzerland, you can choose between two accounting methods: the effective method and the flat-rate method (Saldosteuersatz). The choice affects how you report revenue and input tax in your return.

Three typical profiles from practice

1. Freelancer with little input tax: The effective method is usually the best choice because input tax from business expenses can be claimed directly.
2. Service provider with high revenue, low material costs: The flat-rate method simplifies the return because only revenue needs to be reported.
3. Mixed activities: If you have both taxable and tax-exempt revenue, you must use the effective method or make a detailed allocation.

Comparison of the two methods

Filling out the online form correctly

The "MWST-Abrechnung pro" form asks for revenue separated by tax rates. If your accounting is clean, you can transfer the values directly.

Separating revenue by tax rates

The current VAT rates in Switzerland are: 8.1% standard rate, 2.6% reduced rate, 3.8% accommodation tax. Each revenue item must be assigned to the correct rate. Mixing up rates not only produces wrong numbers but also leads to additional assessments including default interest.

The workflow that works in practice

1. Close the accounting for the period
2. Export the VAT report (grouped by tax rates)
3. Transfer values to the online form
4. Plausibility check (revenue vs. input tax)
5. Submit and wait for confirmation

Exporting VAT data from your accounting software

Good accounting software doesn't just deliver raw data — it provides a structured VAT report that can be transferred directly to the portal.

What good software should deliver upfront

• Automatic tax rate assignment
• VAT report per period
• Export in CSV or XML format
• Reconciliation with bank transactions

How the export simplifies submission

Exporting VAT data directly from your software not only saves time but also avoids transfer errors. Manual reconciliation between accounting and the portal is largely eliminated, which is a noticeable advantage especially for quarterly filing with many transactions.

Deadlines, payment and audit-proof archiving

After submitting the return, you receive a confirmation with the amount to pay. Payment is made via payment slip or online banking to the specified ESTV account. The return itself must be archived in audit-proof form — digital or physical, for at least 10 years.

If you use accounting software like Magic Heidi, your VAT data is automatically prepared: tax rates are correctly assigned, the report is one click away, and archiving is digital. This way, the VAT return stays a routine process, not a stress event.