Registration · FTA procedure

How to register your foreign company and obtain your Swiss VAT number

Dossier prepared, submitted and tracked with the FTA through to issuance of your Swiss VAT number. Typical timeline: 4 to 8 weeks after a complete filing.

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4 to 8 week timelineOnboarding 5 business daysNo. CHE-… VAT

What the FTA expects in your dossier.

Excerpt from your country's commercial register (less than 3 months old)
Up-to-date and signed articles of association
Description of the operations planned in Switzerland
Turnover forecasts (current and following year)
Signed fiscal representation declaration (art. 67 LTVA)
FTA power of attorney signed by the legal representative
01
Onboarding
Signed mandate, KYC, power of attorney. You receive your reference code.
5 business days
02
FTA filing
Complete dossier submitted to the FTA. We track the progress.
Per dossier
03
Number issued
The FTA issues your Swiss VAT number.
4 to 8 weeks
04
VAT returns
You send us your documents; we prepare and submit via the FTA ePortal.
Per period
Acting early avoids retroactivity

If the obligation arose without registration, the FTA registers you retroactively and applies late-payment interest on the VAT due. Preparing the dossier upfront is the key to a fast registration.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Swiss VAT registration take? +

Generally 4 to 8 weeks after the complete dossier is filed with the FTA. The prior onboarding takes 5 business days.

Which documents must I provide? +

Excerpt from the commercial register, articles of association, description of the Swiss activity, turnover forecasts, and the signed fiscal representation power of attorney.

Must I go through a fiscal representative? +

Yes. Without a fiscal representative domiciled in Switzerland, online VAT registration is not possible.

What format does the Swiss VAT number have? +

Format CHE-123.456.789 VAT, to be quoted on all your official documents.

How often must I file my VAT returns?

By default, VAT returns are quarterly (4 per year), submitted via the FTA ePortal.

Is the annual return an option?

Possible if Swiss turnover is below 5 million, with payment of instalments and FTA approval (which it may refuse). Not an automatic relief.

What happens in the event of a delay?

The FTA applies late-payment interest of 4.0 % per year (since 1 January 2026) on overdue VAT, in addition to a possible retroactive registration.

Can I recover the VAT on my Swiss purchases?

Yes: once registered, you deduct the VAT paid on your Swiss purchases from the VAT collected (input tax).

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Dossier handled end to end, through to your VAT number.

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